About Us

Robyn Bradley — September 29th, 2024

The Multicultural Centre is an exciting place where cultures converge, ideas flourish, and friendships blossom.

The Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre has been set up by the Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre Charitable Trust, in partnership with the Christchurch City Council.

Our mission

To create and successfully manage in collaboration with our partners a safe, and well used space that encourages the interweaving of all peoples through learning, celebration and play.

Meet the people behind the Trust

The trust is currently formed by six 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 Chhetri Chairperson Driven by a passion to serve the city and support developing communities, Shreejana has worked in NGOs and the New Zealand public sector. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Multicultural Advisory Board to the Christchurch City Council, serving as deputy chair to implement the Multicultural Strategy Plan. Now, as chair of the MRCC Charitable Trust, she aims to make the first multicultural centre welcoming, accessible, and inclusive. Her goal is to connect communities and ensure the centre meets diverse needs, contributing to Christchurch as a thriving, diverse city.
	Mr Jimmy Chen Vice-Chairperson Jimmy served as a Christchurch City Councillor for 12 years (2010-2022). As the former chair of the City Council’s Multicultural Committee, he led the development and implementation of the Christchurch Multicultural Strategy, which supports and embraces cultural diversity in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Currently, he is an executive member of the New Zealand School Trust Association Canterbury Region and a board member of Ilam School. He has also served on various boards, including the Hornby Halswell Riccarton Community Board and the Canterbury Museum Trust.
	Mrs Emily Verhoven Trustee Emily hails from Kenya, East Africa, and grew up in Nairobi. She belongs to the Luhya tribe, one of the largest ethnic groups in Kenya. Emily moved to New Zealand in 2007 and volunteered at the Refugee Migrant Services (Christchurch Resettlement Services) while awaiting her work visa, assisting refugees and migrants in settling into Ōtautahi/Christchurch. With over 10 years of experience in various advisory roles within central and local governments, Emily most recently served as a Committees and Hearings Advisor. Her passion for fostering diversity and building strong relationships motivates her to be part of the Multicultural Board of Trustees, supporting and uniting communities.
	Mr Danté Fyfe Trustee Danté is a Mortgage/Financial Adviser based in Christchurch Ōtautahi. He is honoured to be appointed to the MRCC Committee for 2024. In the community, Danté has established the Pacific Business Collective to encourage Pacific People to start their own side hustles and diversify their income. He also founded the Pacific Peoples Trust, a charity aimed at empowering individuals with financial capability programs and helping them transition from unemployment to meaningful work or study. Having played Summer Netball at the Hagley Netball Courts, Danté appreciates the facility and looks forward to its transformation into a space enjoyed by Christchurch’s multicultural communities.