What we do: Unity Week

An annual fixture on Napier's calendar, Unity Week celebrates the importance and place of unity and

community cohesion with an emphasis on what we share as people, rather than what divides us

socially and culturally, and whereby we can come to better understand and respect differences within

our communities. Unity Week always takes place in the week including ANZAC day each year. While

the programme varies from year to year there are several firm favourites that take place no matter what

These are outlined below:

Robson Lecture

The Robson Lecture is named in honour of Dr John Robson, a former Secretary of Justice who led the

abolition of the death penalty in New Zealand, and later became the first criminologist at Victoria

University. Each year the Robson Lecture is given in part to honour his memory, on a criminal justice

theme.

Pat speakers have included Judges, senior Politicians and a Governor General. In 2010 the speaker

was well known Maori Lawyer Moana Jackson. Members of the public are invited to attend the lecture,

which concludes with afternoon tea. Watch this site for more details.

Pilot City Awards

Each year 8 unsung heroes are honoured with the presentation of a Napier Pilot City Trust award. The

award is given to acknowledge the often unseen work of a wide range of individuals who work

tirelessly to improve the social well being, often of those most disadvantaged within Napier

communities (in particular). The awards have a strong bi-cultural focus and typically around half of

those given the award are Maori.

The award ceremony typically follows the Robson Lecture. Members of the public are warmly invited to

attend the ceremony. The 2010 recipients were: Haami TeKuru Hilton, Edina Hilton, Ros Rowe, Mihi

Rigby, Toro Brown, Monica Stockdale, Te Rangi Huata and Genesis Keefe.

The 2011 award recipeints were: Rosscoe Brown, Rev Bill Chapman (Father Bill), Kathy Egan, Peter

Gibson, Peter Grant, Ngareipa Hawaikirangi and Whetu Tipiwai.

The 2012 recipients were Elizabeth Ratima, Heather Te Au-Skipworth, Tiwana Aranui, Yvonne Aranui,

Henare Ratima, Phyllis Ratima, Maxine Boag, Russell Spiller and William Jenkins.

Unity Walk

The Unity Walk takes place annually and celebrates and promotes unity between people of all cultures

in our communities, including between Maori and Pakeha. Typically the walk leaves from a central city

location and finishes up on a Marae or other location. The 2010 walk in addition featured a parade of

national flags carried by representatives of many countries and cultures in our city and which turned

into quite a colourful event; the 2011 walk saw a hardy bunch brave wind and rain to walk from Pania to

the William Colenso Reserve where they were treated to an excellent talk on the Treaty in Hawke's Bay

by local historian Pat Parsons. For information on the 2012 walk, click on the link below.

Unity Dinner

The week always includes the Unity Dinner celebration held at the Napier RSA. The evening typically

includes impromtu singing, entertainment from school or cultural groups, story telling and general

bonhomie. Members of the Diplomatic core and guests from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds are

always invited - this gives the evening a truly international feel. Tickets can be purchased from the

Napier RSA or the office at least one month prior to the event. All welcome.

2012 Unity Week

Information on Unity Week 2012 will be added to this site progressively - for details click here

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