Hamilton/Waikato Migrant Expo Report

By Andy Lee

Auckland's had five so far. Christchurch one. And now it was Hamilton's turn. "After a couple of years of networking with community groups in Hamilton, support for a Waikato Migrant Expo grew this year,"said Tina Raines, Marketing Manager for the show.

By timing the show to coincide with the launch of the Waikato edition of Migrant Expo helped stimulate further interest.

"The Waikato region has finally come of age, with co-ordinated settlement support actitvites throughout the region as far as Tauranga and Rotorua," she added.

A major supporter of the event was Michael Redman, the Mayor of Hamilton City. He said: "The Expo holds significant value to Hamilton in that its theme is reflective of our city’s diverse ethnic population."

We now have over 80 international groups representing about 65 countries of origin living in Hamilton, making the city a fitting venue for the Waikato Migrant Expo. Council is committed to being accessible to and supporting the needs of our city’s ethnic communities - a commitment that is well aligned with the focus of the Expo.

The event was held on 2nd September at the Novotel Tainui Hamilton. The first ever settlement show and migrant job fair to be held in the Waikato region it was opened by Mayor Michael Redman together with several Members of Parliament and community leaders.

Organised by Migrant Expo, the show attracted a steady stream of new and settled migrants, international students and homestay families.

On show were displays on education and training, immigration, Government departments, a health expo, banking, community groups and a host of other settlement services.

The highlight of the event was the Job Fair and an employment forum on the topic: ‘Skills shortages in New Zealand, but why are migrants left out?’

Now an annual event, the show will be repeated in September 2007. More details can be found on www.migrantexpo.co.nz or call: 09 443 7886.

Migrant Expo received congratulatory emails from exhibitors and visitors to the Waitako Migrant Expo. We publish a selection of messages and comments:

"It’s great to host the nationwide Migrant Expo, which adds to our existing portfolio for ethnic communities ..." Michael Redman, Mayor of Hamilton City

"It was a wonderful expo. The first in Hamilton and very successful! Please do it again in the future." - Afat Xiao, Migrant Education Co-ordinator, Central North Region, Ministry of Education

"It was a pleasure to participate in the Migrant Expo and to be part of the panel. This expo was a great opportunity for the community and very beneficial to Hamilton City. I look forward to working with you again in the future." David Bennett, Member of Parliament, Hamilton East Electorate.

"The Expo was really good. Publicity brought in a large number of people." - Mano Manoharan, high profile community leader.

"First of all, many thanks for your efforts in organising the Migrant Expo on 2 September. It was a very successful Expo. I have been talking to quite a number of people and all their feedback and comments were good and encouraging." - Philip Leung, Ethnic Advisor, Hamilton City Council.

"Thanks for the great Expo. My you did show us what an Expo is all about ..." - Janet Franks, Russian Community Leader