Speech - Diwali 2024

Ethnic Communities

Namaste. Namaskar. Namaskaram. Vanakkam. Sat Sri Akal. Kem chho.

Greetings to you all.

It is my great privilege, as Minister for Ethnic Communities, to host this year's Diwali Celebration at Parliament. I am truly excited to be with you all for Diwali as your Minister, and I warmly welcome each and every one of you to this special occasion.

I would first like to welcome and acknowledge:

• The Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, who will join us shortly.
• The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, who will also join us shortly.
• Her Excellency, Ms Neeta Bhushan, Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand.
• Other members of the diplomatic corps.
• Mr Mervin Singham, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
• Mr Narendra Bhana, President of New Zealand Indian Central Association.
• My parliamentary colleagues.
• Our talented performers.
• And all of you who have travelled from far and wide to be with us tonight.

It is a true delight to celebrate the vibrant Festival of Lights, Diwali, both here in New Zealand and across the globe.

Just as diyas, or lamps, shine during the festival, I wish for the light within each of us to remain radiant and full of hope.

I hope this Diwali brings forth a year of peace, prosperity, health, and joy to you and your families.

As we gather to celebrate Diwali, we also honour the rich history and vibrant contributions of New Zealand's Indian communities.

You have been an integral part of our society since the late 1800s.

The 2023 Census showed that our Indian population has become the third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand.

Indian New Zealanders have made significant contributions in various sectors, including health, manufacturing, education, and more.

I'm proud that Diwali at Parliament is celebrated in such an inclusive, multi-cultural way.

Our government's and my vision is for all communities to not only feel that they belong and can participate, but also thrive, in society.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone in New Zealand feels safe, valued, and empowered to flourish in this country we all call home.

Our Indian community adds so much colourful vibrancy to our country, from their sarees to their spices.

It's fantastic to have Indian culture such a normalised, ingrained part of our national identity.

But it's not just about culture. Their contribution to our economy makes a huge impact.

In 2020, the Waitakere Indian Association estimated that the Indian community contributed around $10 billion to the New Zealand economy.

As Minister for both Ethnic Communities and Economic Development, another of my priorities is to unlock the full potential of ethnic businesses for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

At last month's inaugural Ethnic Xchange Symposium, it was truly inspiring to witness the collective energy and the tremendous economic potential within our ethnic communities. When fully unleashed, this potential can help grow New Zealand's shared prosperity.

Once again, it is a true pleasure to welcome you all this evening.

I want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank-you to our Indian communities, for your warm congratulatory messages since my appointment as Minister for Ethnic Communities. Your support means a lot to me.

It is my hope that the values of Diwali - peace, prosperity, justice, and respect - extend to communities throughout New Zealand, as we work towards a stronger, more harmonious, and peaceful future together.

Dhanyavaad. Thank you.

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