Shehecheyanu starts Wellington council meeting

The New Zealand capital city’s council meeting started off differently this week.

Following representations from the Wellington Interfaith Council, the Wellington City Council began as usual with a Karakia (Maori prayer), followed by a Shehecheyanu.

“The special occasion today is the opening of the monthly council meeting with an interfaith prayer,” said the Interfaith Council representative, David Zwartz.

“Not all New Zealanders adhere to a faith or follow an organised religion. About half our population do, a large number of whom come from ethnic minorities.

By agreeing to open your monthly proceedings with an interfaith prayer, Wellington City Council is sending a message that it values diversity and inclusion, and aims for social cohesion.

This message is specially important just now as we digest the report of the Royal Commission into the Christchurch Mosques massacre,” Zwartz pointed out.

Your decision will be welcomed by the minority and interfaith communities around Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights which has affinities with similar observances in nearly all the world’s traditions and cultures – like the Star of Bethlehem in Christianity, Diwali in Hinduism and Sikhism, and the kinara of Kwanzaa.

The symbolism of light overcoming darkness, of light representing goodness, is universal.

May such light help this council in its deliberations and decision-making,” he concluded.