Priyanca Radhakrishnan set to become first Kiwi-Indian Labour MP, Andrew Little keeps his promise to Indian Weekender
The much awaited Labour Party List for 2017 has finally been released this morning after being delayed by one day, with one Kiwi-Indian Priyanca Radhakrishnan being placed at a winnable 11th position thus setting her to become the first Labour MP of Indian origin.
This brings to a conclusion of a long and straightforward demand raised by Indian Weekender with the Labour Leader Andrew Little when Mr Little last visited Indian Weekender at our office in October last year.
In a bold and honest confession, Mr Little had then acknowledged Labour’s historic glitch lately in engaging effectively with the Indian community and failing to nominate a Kiwi-Indian higher up in the list for the Labour caucus (read our October 7 issue here)
“I am determined to change this by next elections,” Mr Little had then said in an exclusive interview to the Indian Weekender.
Probing further then, Indian Weekender had asked Mr Little if he can give a personal assurance to the community to nominate a Kiwi-Indian among the top 20 position in the next Labour Party list, to which Mr Little had replied in affirmative.
It is pretty obvious that Mr Little has kept his promise.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who was also present when Mr Little had looked back in our eyes to answer in affirmative to the question of long felt demand of getting a Kiwi-Indian Labour MP, spoke exclusively with the Indian Weekender today about her selection in the list and about her future plans as an MP.
“It is a huge honour and humbling experience to be nominated at such a higher position in the Labour Party list.
“I am grateful for the support I have received from our community and am committed to working for the community and the Party,” Ms Radhakrishnan said.
Regardless of the fact that her nomination has put her in an enviable position to become a Labour MP, Ms Radhakrishnan is still committed to winning Maungakiekie electorate for the Labour party.
“Maungakiekie is a winnable electorate, which used to be with the labour before 2008 and with current incumbent not standing again there is a strong chance to win it back for the Labour.
“I am committed to winning Maungakiekie for the labour,” Ms Radhakrishnan affirmed.
Three most important issues for the Indian community
According to Ms Radhakrishnan, the three main issues affecting Indian community in New Zealand are safety (law & order), housing, public transport and health, and she will be focussing on raising community’s voice in parliament around these issues.
“Safety is definitely on top of the list.
“Lately, there have been many brutal attacks in the community and Labour is taking it seriously,” Ms Radhakrishnan said.
“On top of these normal issues dear to Labour Party, there are some issues affecting our community disproportionately such as institutional racism where our people find it hard [to get integrated] as ethnic communities in general,” Ms Radhakrishnan asserted.
Party or community: What is more important for her?
Indian Weekender raised one important question affecting everyone in our communities where does her “heart” will rest – with the Party or with the community.
Apparently, there is a simmering undercurrent within the wider community that in the current set-up, MPs of Indian origin irrespective of the political party they are representing, ends up toeing party lines at the cost of community’s wider interest.
However, Ms Radhakrishnan was not the one to be caught on a wrong foot live in front of a camera and tap came her reply “both,” clearly demonstrating her preparedness to be politically correct.
“I have been a member of the Labour Party since last 11 years; I have worked behind the scenes for the last three elections and have been very active on the ground for the Party.
“Within the party, we have different sectors that look into the needs and aspirations of various ethnic communities. We used to have [something called as] an ethnic sector which was very large back in the Helen Clarke government.
“I have been quite passionate along with a core group within the Party to rebuild that sector because I believe very strongly that we must have a voice within the party as well.
“The sector does two things. One is to engage with ethnic communities including the Indian community. The other is to make sure that our communities have a voice at the different level within the party.
“So for me the two [Party and the community] are inseparable,” Ms Radhakrishnan avowed at the end of the conversation.
However, this is something that remains to be seen in the future.
Till that point, Ms Radhakrishnan deserves all accolades for being in a position to become the first Indian-origin Labour MP after next elections.
