Abdur Razzaq
Wellington, September 25, 2024
A powerful civil society network of national ethnic and faith leaders met with the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon at Parliament, to discuss issues of concern and suggestions on the way forward. Hon Melissa Lee, Minister for Ethnic Communities, was also in attendance.
Prime Minister Luxon noted that with the increasing diversity of New Zealand’s population, such a united body of senior leadership of the growing ethnic and faith communities has a positive and strategic role in shaping our nation’s future. He welcomed the Network and its focus on promoting national unity and collective social cohesion.
A range of issues relating to health, immigration, national security, foreign interference, law and order, gun control and hate crime were raised by the ethnic and faith leaders. There will be a high-level follow-up with the heads of the various key ministries, led by the DPMC.
“There is a need for greater consultation at policy level and purposeful engagement by senior officials prior to any legislation,“ said Daljit Singh from the Combined Sikh Association of NZ. Robert Hunt, Chairperson of the NZ Buddhist Council gave the example that the last time there was a review of the immigration policies on visiting religious teachers, monks and priests was over 12 years ago. “The visa policy settings needs some urgent attention,” said Mr Hunt.
“All our communities are concerned about the growth of crime and we would welcome more attention to victims impact statement when it comes to sentencing,” said Paul Patel from the NZ Indian Central Association. Manisha Morar, also from the Indian Association, stated that “Hate crimes against ethnic and faith communities have been growing and there needs to be some urgency in addressing this matter.”
Richard Leung from the New Zealand Chinese Association highlighted that foreign interference is impacting our democracy and we should now consider registration of foreign agents, like all the other Five Eyes countries. At another level, Debbie Chin also from the New Zealand Chinese Association referring to some of the latest health data said, “The health equity stakes for Asian communities do not seem to have been considered in the current health policies and screening programmes.”
Gregory Fortuin of the African Leaders Group requested the Prime Minister to maintain the current status quo with respect to the MSSA guns and the Gun Registry. “None of our ethnic and faith communities want these military-style semi-automatic weapons,” said Mr Fortuin.
Ibrar Sheikh and Rizwan Khan from the Islamic Federation noted that diverse ethnic communities have a positive role in the national development and economic growth of our country, however, there is no representation in Cabinet.
“This was a very productive meeting given that the Prime Minister took detailed notes of some of the key collective concerns of our communities and we are confident that there will be follow-up with senior government officials on the issues raised by the national ethnic and faith leaders,” said Abdur Razzaq, Coordinator of the National Ethnic and Faith Community Leaders Network.
We are particularly pleased that the Prime Minister requested a follow-up meeting of progress in about four months.”
For more information about this meeting, please contact the National Network of Ethnic and Faith Community Leaders at:
- New Zealand Chinese Association – Email – rgleung67@gmail.com, chin@xtra.co.nz
- Indian Central Association – Email – paul@paulpatel.co.nz, mmorar@windowslive.com
- Z Buddhist Council – Email – chair@buddhistcouncil.org.nz
- Combined Sikh Association of NZ – Email – daljit@xtra.co.nz
- Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ – Email – info@fianz.com
- African Community Leaders Group – Email – gfortuin@xtra.co.nz
For more information on this Press Release please contact Abdur Razzaq at 021381887, Email: fianz.advocacy@gmail.com
