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The new government formation sees the country’s first woman appointed Foreign Minister and New Zealand’s openly gay first Deputy Prime Minister.
Nanaia Mahuta – archive. Source: The Message
“For me it was a natural decision,” Jacinda Ardern said today about Nanaia Mahuta’s new role.
“Nanaia has played an associated business role over the past tenure that has given her expertise in this area.
“He’s someone who builds great relationships very, very quickly and that’s one of the key jobs in a foreign affairs position.”
Mahuta received praise from across the House, and former national leader Simon Bridges tweeted his congratulations.
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There are more women and Maori around the cabinet table, as well as a gay deputy prime minister. Source: 1 NEWS
“It is an important moment at the international level and you will be great.”
Golriz Ghahraman of the Green Party wrote: “decolonizing our voice in foreign affairs is exciting.”
“We should stop and think about what it means that this is only the first time that a woman, and a strong Maori wahine, has had this purse.
“I can’t wait to congratulate and work with Nanaia Mahuta on global issues.”
Mahuta said today that she continued “in the vein of a long legacy of firsts for women, and I hope that many other women of Maori descent, of mixed descent in New Zealand will see this as raising the roof once again in areas that have been very very closed for us in terms of professional opportunities ”.
She takes the role of Winston Peters.
Grant Robertson, the country’s openly gay first deputy prime minister, said today that he thought it was “important to recognize particularly the younger members of the rainbow community, who may see members of their communities taking on roles, particularly as deputy prime minister.”
Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson. Source: Getty
“Grant has been given the combination of seniority and portfolio necessary to fuel our economic recovery,” Jacinda Ardern said in the announcement, also handing him the infrastructure portfolio, while retaining her position as finance minister.
InsideOut’s Tabby Besley said the appointment “sends a really strong message to young people, regardless of their sexuality, you can be successful, you can be a deputy prime minister.”
He said it was also great to see three openly gay women occupying ministerial positions: Kiri Allan, Ayesha Verrall and Meka Whaitiri.
“It is so important to any underserved community, so look at yourself.
“We would love to see the trans and intersex community represented in the future.”
Sports Minister Grant Robertson poses with Highlanders fans at the launch of Super Rugby Aotearoa. Source: Getty
Taine Polkinghorne, Advisor on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity at the Human Rights Commission, said it was “fantastic to see that this Parliament will be one of the most diverse in the world and the first time that New Zealand will have an openly gay Deputy Prime Minister.”
“However, there is still room for improvement. Work is needed to ensure that our trans, non-binary and intersex communities are also reflected in our House of Representatives.”
