Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has become one of ten councils around New Zealand to achieve accreditation under Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) Welcoming Communities Waharoa ki ngā Hapori programme.

The four-step programme supports and celebrates councils which have taken specific action to make their communities more welcoming to newcomers. 

 QLDC has completed the first of the four steps in the programme by passing a council resolution, signing an MBIE funding agreement, hiring a Welcoming Communities coordinator, signing a statement of commitment and making a public notification of commitment.

QLDC’s new welcoming communities coordinator Silvia Dancose said she looks forward to doing more to make Queenstown Lakes a great place for new people as the council progresses with the programme.

“...later this month we’ll be inviting expressions of interest to be part of a Welcoming Communities Advisory Group. This group will help guide the creation of a Welcoming Plan for the whole district,” said Ms. Dancose.

A ‘Welcoming Plan’ will set out what it can do to make the district more welcoming to newcomers, taking into account things like leadership opportunities, equitable access to activities and opportunities, civic engagement and participation and more. 

“Even though we have always attracted a diverse population from all corners of the world there is so much more we can do to embrace and celebrate this diversity as we progress to other stages of accreditation,” Silvia said.

Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult said the programme will help foster strong connections and celebrate the variety of ethnicities that makes the district special.

“Our participation in Welcoming Communities ticks so many boxes in terms of our vision to be a unique place with an inspiring future, especially the principles of thriving people, opportunities for all and pride in sharing our places,” he said.

QLDC is one of 14 councils currently involved in the Welcoming Communities programme, joining two others at stage one and seven at stage two. 

PHOTO: Wānaka App