New Zealand, Ardern’s new government: Gay Deputy Prime Minister and Senior Māori Minister
While Ardern expressed pride in the diversity of his executive positions, he said the appointments were dictated by merit. “She is a Treasury of merit, tremendous talent and also incredibly diverse and I am proud of her,” Ardern said, introducing her Cabinet. “It reflects the New Zealand that elected him.”
Nanaya Mahuta, the first Māori female Minister of Foreign Affairs
Descendant of the late Maori Queen, Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahuand a relative of the current Maori king, King’s GreetingsAnd Nanaya Mahouta(50 years) appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. Behind Mahouta long political experience. He previously held several departments: Maori Development, Local Government, Customs, and Youth Development.
Elected to Parliament in 1996 for the constituency of Hauraki Waikato, in 2016, she became the first MEP to practice sports Moko KwaiA traditional Maori tattoo. Even the former New Zealand Foreign Minister, Winston PetersHe was a Maori. While the Maori Kelvin Davis He was appointed Minister of Children. The Kingitanga movement, or Maori King movement, has a history of more than 160 years and is an important political presence in New Zealand.
Politicians on both sides of New Zealand have congratulated Mahuta on the nomination. Simon Bridges“This is an important moment internationally and you will be great,” said the former leader of the centre-right National Party. Goulrez Kahraman, 39 years old born in Iran e A refugee in New Zealand where she was elected to the Green Party Parliament, she described the appointment as an important step towards “decolonizing” the country in foreign affairs.
Grant Robertson, the first gay in the role of Deputy Prime Minister
Ardern’s longtime friend and political ally, Grant Robertson He is the first openly gay man to hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister in the country. Robertson, who will also go on to hold his previous position as finance minister, said he has tried to be a minister for all New Zealanders and also believes it is important for younger members of the LGBT community to see who they identify with. They take on important roles.
“I keep getting a lot of emails and messages from young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who relate to us because we are a role model, and have access to positions like that. So I will continue to do my job the way I have, and I am very proud of it.” ”Replace Robertson Winston Peters.
Agreement with the Greens: Climate, Environment and Childhood
The new landslide electoral victory for forty years Jacinta Ardern New Zealand’s 40th and incumbent Prime Minister, Labor leader since 2017, has given her the freedom to form its first one-party government since the country adopted the German-style proportional voting system in 1996.
With 49.1% of the vote winning 64 out of 120 seats, on October 17 the prime minister scored the largest electoral victory for the centre-left Labor Party in more than half a century. Although they no longer need the support of other parties to govern, alliances are the norm in New Zealand. Ardern offered the Greens two portfolios and came up with new provisions allowing coalition partners more freedom.
“We agree with the Greens that we don’t really have to agree,” Ardern told reporters in a televised address at the inauguration. “This is a win-win cooperation agreement for the Greens,” the party’s co-leader said. Marama Davidson. The two sides will work together on the climate, the environment and the well-being of children. Before the October elections, Labor was in a governing coalition with the Greens and New Zealand first.
The new parliament is also diverse. Nearly half of lawmakers are women, well above the global average of 25% and about 10% are openly LGBT, thus outperforming the UK where about 7% of members of the House of Commons are openly gay.
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