Minister for Ethnic Communities

Minister for Ethnic Communities
Coat of arms of New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand
Incumbent
Melissa Lee
since 27 November 2023
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports toPrime Minister of New Zealand
AppointerGovernor-General of New Zealand
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation1999
First holderGeorge Hawkins (as Minister of Ethnic Affairs)

The Minister for Ethnic Communities is a minister in the New Zealand Government with broad responsibilities for ethnic inclusion.

The current Minister for Ethnic Communities Melissa Lee.[1]

Responsibilities and powers

The minister is broadly responsible for supporting ethnic and culturally diverse communities in New Zealand. They are the responsible minister for the Ministry for Ethnic Communities and also oversee the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust.[2]

History

The first appointment to the Minister of Ethnic Affairs was made in 1999 at the formation of the Fifth Labour Government. Through the 1999 election campaign, both Labour and United had pledged to appoint an ethnic affairs minister to "be involved at all levels of decision-making on issues affecting ethnic communities."[3] The inaugural appointment was George Hawkins.

The position was renamed to Minister for Ethnic Communities in 2015.[4] The title was briefly Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities between 2020 and 2023.[5]

List of ministers for ethnic communities

The following ministers have held the office of Minister for Ethnic Communities.

Key

  National   Labour

No. Name Portrait Term of office Prime Minister
As Minister of Ethnic Affairs
1 George Hawkins 10 December 1999 15 August 2002 Clark
2 Chris Carter 15 August 2002 19 November 2008
3 Pansy Wong 19 November 2008 12 November 2010 Key
- Georgina te Heuheu

Acting

12 November 2010 1 February 2011
4 Hekia Parata 1 February 2011 14 December 2011
5 Judith Collins 14 December 2011 30 August 2014
- Hekia Parata

Acting

30 August 2014 8 October 2014
6 Sam Lotu-Iiga 8 October 2014 1 March 2015
As Minister for Ethnic Communities
(6) Sam Lotu-Iiga 1 March 2015 20 December 2016 Key
(5) Judith Collins 20 December 2016 26 October 2017 English
7 Jenny Salesa 26 October 2017 6 November 2020 Ardern
As Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities
8 Priyanca Radhakrishnan 6 November 2020 27 November 2023 Ardern
Hipkins
As Minister for Ethnic Communities
9 Melissa Lee 27 November 2023 Incumbent Luxon

References

  1. ^ "Luxon Government: All the National, ACT and NZ First ministers who will make up the new Cabinet". Stuff. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Your role as Minister for Ethnic Communities". Ministry for Ethnic Communities. 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Ethnic affairs vital: United". The New Zealand Herald. 1999. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Office of Ethnic Affairs renamed". The New Zealand Herald. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Ministry for Ethnic Communities set up: A first for New Zealand". RNZ. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2023.