People from many nations have come to Aotearoa New Zealand and made it their home. The local church aims wherever possible to provide for the religious needs of its people whatever their culture or language.

The different nations have formed local ethnic and migrant groups, whose members also fully and actively participate into the local parish life, who are cared for by the church both as individuals, and as ethnic and migrant groups recognised as such within the dioceses.

Full and active participation refers to people’s active involvement in a variety of roles in liturgy, decision-making and outreach.