‘Equity, Identity and Civic Courage’ event inspires
Published on 21 April, 2026
By Jenny Nand and Mark Servian – Co-Chairs of the Waikato Intercultural Fund
It was a privilege to host ‘Equity, Identity, and Civic Courage in Aotearoa’ on 31 March, a panel discussion that was the third ‘Whiria Te Tangata: Weaving Communities Together’ speaker event hosted by the Waikato Intercultural Fund team.
To our incredible panellists Margaret Wilson, Kemi Fayomi, Jumana Fouda and Molly Āperira Huggan (pictured above left to right, with WIF compare Niko Koya on right), thank you for sharing your insights, expertise, and lived experiences with such honesty and generosity. Your voices challenged us, inspired us, and reminded us of what true courage looks like - it was an evening of powerful kōrero!
The panellists with the Waikato Intercultural Fund team and School of Law, Politics, and Philosophy leadership.
A heartfelt thank you also to the hundred-or-so people who joined us at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts at The University of Waikato. Your presence, engagement, and willingness to lean into courageous conversations made the occasion truly meaningful.
This ‘thought leadership’ speaker series has a simple but critically important intention - to bring people together, to spark courageous conversations, and to reinforce the social fabric of our region.
Each gathering invites us to look honestly at the challenges before us and to imagine the kind of Aotearoa we aspire to build, one defined by equity, dignity, and genuine connection, and grounded by the enduring promise of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The ‘Equity, Identity and Civic Courage in Aotearoa’ forum was timed to mark both International Women’s Day and New Zealand's Race Relations Day in March, as gender and race do not sit in isolation from each other. As expressed on the night, diversity and inclusion can be and should be New Zealand’s ‘superpower’.
‘Equity’ asks us not only to recognise disparities, but to actively address them, whether in representation, opportunity, or remuneration. Pay equity remains a pressing issue, particularly for Maaori, Pacific, migrant and ethnic women, whose contributions continue to be under-valued across many sectors.
‘Identity’ reminds us that none of us is defined by a single story. Gender, ethnicity, culture, migration journeys, indigeneity, these threads shape our experiences and influence how we move through the world. Te Tiriti provides the foundation upon which these diverse identities can stand with dignity and belonging.
And ‘civic courage’ calls on us to act, to stand up for fairness, to confront racism and misogyny, to counter disinformation, and to build systems that reflect the humanity of all people. It is the willingness to speak, to listen, and to weave stronger connections across our differences, honouring both our bicultural foundations and our intercultural reality.
When we honour the complexity of our identities, we create space for deeper understanding and more meaningful change.
We are proud to have co‑hosted this seminar with The School of Law, Politics, and Philosophy at The University of Waikato, and are deeply grateful for our ongoing partnership and shared commitment to fostering dialogue that connects communities. In particular, a big thanks to Justine Kingsbury, Tim Smith and Sandy Morrison for your ongoing support.
If you would like to be among the first to hear about future ‘Whiria Te Tangata: Weaving Communities Together’ events, and receive other info and notices from the Waikato Intercultural Fund team, please sign up to the WIF mailing list at momentumwaikato.nz/newsletter.
