The sounds of the Pacific will be heard loud and proud in Auckland this week, as what is tipped to be the biggest Polyfest kicks off today.

Aucklanders were out in force yesterday, soaking up the sights and sounds of the Pacific at the Pasifika Festival and the glamour of Auckland Cup Day.

An advisory group has been set up to help organise Auckland's Diwali after last year's fiasco.

New Zealand has held onto its position as the fourth best performing country for opportunities for women in work.

International chain PappaRich opens first outlet in Auckland with more planned around New Zealand.

That's a lot of different ways to say hello.

Quality celebration of all our cultures more sorely needed than a parade each, writes Brian Rudman.

After an eruption of protests the skin-whitening ad was withdrawn with "heartfelt apologies" from Seoul Secret. But they didn't withdraw the product, writes Gwynne Dyer.

Dr Robert Sanders's view in his opinion article "What is Chinese?" is correct but only in a limited sense, writes Raymond Huo.

BIG DEBATE: Dame Susan Devoy says she isn't the Grinch while Bishop Ross Bay warns of the dangers of expunging "Christmas" from migrants' vocabulary.

COMMENT: The Human Rights Commissioner is wasting time on trying to drop "Christmas" from our summer vocabulary., writes Brian Rudman.

The ARMS Trust is not doing away with Christmas, not banning Christmas, not rejecting Christianity, and not avoiding the word Christmas, writes Dr Mary Dawson.

One of the myths we love about New Zealand is that it is a great place to bring up children.

We shouldn't just take it at as axiomatic that low decile means low achievement. What we need now is evidence. We need to work collegially and collectively across deciles, writes Barbara Ala'alatoa.

New Zealand is becoming a super diverse nation, but its diversity story is a stratified one - drawn along ethnic and economic lines.

New Zealand recorded its highest net migration gain last year.

Studies show that an ethnically diverse workforce is essential for business competitiveness and greater profitability.

Projections show the Asian population in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area is expected to increase from 11,900 to 25,000 by 2038.

Massey University studies found New Zealand employers continue to discriminate against migrants.

Migrants starting businesses in New Zealand can surpass initial hurdles around business nuances and have success being self-employed.

Real estate agent on how to make a successful sale in the Asian property market.

New Zealand face of the future will be browner and likely to comprise multiple ethnic identities as a result, experts say.

To peek into a classroom in certain parts of Auckland is to understand what our country's ethnic make-up will be in a quarter of a century's time.

New Zealand European-staffed companies servicing New Zealand European customers have an unsustainable business model because the country's ethnic demographic is changing so rapidly, says the author....

In just over 20 years, the combined Asian, Pacific and Maori population in Auckland is forecast to outnumber Europeans and others.

The rise of Asian culture in Auckland, as February's Lantern Festival and this month's Diwali celebrations illustrate good fun and good energy to the city.

By 2038, 51pc of Kiwis will be Asian, Maori and Pasifika, writes Mai Chen.

Auckland's point of difference is not the glories or supremacy of one ethnicity over another, but our place in the Pacific as a smorgasbord of cultures and ethnicities, writes Brian Rudman.