Keralite among new faces in New Zealand’s newly elected government

Keralite Priyanca Radhakrishnan has become the first Indian to be appointed as a minister in the New Zealand government led by Jacinda Ardern.

Priyanca has been given multiple roles as the Minister of Diversity,Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, Minister for Youth, Minister of Community and Voluntary Sector and Associated Minister for Social Development and Employment.

Earlier, Priyanca has served as the private Secretary to the then Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa and later as the Assistant speaker in the second term of the government led by Labour Party. She had also acted as policy advisor to former MP Phil Goff.

This is the second time Priyanca is elected as MP representing Labour Party. She has been active in Labour Party for the last 14 years.

Priyanca completed her education from Singapore and New Zealand. She holds a masters degree in Development Studies from Victoria University. Hailing from Paravoor in Ernakulam, Priyanca is daughter of Raman Radhakrishnan and Usha. IT professional Richardson is Priyanca’s husband.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveiled what she called an “incredibly diverse” cabinet on Monday, as she promised to prioritise economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Ardern has revamped her ministerial lineup in the wake of a landslide election victory, allowing her form the single-party government since New Zealand moved to a German-style system of proportional representation in 1996.