About the New Zealand African National Council (NZANC)
The New Zealand African National Council (NZANC) is the national body representing and advancing the interests of African communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Established to promote unity, empowerment, and inclusive development. NZANC works to strengthen community leadership, foster cultural understanding, and ensure that African voices are meaningfully included in New Zealand’s social and economic progress.
Through collaboration with government agencies, community leaders, and partner organizations, NZANC drives initiatives that support education, advocacy, and sustainable growth. Its guiding vision “Advancing African Community Development through Unity, Voice, and Action” reflects a commitment to collective progress and equitable participation for all people of African heritage in New Zealand.
Our Vision
Ubuntu…I am because we are…
- Empowered, and united in shared purpose
- To improve the wellbeing of our people
- Stronger together
- Working in partnership as Tangata Tiriti
- To create national representation and empowered African communities
Our Mission
To create enhanced social and economic opportunities for Africans to unite and thrive in Aotearoa New Zealand
Our Values
Our guiding values that provide direction as to how we will interact with one another as a national collective entity
Values are central to the social fabric community. Each value carries a special unique dimension but are also interconnected. These values will enable us to operate with integrity and accountability. There is a natural alignment between the cultures of those on the African continent and Māori communities valuing collectivism, self-determination and relationality. It
was strongly felt that given the number of African languages, Māori values represented a set of common values grounded in Aotearoa New Zealand.
In Wānanga one based on the interviews six Te Ao Māori values were proposed. Participants welcomed Te Ao Māori values as a basis that could be further refined after consultation with the wider African communities in Aotearoa. ‘Ubuntu’ is the overarching principle that umbrellas our values. The values were further refined at Wānanga Three.
Prioritising Key Areas of Focus
Key areas of focus help us to define where and what we are going to work on. The key areas of focus help the community to respond to the immediate challenges and opportunities it faces. The immediate key areas of focus are education, community resilience, employment, health and wellbeing.
Education
Schools are well equipped to cater to our people
Community Resilience
Navigating barriers and developing strong community connections
Employment
Navigating employment barriers
Health and Wellbeing
Creating and prioritising a strong community and sense of wellbeing