Opinion: The posturing over a problematic, peaceful panel

By Juliet Moses on Plainsight.nz…

You may have heard about the furore surrounding a “problematic panel” on the exterior of the new Resettlement Centre in the Waikato. The Centre has been developed by the Hamilton Multicultural Services (HMS) Trust, a charitable trust that aims to help successful settlement of refugees and migrants.

According to the HMS Trust’s website:

“The Settlement Centre Waikato (SCW) is a place of unity and one which welcomes all people, regardless of their religious or political beliefs, ethnicity or country of origin.

A key feature of the redeveloped SCW are the ethnic panels that externally wrap the building like a cloak. They are a symbol of diversity, inclusion, unity and our shared humanity here in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton.

Each panel is designed by a local ethnic artist and represents a personal journey through art, showcasing aspects of one’s own unique heritage and culture.

The invitation to participate was open to the communities HMS Trust support which includes migrants and former refugees of ethnic backgrounds. Public engagement was undertaken in mid 2023. And following on from this we received submissions from community members who wanted to take part in the project.

The result of the creativity, hard work, and dedication over the course of a year, from a multitude of local ethnic artists, celebrates and showcases the diversity of Kirikiriroa, Hamilton.

This is an artistic celebration of cultural identity, which is made up of memories, traditions, and heritage bringing together the shared humanity of people who have made Aotearoa, New Zealand home.”

The Centre’s opening has now been delayed because of anti-Israel protestors’ objections to one of the panels. The protestors seem to be struggling with their justifications and messaging for their stance, and news reports variously ascribe the grounds for their objections, as follows: