By Philip Patston

Recently I ran a Diversity Inquiry ("DIV:INQ") workshop as part of Diversityworks Trust's How Diversity Works exhibition. We ran it at 5.30pm, in an art gallery, with food and wine. Over forty people came.

By Philip Patston

Recently I ran a Diversity Inquiry ("DIV:INQ") workshop as part of Diversityworks Trust's How Diversity Works exhibition. We ran it at 5.30pm, in an art gallery, with food and wine. Over forty people came.

During the small group activities, the noise was almost deafening. People laughed and told their stories of similarities and difference. They explored ideas, agreeing enthusiastically and disagreeing generously. They contemplated and lamented.

They had some more food and wine.

In the space of two hours they built relationships, found connections, stumbled upon new realisations and discovered things about each other they would never understand.

And they accepted everything without question, without the need to analyse, deconstruct or find meaning.

This is what diversity really is.

Diversity is not about Treaty claims, homophobia, exclusion of people who experience disability, ageism, transphobia or any of the political issues we try and control, make meaning of, sanction, legislate for or against, or improve.

Diversity is children playing, drawing a picture, dancing off-beat to music and making up a story that makes no sense except the sense they choose to make of it.

Diversity is a journey of discovery, led by imagination, possibility, opportunity and wonder. It's about accepting what is, who is, wherever and whenever it is.

And enjoying that.

Find out more about playing with diversity here.

• Related Event: LATE: Life in the Margins - Auckland Museum, Thursday 6 October