Our newly established Trust is dedicated to celebrating and promoting the rich tapestry of ethnic diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Founded in 2023, our primary mission is to showcase the invaluable contributions of ethnic communities to the development and growth of our nation.
Our Flagship Project:
Unveiling New Zealand's Multicultural Journey
At the heart of our current endeavours lies an ambitious book project.
Our publication in development aims to explore a range of the multicultural journeys that have shaped New Zealand's identity. Through compelling storytelling, we seek to illuminate the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds who have contributed significantly to various sectors of New Zealand society.
Key features of our book project:
Target audience: Primarily aimed at the New Zealand educational market, with broader appeal to the general public
Unique perspective: The first publication of its kind to cover a wide variety of multicultural journeys from diverse perspectives
Storytelling approach: Utilizing a narrative technique to engage readers and bring personal stories to life
Interesting coverage: Showcasing contributions across various sectors including economy, society, and environment
Educational value: Designed to foster understanding, empathy, and appreciation for New Zealand's multicultural identity.
Who we are working with:
David Armstrong, an experienced writer with a proven track record in connecting with migrant and refugee communities, has been commissioned to bring these stories to life.
Potton and Burton, one of New Zealand's largest independent book publishers, to ensure the highest quality production and distribution.
Trust Patron
The Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM QSO KStJ
Former lawyer, judge and ombudsman who served as the 19th Governor-General of New Zealand from 2006 to 2011 is patron of our Trust. He was chair of the Commonwealth Foundation for two 2-year terms, ending December 2016. He then chaired the Commonwealth Observation Group of the National Elections of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea in 2017.
Our goal is to distribute this book to schools right across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Trustees
Boyd Klap, Chair
Born in the Netherlands, Boyd joined the Dutch resistance as a teenager during the Second World War. He migrated to New Zealand in 1951. His career was in the insurance industry and after many appointments in New Zealand and Australia, Boyd was appointed CEO of Prudential New Zealand and No. 2 in Australia. Subsequently, he was CEO of the Life Office Association and, in 2012, the Chair of a new company, Partners Life, which became a leader in the insurance industry and was bought by a Japanese company in 2022.
All his life Boyd has been involved in chairing charitable organisations, such as the Life Education Trust, Lifetime Design Trust, Greater Wellington Promotion Council (Tourism), Wellington Civic Trust, World Press Photo Exhibition, Rembrandt Remastered Exhibition (NZ Tour), New Zealand-Netherlands Foundation and for the last 13 years the Anne Frank Travelling Exhibition.
Boyd has been awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) and Companion of the Queens Service Order (QSO), Commandeur Oranje-Nassau (Netherlands) and Cross of Merit (Germany).
Stephen Clarke
Born in New Zealand and a History graduate of the University of Otago, with a PhD from the University of New South Wales, Stephen is a public historian with a long-standing interest in the social history of Aotearoa New Zealand.
After two years as a Historian at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Stephen joined the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association in 2001 and later as CEO led the strategic transformation of the RSA. In 2014, he was appointed Head of Remembrance with the Royal British Legion in London at the start of the centenary of the First World War commemorations.
On his return to New Zealand, Stephen founded the historical research consultancy, Making History Ltd, and his publications include After the War: The RSA in New Zealand (2016), Mana Tangata People of Action: Rotary Clubs in New Zealand and the Pacific (2021), Giving for Good: A history of the J R McKenzie Trust (2022), and an online exhibition marking 150 years of the Public Trust (2023).
John Dow
Born in Victoria Australia into a Scottish migrant family, John was raised in New Zealand. He has been committed to advancing the aspirations of Wellington and Aotearoa New Zealand for the past 40 years, locally, nationally and internationally through Arts and Culture, Business, Sport and History projects.
These have included as Kaiwhakahaere/Project Manager for ‘He Taonga Te Reo 1995 – A Celebration of Maori Language’, ‘Maori Art Meets America’ in San Francisco, Co-Producer of Nga Tohunga Whakatere – The Navigators a film about Maori/Pasifika and European Navigation, and with the Waka initiatives in Valencia, Spain and Leiden, Netherlands. John was also Director of ‘Parade ’98 – Vietnam Remembered’, ‘Tribute ’08 – A Vietnam Commemoration’, ‘Ice and Fire – Korea War Commemoration’, World Press Photo Exhibition and the Rembrandt Remastered Exhibition (NZ Tours).
John has also been the Marketing Director of the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, Co-Creator and Director of the Wellington Gold Awards (Business Awards) since 1999, and Director of the WELLY Awards – Wellingtonian of the Year Awards for 20 years.
Geoff Norman
Born in New Zealand, Geoff graduated in Geology with Honours from the University of Canterbury and later completed a Diploma in Environmental Studies at Victoria University.
After working several years in Europe, the Middle East, and New Zealand as a geologist, Geoff co-founded a publishing company and has subsequently worked in publishing for over 40 years, producing many books for a variety of clients including the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Bridget Williams Books, Te Papa Press, and Potton & Burton.
He has also written and produced two books of his own, Buller’s Birds of New Zealand: The complete work of J G Keulemans (Te Papa Press, 2012), which was the New Zealand Herald Book of the Year and a finalist in the New Zealand Post Book Awards, and Birdstories: A History of the Birds of New Zealand (Potton & Burton, 2018), which was shortlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.
Vanisa Dhiru
Born in New Zealand to Indian parents, Vanisa is an advocate for equity, inclusion & belonging. She has a honours degree in Design, and is seeking to complete a Masters in Technological Futures in 2026.
Vanisa has served the community through a variety of both paid and volunteer commitments, including previously holding the roles of National President of National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ), CEO of Volunteering New Zealand, Executive Director of 20/20 Trust, General Manager with InternetNZ, and Commissioner with the NZ National Commission of UNESCO. Today she supports the Library & Information Advisory Commission, Global Women NZ and the Spark Foundation in governance roles, as well as a General Manager role in the public service.
In 2020, Vanisa was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) as part of the New Year’s Honours, for services to the community and gender rights.