27th March 2016

Religious Diversity Centre Launch

Religious Diversity Centre (RDC), a centre set up by the Religious Diversity Trust (RDT), will be formally launched by Rt Hon Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, at the Parliament building in Wellington on Wednesday, 30th March 2016. The Trust (RDT) was created in the past with an initial set of trustees, the existence of this trust has been made public recently through the vehicle of the said RDC that is going to be launched. A stated aim of this trust is to advocate “religious diversity”, along with “appropriate educational engagement”, among other “resources” it aims to provide.

It is a surprise then that Dharma based communities such as Hindu (third largest adherents in Aotearoa, New Zealand) and Buddhist (fourth largest following in New Zealand) are not included in their trustees. ‘No religion’ (41.92%) accounts for the largest following in New Zealand, and is also missing from the set of trustees.

In view of this, Hindu Organisations, Temples & Associations (HOTA) Forum in New Zealand, with over 70 member organisations of Hindus, organised an emergency meeting, on 11th March, at Thirusubramaniyam Alayam temple, in Mangere, Auckland, to discuss the establishment of RDC by RDT, and that no input from Hindu community was invited in the constitution of trust board earlier.

Following questions and concerns were raised by the participants from the wider Hindu community:

1. Hindu and Buddhist communities are missing from the trust board.

2. What are the similarities / differences and relationships between the newly formed Religious Diversity Trust (RDT), the Interfaith Council(s) that already exist in multiple cities in New Zealand (coordinated by the National Interfaith Council) and the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils?

3. The current “trust board” of RDT is lacking in gender diversity to a large extent.

4. Will the staff/ volunteers of centre (RDC) and the trust board (RDT), represent religious diversity of New Zealand (including the majority of NZ’ers who profess no religion)?

5. What will be the funding source for RDC and priorities for expenditure?

6. What was the selection process for the current board of trustees?

7. Other than RDC, what other activities (and their funding) is RDT likely to plan, specific to particular religions?

Hindu community in New Zealand significantly contributes in the field of education, health, science & technology, economy, administration, etc. Absence of a Hindu perspective on the trust board creates a risk that Hindu Dharma, society and culture can be incorrectly defined, interpreted and presented by others.

Dharma communities (often superficially labelled “Eastern religions” even by academics from schools of theology/ religion and the likes) are knowledge-based, their traditions are open-ended and based on true respect. Dharma stands for:

• Universal Principle, Laws, duties, righteousness that brings peace, progress and harmony;

• Act for being, becoming and sustaining;

• Inclusiveness and not exclusiveness;

• Encompasses all: self, family, society and the world; and

• That which sustains the natural order of being.

Civilisations developed on Dharmic traditions i.e. Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Taoist, indigenous cultures like Maori, understand and practice diversity. Dharmic traditions have offered a firm foundation to diverse cultures and there is a higher diversity within communities of Dharmic traditions.

In Dharmic traditions, women have participated in all social activities on an equal footing from the most ancient times. As members of the society, as mothers and nurturers, as sages, rulers and warriors, women have upheld Dharma. Women are the nucleus around which family and social life revolves.

HOTA Forum of New Zealand is guided by the Dharmic principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).

We wish the RDT trust board all the best in their endeavours to have a more representative board of trustees and hope that going forward, the Religious Diversity Centre, the Religious Diversity Trust, and the Trust Board of RDT will:

- be a true and correct representation of religious affiliations of New Zealand, including Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Shinto, Indigenous Maori and ‘No religion’.

- provide correct information about Dharmic traditions and correctly explain the difference between knowledge-based Dharmic traditions and faith-based religions.

- engage with capable and experienced women as equal contributors to the trust board.

- have processes that are fair and transparent.

- be a source of unbiased knowledge dissemination, that empowers New Zealanders, and upholds the democratic and inclusive traditions of New Zealand.

ENDS

© Scoop Media