23?September?2013

16?Dhul?Qadah?1434

New Zealand Muslims Stakeholders Forum 2008

On June 30, 2008 FIANZ held its first Stakeholders Forum at the Banquet Hall, Parliament Building in Wellington. The theme of the Forum was "To Build Strong New Zealand Muslim Families". The event aimed at bringing together the religious and community leaders of the NZ Muslim community to dialogue with representatives of the Government and non-governmental organizations that directly impact on the NZ Muslims' ability to raise strong families.

The Forum was attended by the Prime Minister of NZ The Right Honourable Helen Clark, some of her Ministers and parliamentary colleagues, members of the Diplomatic Corps, the New Zealand Muslim leadership, top officials of many NZ Government Departments (Ministries of Social Development, Health, Education, Women Affairs, Youth, Foreign Affairs, Families Commission, Children's Commission, New Zealand Police, Victoria University, SPARC and Non Governmental Organisations as well as members of the general public.

Before the inaugural speech by the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Kaumatua Bob Penetto from the Department of Internal Affairs, welcomed the Forum attendees with the traditional Maori Mihi, and then the Chairman of FIANZ Ulema Board Sheik Mohamad Amir recited a Chapter in the Quran pertinent to the Forum's theme of strong families.

Javed Khan the President of FIANZ outlined the role that the Association plays as the umbrella organization of NZ Muslims, particularly in the areas of building bridges and engagement with the wider society. He said FIANZ "as a representative organisation, with roots firmly established in local and regional communities throughout the country, see it as its role to work with Government and its agencies towards the common objectives out lined in various initiatives." Mr. Khan stated that the first stakeholder forum chose the theme: "To Build Strong NZ Muslim Families" because "strong and stable families form the foundations of a strong society." He then continued that "we are here today because we believe and trust in the power of family". Mr. Khan emphasised the role of parents in providing a secure, warm and caring home environment and in instilling positive values in their children.

The NZ Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Hon. Chris Carter, inaugurated the forum. In his speech, Mr. Carter underlined the Government's strong commitment to building a society where everyone is respected. He confirmed that in 2005 NZ launched the building bridges program as a strategic project to engage Muslims. Mr. Carter placed emphasis on the fact that "we are all stakeholders today whether Muslim or not, young or old, we all have interest in building a strong New Zealand where everyone feel valued and part of the country."

Member of NZ Parliament, Dr. Ashraf Choudhary, spoke and enumerated some of the initiatives of the NZ Government that he believed has helped to create an environment that support the building of strong Muslim families. These initiatives include: a) the provision of interest free student loans - which will enable Muslims to go to school without worrying about taking usurious loans; b) the shared equity housing scheme - which will operate on a profit and loss basis and will provide no interest loan opportunities for low income families to buy their first homes, and c) the opening of an Islamic Studies Centre at Victoria University of Wellington.

Professor Paul Morris, the Programme Director (Religious Studies Department) of Victoria University of Wellington, used the forum's platform to launch the National Centre for the Study of Islam. The centre will focus on the study of Islam in NZ and the Asia Pacific Region. Professor Morris called for the centre to be supported in a similar fashion as the centres in Australia have been supported by grants from wealthy Middle Eastern Countries.

The events main activities were divided into four sessions with the following sub-themes focusing on different aspects of developing strong NZ families:

	Building A Strong Community
	Building Strong Families
	Building Strong Youth & Women
	Building Healthy & Educated Communities

Each session of the forum included a panel of speakers followed by a question and answer session.

The Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark also addressed the gathering. In her speech, she enumerated some of the policies of her Government including connecting diverse community projects; building bridges programs; statement on religious diversity; Asia Pacific Interfaith Forum; Alliance of Civilization forums and the establishment of Islamic Studies Centre among others as policies that create the environment within and outside NZ conducive to building strong Muslim families. The PM acknowledged the fact that strong families are not built by Governments, but rather, are built on love and support for each other. A document on NZ plans to support Alliance of Civilization programs were presented by the PM at the Forum and she thanked FIANZ for working for NZ Muslims and for its relationship with NZ Government.

Dr Mustafa Farouk, First Vice President and Daawah (Outreach and Dialogue) Coordinator of FIANZ gave the concluding remarks and thanked all those who participated at the first stakeholder forum. Farouk said the outcome of the first stakeholder forum will form part of a book on Raising a Muslim Kiwi which FIANZ plan to publish following its first National Convention to be held at the end of 2008 or early 2009.

Forum conclusions

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	The goal of the forum to bring the leadership of Muslims and relevant stakeholder organizations in the building of a strong Muslim family in New Zealand was realised.
	NZ government policies as outlined in various presentations and the structures existing in the country support and encourage communities including the Muslim community to build strong families.
	Some of the current policies discussed at the forum were specifically created to engage Muslims. Other policies like the interest free student loans and the shared equity housing scheme, though not targeted to Muslims specifically, operate on principles that make it easy for Muslims to acquire education and housing and at the same time abide by their religious principles of not taking usurious loans.
	There is no any indication that New Zealand government will in the future create policies that will limit the freedom or prevent Muslims from maintaining their identities or in building strong families.
	Families are not built by government policies. Governments can only help by creating the environment; it is the membership of the family, the neighbourhoods and the communities that can build strong families.
	Sufficient tips have been provided by various speakers on how to raise a strong family that were consistent with Islamic principles.
	The challenge is on NZ Muslims individually and as a community to continue to raise strong families and to seek help if they face difficulties in the process.