17 June 2024
Naomi Priestly
[FYI request #26853 email]
Our ref: OIA 2324-0984
Tēnā koe Naomi
Response to your Official Information Act request
Thank you for your email of 17 May 2024 to the Ministry for Ethnic Communities (the Ministry)
requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
…regarding funding allocations to various entities. Specifically… a comprehensive** listing of
all assistance and funding provided by the Ministry to the following parties:
•
New Zealand Jewish Council
•
New Zealand Friends of Israel Association
•
Astor Foundation
•
B'nai B'rith Limmud New Zealand
•
New Zealand Jewish Community Assistance
•
Zionist Federation of New Zealand
•
Bnei Akiva
•
Habonim Dror Aotearoa
•
New Zealand Community Security Group
•
Australasian Union of Jewish Students
•
Hadassah International New Zealand
•
Holocaust Centre of New Zealand
•
Jewish Lives
**‘comprehensive listing’ to include date of allocation, funding amount, funding purpose, any
accompanying requests from each respective group outlining reasons for funding.
Furthermore… any recommendations that the Ministry for Ethnic Communities may have for
the Minister regarding the aforementioned groups…
In response to your request, the Ministry has provided two types of funding. The COVID-19 Vaccine
Uptake Fund which has now ended, and the Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF) which is
active.
None of the above-mentioned groups were funded by the COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Fund.
Please see the attached appendix which notes all ECDF funding provided to the above listed
organisations. Al successful grants for the ECDF are publicly available on the Ministry’s website at
ethniccommunities.govt.nz/funding/ethnic-communities-development-fund/projects-we-have-
funded-in-the-past/.
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The ECDF is operational y independent of the Minister. The Ministry makes no recommendations to
the Minister in respect of grants made from the Fund. Therefore, this part of your request has been
refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information does not exist.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of
the Ombudsman of my response relating to this request. The relevant details can be found on their
website at: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
Please note, due to the public interest in our work, the Ministry may publish responses to requests
for official information on our website, shortly after the response has been sent. If you have any
queries about this, please feel free to contact our Ministerial Services team:
[email address].
Ngā mihi
Edward Firth
Director of Ministerial Services
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Appendix: Funding for the requested organisations
Organisation name
Fund
Amount
Date Awarded
Funding Purpose
Awarded
New Zealand Jewish
ECDF
$20,000
December 2020 New Zealand Jewish Leadership Conference. A 1-to-2-day conference for
Council Incorporated
representatives of 54 Jewish groups and organisations, as well for establishing a year-
long mentorship programme
ECDF
$15,000
April 2021
A comprehensive survey of the level and incidence of antisemitism in New Zealand.
The survey aimed to consolidate much of the work that has been done before and
establish an ongoing measure of antisemitism in New Zealand. Also, to help direct
targeted resources to combat racism.
New Zealand Friends of
Nil.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Israel Association
Astor Foundation
Nil.
N/A
N/A
N/A
B'nai B'rith Limmud New
Nil.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Zealand
New Zealand Jewish
Nil.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Community Assistance
Zionist Federation of New
ECDF
$40,000
August 2021
The Zionist Federation Youth Leadership and Education Empowerment Project. This
Zealand
project aimed to facilitate positive outcomes for teenagers and young adults to create
connections, a sense of belonging, develop friendships, and foster leadership abilities
within the Jewish community.
ECDF
$5,000
December 2022 Hanukkah Celebration (Jewish Festival of Light). The Hanukkah celebration brings
communities together, enhances intercultural relationships and demonstrates the
benefits of ethnic diversity, while improving social cohesion.
Bnei Akiva
Nil.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Habonim Dror Aotearoa
Nil.
N/A
N/A
N/A
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Organisation name
Fund
Amount
Date Awarded
Funding Purpose
Awarded
New Zealand Community
ECDF
$80,000
December 2023 To undertake a one-off, 12-month survey of antisemitism in New Zealand. The survey
Security Group (Also known
wil identify trends over time and highlight key antisemitic incidents. This work wil
as The NZ Jewish
contribute to the work of key government agencies and be shared with the Jewish
Community Security Group
community to make them more aware of risks.
Charitable Trust)
Australasian Union of
Nil.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Jewish Students
Hadassah International
Nil.
N/A
N/A
N/A
New Zealand
Holocaust Centre of New
ECDF
$10,000
November 2021 To hold the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2022 in
Zealand
Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Nelson, and Christchurch.
ECDF
$20,000
October 2022
To hold the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023 in
Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
Jewish Lives (Also known as ECDF
$80,000
July 2020
To refresh the Jewish Online Museum. This includes creating a new website, updating
The Jewish Museum of New
it with new content and working closely with the education sector to provide
Zealand Charitable Trust)
objective educational resources to schools via outreach programmes or on-line
courses.
ECDF
$30,000
November 2023 To create Jewish cultural and historical content to educate Jewish people and the
wider public in New Zealand, and to find out more about themselves and their
community. It aimed to cultivate greater understanding and appreciation of the
Jewish culture and minimise antisemitic behaviour.
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