11/05/2026
Community Update: Strengthening Our Connections
Kia ora to our wonderful MCA community,
We are writing to share a brief update and some helpful clarity regarding a recent event held in our region. We understand there may have been some confusion about the MCA’s role, and we want to ensure our members have a clear and accurate understanding of the situation.
Clarifying the Event
The attached poster confirms that this was not a Council or MCA-led initiative. We would like to make it very clear that the MCA was not made aware of this event at all prior to it taking place. As the event was organized by an agency from outside our region:
No Consultation: The MCA was never approached or consulted during any of the planning stages.
No Involvement: We were not invited to participate in the program in any capacity.
No Invitations: No invitations were sent to the MCA Board, meaning we had no information or invites to pass on to our valued members.
Advocacy in Action
Our MCA President only became aware of the event after hearing it advertised on a local radio channel. Recognizing that the MCA had been entirely overlooked, they chose to volunteer their own time to attend in a personal capacity.
Their goal was to understand the session’s purpose and—most importantly—to directly question the organizers as to why the MCA and our wider ethnic community groups were not informed or included. This proactive step was taken to ensure that our community’s right to be represented was not ignored and that our collective voices at a local level are heard and adequately represented.
Looking Ahead: Positive Outcomes
The most encouraging part of this experience is the positive pathway it has cleared for the future. We are pleased to share these results:
Future Partnership: The organizers have acknowledged the oversight and reassured us they are committed to working in direct partnership with the MCA moving forward.
High-Level Support: National leads from Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ) and the Police who were in attendance have expressed their enthusiastic support for collaborating on a future event alongside the MCA and our wider communities.
Moving Forward Together
While there was a clear lack of engagement from the external organizers in this instance, we want to reassure our members that the MCA remained vigilant and dedicated to your interests. We believe in turning these gaps into opportunities for growth.
By addressing these matters with respect and clarity, we ensure that outside organizations understand that the MCA is the vital bridge to our local ethnic voice. We look forward to these new relationships and to ensuring our community is always seen, heard, and valued.
Kia Kaha — Stay Strong. 🫶
With regards from MCA Hawke’s Bay Board Members
