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Priyanca Radhakrishnan

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Priyanca Radhakrishnan
MP
10th Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
Assuming office
6 November 2020
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
SucceedingPoto Williams
Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities
Assuming office
6 November 2020
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
SucceedingJenny Salesa
15th Minister for Youth
Assuming office
6 November 2020
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
SucceedingPeeni Henare
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Labour party list
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 September 2017
Personal details
Born1979 (age 44–45)
Chennai, India
Political partyLabour (2006–present)
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington
WebsiteLabour Party profile

Priyanca Radhakrishnan (born 1979)[1] is a New Zealand politician who was elected to the New Zealand parliament at the 2017 general election as a representative of the New Zealand Labour Party. She is the first Indian New Zealander to be a Minister of the Crown.

Early life and career

Priyanca Radhakrishnan was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.[2] She grew up in Singapore before moving to New Zealand. She attended Victoria University of Wellington and graduated with a master's degree in Development Studies.[3]

After graduating Radhakrishnan worked as a social worker amongst the Indian community in Auckland. Her great grandfather was very active in left wing progressive politics in India and played an instrumental role in the formation of the state of Kerala. She joined the New Zealand Labour Party in 2006 and has worked on the internal party policy development process and has been active in both local and regional party organisation.[4]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2017–2020 52nd List 12 Labour
2020–present 53rd List 31 Labour

At the 2014 election, Radhakrishnan was ranked number 23 on the Labour Party list, the highest newcomer, but narrowly missed out on election due to a drop in Labour's party vote that year.[5] In October 2016, Radhakrishnan was selected as Labour's candidate for the electorate of Maungakiekie for the 2017 election.[6] She was also ranked number 12 on Labour's list, making her the highest-ranked Labour member not already an MP and a significant increase from her ranking three years earlier.[7]

Radhakrishnan did not win the electorate, but entered parliament via the Party list.[8]

Radhakrishnan was mugged in broad daylight in an Auckland street after returning from a visit to Bangladesh.[9]

Following a cabinet reshuffle on 27 June 2019, Radhakrishnan was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary for Ethnic Affairs.[10]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election held on 17 October, Radhakrishnan came second in the Maungakiekie electorate, which was retained by National MP Denise Lee by a margin of 580 votes based on preliminary results.[11] However, Radhakrishnan returned to Parliament on the Labour Party list.[12]

On 2 November 2020, Radhakrishnan was appointed as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, Minister for Youth and Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment.

References

  1. ^ "Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. ^ "POLITICS RUNS IN MY BLOOD: PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN". Indianweekender NZ. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Indians add colour to political canvas". Indian Newslink. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Priyanka Radhakrishnan will be the most possible Labour candidate for Maungakiekie Electorate". India NZ Herald. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  5. ^ Parker, Elliot (25 June 2014). "Priyanca jumps up Labour list". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Priyanca Radhakrishnan". New Zealand Labour Party. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Revised Labour Party List for the 2017 Election". Scoop.co.nz. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. 23 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  9. ^ Christian, Harrison (11 November 2017). "Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan mugged in broad daylight in Auckland". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Winners and losers – PM reveals first substantive Cabinet reshuffle". Radio New Zealand. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Maungakiekie – Preliminary Count". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 26 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Preliminary Count Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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