Ministers, MPs promise good governance, service to all New Zealanders

Transport, Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Wood speaking

Ministers Michael Wood (Transport, Workplace Relations & Safety), Priyanca Radhakrishnan (Diversity, Inclusion & Ethnic Communities, Community & Voluntary Sector and Youth) and Aupito William Sio (Pacific Peoples and Courts) and Dr Deborah Russell (Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Revenue) said that they and their Labour Caucus were humbled by the overwhelming support extended by New Zealanders in electing Labour as a single majority Party in the general election held on October 17, 2020.

They were speaking at a special luncheon hosted by Indian Newslink Managing Director and Publisher Jacob Mannothra at the offices of Indian Newslink in Glendowie on Friday, December 4, 2020 on their entry/return to Parliament following the general election held on October 17, 2020.

Michael Wood

Michael Wood said that he was humbled by the strong mandate given to the Labour Party and its Leader Jacinda Ardern by the people of New Zealand.

“Year 2020 has been a challenging year and the government. New Zealanders and in fact the whole world has appreciated the way in which Jacinda Ardern and the ‘Team of Five Million’ managed Covid-19. We are in government for the second term and look forward to fulfilling our promises. We will be a responsible and responsive government,” he said.

Stating that among the tasks of the new government is to rebuild the economy that has suffered by the adverse effects of Covid, he said that as Transport Minister, his job would include saving livers on the roads, decarbonising the transport system to meet the climate challenges.

“As Workplace Relations & Safety Minister, I have a simple vision of ensuring that our workplaces are fair, safe and productive. I look forward to working with employees, unions and employers to bring these factors together to deliver on that vision as a government. Regardless of how people have voted in general election 2020, we will serve all New Zealanders,” he said.

Diversity, Inclusion, Ethnic Communities, Community & Voluntary Sector and Youth Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan on transformation

Priyanca Radhakrishnan

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who is the first person of Indian origin to become a Minister of the Crown in the history of New Zealand, said that this will be a ‘Transformational Government.’

“The Labour Party, under the leadership of Jacinda Ardern has been given a massive mandate by New Zealanders. We will not only be a transformational government but also be truly inspirational. As the Prime Minister said at her Acceptance Speech on October 17, 2020, our government will serve all New Zealanders, including those whose did not vote for us. We are one country and one people and we recognise the enormous work that we have to do this term,” she said.

Ms Radhakrishnan said that as her Ethnic portfolio says, she will truly promote Diversity and Inclusion and serve all ethnic communities.

“Even as a student, I have had opportunities to be involved in the Community and Voluntary Sector and the youth of the country and I deem it a great honour to serve these sectors in a ministerial capacity. I will meaningfully engage with all the communities,” she said.

A section of our guests-Gurbrinder Aulakh, Anil Thapliyal, Camilla Birch, and Dr Neru Leavasa and Helen White

Aupito William Sio

 
Ministers, MPs pledge-Aupito William Sio speaks with Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Michael Wood, Ilango Krishnamoorthy and Dr Gaurav Sharma

Aupito William Sio, who has been a regular contributor of articles to Indian Newslink, said that he spent the first three years of his role as a Minister (2017 to 2020) serving the interests of the Pacific Islands people along with Jenny Salesa (who was Minister of Ethnic Communities in the previous term) and that he looks forward to serving all communities.

“In 2017, when we came into government, we recognised that there were significant challenges that the country needed to address- unrepaired infrastructure, under-investment in our public sector; all of that contributed to the growing inequality. We also recognised that we have look at long-term- you could not address it in one term or one budget. We needed to lay a strong foundation for the future… this is what underpins our government,” he said.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary to Minister of Revenue Dr Deborah Russell speaking

Dr Russell, who was first elected to Parliament from New Lynn Constituency in 2017, said that New Zealand have not only placed implicit trust on the Labour Party but also immense responsibility.

Dr Russell said that as the Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Revenue, she will work the Minister and the concerned departments to ensure that the best interests of the people are served and that she would strive to optimise revenue for the government.

 
Hamilton West MP Dr Gaurav Sharma

 Dr Gaurav Sharma, who was the first person of Indian origin to be elected to Member of Parliament (the announcement regarding Ms Radhakrishnan as the elected MP from Maungakiekie came after the special votes were counted and declared on November 6, 2020) said that he was keen to represent not only his Hamilton West electorate, but also the whole of Hamilton, Indian community and all other ethnic communities.

Among the Members of Parliament who attended the luncheon were Camilla Birch, Helen White and Neru Leavasa. Our special guests at the luncheon included Adnan Mirza and Farah Alvi, Anil Thapliyal, Arjun Mahajan and Praneeta Kochhar Mahajan, Gurbrinder Aulakh, Ilango and Sakthi Krishnamoorthy, Gopal Sreenivasan and Rachna Dave, Hemant and Rozeena Parikh, Indra and Manasa Sirigiri, Pancha Narayanan and Ravi and Kiran Singh.

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