Ramadan Mubarak!
On Saturday All Hands Aotearoa hosted an iftar for locals - the meal eaten by Muslims at sunset to break their fast-during Ramadan. Ramadan is a month-long period in the Islamic calendar where Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset.
This community event was proudly supported by the Howick Local Board as part of our ongoing efforts to better support and connect with our growing Muslim population (which has almost doubled since 2013).
In my brief speech I acknowledged the six-year anniversary of the terrorist attack in Christchurch. One of the darkest days our recent history, the impact of this cowardly act continues to reverberate today. While it was a coincidence that this event was on the anniversary, it was important to acknowledge it. While we’ve made good progress as a country since then, we still have more work to do in terms of diversity and inclusion.
The Bucklands and Eastern Beaches War Memorial Hall was the perfect venue as we watched the sun set before sharing a meal and exchanging stories. Great to be joined by Members Adele White and Mike Turinsky, as well as council staff.