17 November 2025
[FYI request #31696 email]
Our ref: OIA 2526-0072
Tēnā koe
Response to your Official Information Act request
This letter fol ows the Ministry for Ethnic Communities’ (the Ministry) previous response to
your Official Information Act request dated 20 August 2025.
In our earlier response, the Ministry advised it was withholding the final document,
Otinga
Kōrero Final Results Report, for the time being while clarification and additional information
was sought from the applicant.
The Ministry is now in a position to reconsider its original decision to withhold the final
document in full. As such, please see the attached summary of the Asturlab Cultural Centre’s
Otinga Kōrero Final Results Report.
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
1
Appendix A: Otinga Kōrero Final Results Report - Summary
Grant expenditure:
Asturlab Cultural Centre was awarded an Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF)
grant of $30,000 in December 2023, to support the successful implementation of the
4 for
40 Stop the Silence campaign. Please see
Appendix B for a detailed expenditure breakdown.
Campaign details:
1982
The "4 for 40 Stop the Silence" campaign focused on raising awareness about the Gaza crisis
and promoting social cohesion. It included a 40-day email awareness campaign; a Social
Media Hackathon; launch of a bil board campaign drawing attention to the International
Act
Court of Justice findings; prayer space facilitation at various community events and
development of the stopthesilence.nz website as a dedicated platform for awareness.
Campaign outcome:
The campaign primarily engaged Muslim communities across New Zealand, particularly those
seeking a nuanced understanding of complex global issues. Youths benefited significantly from
the Social Media Hackathon, gaining essential digital skills and creative collaboration
opportunities. Event organisers gained increased Muslim community participation after the
Information
issue of lack of prayer spaces was addressed. The wider New Zealand public engaged with the
bil board campaign and educational content, providing balanced perspectives on chal enging
topics. The campaign provided the community with tools for constructive engagement
particularly during challenging period. The organisational capacity for digital outreach and
public advocacy was enhanced and the team developed valuable skills in campaign
Official
management, social media strategy, and public messaging that will benefit future initiatives
of the organisation.
the
under
Released
2
Appendix B: Otinga Kōrero Final Results Report - Final expenditure report
under the Official Information Act 1982
Released
3
