The lift is currently out of commission, stairs will have to be used to access the first and second floors. - We are sorry for any inconvenience
What we are all about
Our vision and goal
The Multicultural Centre has been set up by the Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre Charitable Trust (MRCCCT), in partnership with the Christchurch City Council. The Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre Charitable Trust is a not-for-profit grassroots organisation whose purpose is to encourage, support and facilitate sporting, recreation and community development opportunities across ethnicities, multicultural communities, and relevant community organisations
The purpose of the Multicultural Centre is to provide a centre to celebrate multiculturalism, where diverse ethnicities and people groups can come together. For a long time, migrant and ethnic communities have advocated for a safe place to promote respect and cooperation. where they can maintain and exchange language and culture. The Multicultural Centre will offer plenty of space to accommodate a wide range of ideas and aspirations conveyed by the community throughout its redevelopment
The purpose of the Multicultural Centre is to provide a centre to celebrate multiculturalism, where diverse ethnicities and people groups can come together. For a long time, migrant and ethnic communities have advocated for a safe place to promote respect and cooperation. where they can maintain and exchange language and culture. The Multicultural Centre will offer plenty of space to accommodate a wide range of ideas and aspirations conveyed by the community throughout its redevelopment
Meet the people behind the Trust
The trust is currently formed by seven community members who were selected based on the required competencies and the need for a balanced representation of gender, ethnicities, nationalities, abilities, and skills.
- Ms Shreejana ChhetriChairpersonTena koutou
My name is Shreejana Chhetri.
I’m driven by my passion to serve our city and support our developing communities. I have worked in NGO and in the New Zealand public sector, as well as being a member of the Multicultural Advisory Board to the Christchurch city council since 2019, and serving as a deputy chair to ensure the implementation of the Multicultural strategy plan for our city. It is my great honour to now serve as the chair to the multicultural trust, and play a role in making our first ever multicultural centre a space that is welcoming, easily accessible and inclusive to all.
In my role as a chair, I look forward to working with my team and make decisions which facilitates our diverse community’s interest and needs. My goal is to connect communities, and execute action to make our multicultural centre a space that communities want. Overall, contributing towards making Christchurch a thriving city where diversity is embraced and celebrated. - Mr Jimmy ChenVice-Chairperson“Kia Ora Kouto, Tena Kouto, Tena Kouto, Tena Kouto, Katoa. My name is Jimmy Chen, I am deputy chair of the Christchurch Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre. I also was a former Christchurch City Councillor for 12 years (2010-2022).
As former chair of the City Council's Multicultural Committee, I have taken a lead to develop the Christchurch Multicultural Strategy and also monitored the implementation of this strategy. This strategy is a commitment by the Council to support and embrace the identity and diversity of the cultures for all people in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Christchurch Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre is owned by the City Council, I am delighted that this place will become part of the implementation of the Councils Multicultural Strategy.
I am currently an executive member of the New Zealand School Trust Association Canterbury Region, and Ilam School board member. I also was former board members of Hornby Halswell Riccarton Community Board, the Royal Airforce Museum Trust, Riccarton Bush and House Trust, Hei Hei/Broomfield Community Development Trust, Canterbury Museum Trust, Burnside High School Trust, as well as Board Director of Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism.
As deputy chair of Christchurch Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre, I promise that I will bring a broad and valuable range of knowledge, skills, and expertise, as well as the energy to serve you and serve all people in Ōtautahi Christchurch.” - Mrs Emily VerhovenTrusteeTēnā Koutou and Jambo.
My name is Emily Verhoeven. I am originally from Kenya, a country in East Africa with coastline on the Indian Ocean. I was brought up in the capital city of Nairobi, however, belong to one of the largest ethnic tribes of the Luhya.
I moved to NZ in 2007 and while waiting for my work visa, I volunteered at the Refugee Migrant Services (Christchurch Resettlement Services) assisting refugees and migrants to resettle into our beautiful city of Ōtautahi / Christchurch.
I was privileged to learn and embrace different customs, cultures and religious beliefs and long-life friendships.
I have over 10 years' experience working in the community in different advisory roles in both central and local governments. Most recently as a Committees and Hearings Advisor.
My passion lies in fostering diversity and building strong relationships, this makes me highly motivated to be part of an exceptional Multicultural Board of Trustees that supports and brings our communities together.
Finally, I would like to share a whakataukī I value:
"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini"
My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective. - Mrs Pooja ThakkarTrusteeKia ora koutou,
My name is Pooja, an individual whose life has been shaped by a journey filled with exploration, learning, and a deep commitment to community. Born and raised in India, I embarked on a transformative adventure at the age of 21 when I left my country to explore the world, ultimately finding my way to the United Kingdom for study.
This initial exposure to diverse cultures and environments became the catalyst for a passion to learn and grow. In 2015, I came to New Zealand as a migrant, driven by a profound willingness to belong and a commitment to building a future filled with hope. While originally arriving to pursue a degree in Business, my experience in New Zealand went beyond academia, providing me with invaluable life skills and meaningful connections with NZ whanau.
Since my arrival in 2015, I have dedicated my time and efforts to contribute to the community that welcomed me with open arms. Whether as a volunteer or an employee within various NGOs, I have strived to give back to a community.
Currently serving as a board member at the Multicultural Centre, I bring to the table my rich experience of working with diverse communities. My goal is to contribute to an inclusive environment that celebrates the uniqueness of each individual while fostering unity among us all.
I hold a strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, recognizing the significance of the treaty in shaping Aotearoa's cultural landscape. Due to my lived experiences, my upbringing and interactions with diverse cultural groups I consider myself to be a kaitiaki which enhances the interactions I have with all people and the environment. Throughout my own journey, I have researched my whakapapa and I acknowledge this has helped me secure a stronger sense of self and sense of belonging in my whanau and community. - Mr Danté FyfeTrustee"My name is Danté Fyfe and I'm a Mortgage/Financial Adviser here in Christchurch Otautahi. I'm grateful to have been appointed onto the MRCC Committee for 2024. In the community space I've created a Pacific Business Collective to help encourage Pacific People into starting their own side hustle & diversifying their income and created a charity called the Pacific Peoples Trust to empower people with programmes to upskill with financial capability & also get out of unemployment and into meaningful work or study.
Having played Summer Netball for a few years at the Hagley Netball Courts I know how great the facility and property are, and look forward to seeing how this can be repurposed into a facility enjoyed by multicultural communities of Christchurch." - Ms Dani FarajiTrusteeKia Ora
Dani is a young contributor to community and youth happenings in Ōtautahi. Dani has a background full of cultures and languages that coloured her upbringing between different places, before coming to Aotearoa at 17. Storytelling and oral histories are important to Dani as a way to stay connected across generations and distances. She speaks Farsi, English, Mandarin Chinese, and taught as a Taekwondo Coach for youth in Malaysia. In Aotearoa, she studies Fine Arts and hopes to be a part of the next generation of cross-cultural artists who bring positive change.
