of religious workers. A decision by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries to remove an exemption to the animal slaughter code for kosher slaughter was reversed after protest from the Jewish community. The Human Rights Commission facilitated the development of a National Statement on Religious Diversity which was endorsed at the 2007 National Interfaith Forum and launched by the Prime Minister at the Asia Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue held at Waitangi that year. The statement was subsequently endorsed by a wide range of faith communities, including the major Christian denominations and Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh organisations. The Commission publishes a monthly newsletter on religious diversity and, together with the Victoria University’s Religious Studies Programme, organised the annual religious diversity forum and published guidelines on religion in public life. A UNESCO chair in interreligious understanding was established at Victoria University, and Islamic Studies programmes were expanded at Victoria and Otago Universities, and introduced at the University of Auckland. Priorities for 2012 • Raise awareness in businesses and workplaces of the need to respect and accommodate religious diversity. • Promote dialogue between faith communities and the media on the representation of diverse religions in the media. 11. Diversity Research Contributed by Professor James Liu of the Victoria University Centre for Applied Crosscultural Research Racism and discrimination Whereas the annual review of race relations and popular media in general focus much attention on racism and discrimination, the contents of the diversity research reports have been more diffuse, and more about the benefits and contributions of diversity (including economic and social elements) than its costs and imperfections. Given the Government’s strategic reliance on skilled migrants to fill labour needs and its concurrent desire for social cohesion as the demographic profile of the country shifts, this is not surprising. It is in line with research funding priorities. 22