Opening of Philipstown Refugee Back Garden

The Philipstown Refugee back Garden in Christchurch was officially open on 16 October 2016. Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Temple New Zealand Abbess Venerable Abbess Manshin was invited for the Opening Ceremony. She was represented by FGS South Island Temple Supervisor Venerable Jue Xi and 5 members of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island Young Adult Division (YAD).

Other participants of the Ceremony included Dame Susan Devoy, Head of Racial Relations New Zealand Human Rights, Ms. Sally, Maori Representative of NZ Multi Racial Organisation and more than 20 others.
Venerable Jue Xi and the BLIA South Island YAD members were first given a guided tour of the office building by President of Philipstown Refugees Committee, Ahmed Tani. According to Mr. Ahmed, New Zealand Philipstown Refugee Committee is an independent, autonomous Non Governmental Organisation founded to cater to the organising and resettlement of the refugees in New Zealand, basing on the refugees’ rights and needs. At the same time, the Committee aims to promote cross cultural exchanges and social integrations between the refugees and the local populace.

The Opening Ceremony started with the singing of Maori welcoming song by Ms Sally. President Ahmed Tani then extended a warm welcome to all the participants and proceeded to invite Dame Susan Devoy as the Guest of Honour for the Opening Ceremony of the Philipstown Refugee Garden. In her speech, Dame Susan Devoy hoped that through cultural and social integration, the refugees and the locals will be interwoven into a single fabric. She was glad that the refugees were able to resettle down in New Zealand well and thanked the Philipstown Refugees Committee for their contributions all these while.

The Ceremony ended happily with the planting of vegetables and lemon trees by Dame Susan Devoy and all the participants, symbolising a bright future through good efforts by all.