The much awaited Labour Party List for 2017 has finally been released this morning after being delayed by one day, with one Kiwi-Indian Priyanca Radhakrishnan being placed at a winnable 11th position thus setting her to become the first Labour MP of Indian origin.
This brings to a conclusion of a...
The much awaited Labour Party List for 2017 has finally been released this morning after being delayed by one day, with one Kiwi-Indian Priyanca Radhakrishnan being placed at a winnable 11th position thus setting her to become the first Labour MP of Indian origin.
This brings to a conclusion of a long and straightforward demand raised by Indian Weekender with the Labour Leader Andrew Little when Mr Little last visited Indian Weekender at our office in October last year.
In a bold and honest confession, Mr Little had then acknowledged Labour’s historic glitch lately in engaging effectively with the Indian community and failing to nominate a Kiwi-Indian higher up in the list for the Labour caucus (read our October 7 issue here)
“I am determined to change this by next elections,” Mr Little had then said in an exclusive interview to the Indian Weekender.
Probing further then, Indian Weekender had asked Mr Little if he can give a personal assurance to the community to nominate a Kiwi-Indian among the top 20 position in the next Labour Party list, to which Mr Little had replied in affirmative.
It is pretty obvious that Mr Little has kept his promise.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who was also present when Mr Little had looked back in our eyes to answer in affirmative to the question of long felt demand of getting a Kiwi-Indian Labour MP, spoke exclusively with the Indian Weekender today about her selection in the list and about her future plans as an MP.
“It is a huge honour and humbling experience to be nominated at such a higher position in the Labour Party list.
“I am grateful for the support I have received from our community and am committed to working for the community and the Party,” Ms Radhakrishnan said.
Regardless of the fact that her nomination has put her in an enviable position to become a Labour MP, Ms Radhakrishnan is still committed to winning Maungakiekie electorate for the Labour party.
“Maungakiekie is a winnable electorate, which used to be with the labour before 2008 and with current incumbent not standing again there is a strong chance to win it back for the Labour.
“I am committed to winning Maungakiekie for the labour,” Ms Radhakrishnan affirmed.
Three most important issues for the Indian community
According to Ms Radhakrishnan, the three main issues affecting Indian community in New Zealand are safety (law & order), housing, public transport and health, and she will be focussing on raising community’s voice in parliament around these issues.
“Safety is definitely on top of the list.
“Lately, there have been many brutal attacks in the community and Labour is taking it seriously,” Ms Radhakrishnan said.
“On top of these normal issues dear to Labour Party, there are some issues affecting our community disproportionately such as institutional racism where our people find it hard [to get integrated] as ethnic communities in general,” Ms Radhakrishnan asserted.
Party or community: What is more important for her?
Indian Weekender raised one important question affecting everyone in our communities where does her “heart” will rest – with the Party or with the community.
Apparently, there is a simmering undercurrent within the wider community that in the current set-up, MPs of Indian origin irrespective of the political party they are representing, ends up toeing party lines at the cost of community’s wider interest.
However, Ms Radhakrishnan was not the one to be caught on a wrong foot live in front of a camera and tap came her reply “both,” clearly demonstrating her preparedness to be politically correct.
“I have been a member of the Labour Party since last 11 years; I have worked behind the scenes for the last three elections and have been very active on the ground for the Party.
“Within the party, we have different sectors that look into the needs and aspirations of various ethnic communities. We used to have [something called as] an ethnic sector which was very large back in the Helen Clarke government.
“I have been quite passionate along with a core group within the Party to rebuild that sector because I believe very strongly that we must have a voice within the party as well.
“The sector does two things. One is to engage with ethnic communities including the Indian community. The other is to make sure that our communities have a voice at the different level within the party.
“So for me the two [Party and the community] are inseparable,” Ms Radhakrishnan avowed at the end of the conversation.
However, this is something that remains to be seen in the future.
Till that point, Ms Radhakrishnan deserves all accolades for being in a position to become the first Indian-origin Labour MP after next elections.
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