Keralite Priyanca Radhakrishnan sworn in as New Zealand Minister

Team News Riveting

Keralite on Monday became the first Indian to be sworn in as a Minister in New Zealand as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern inducted her in the new cabinet.

The 41-year-old has been sworn in as the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector. Radhakrishnan, born in Chennai and brought up in Singapore, has her roots at Paravur, Kochi, where her grandfather was a medical professional as well as a Communist.

After graduating from Victoria University of Wellington,  Radhakrishnan worked as a social worker amongst the Indian community in Auckland. Her great grandfather was very active in left wing progressive politics in India and played an instrumental role in the formation of the state of Kerala.

She joined the New Zealand Labour Party in 2006 and has worked on the internal party policy development process and has been active in both local and regional party organisation.

At the 2014 election, Radhakrishnan was ranked number 23 on the Labour Party list, the highest newcomer, but narrowly missed out on election due to a drop in Labour’s party vote that year. In October 2016, Radhakrishnan was selected as Labour’s candidate for the electorate of Maungakiekie for the 2017 election.

She was also ranked number 12 on Labour’s list, making her the highest-ranked Labour member not already an MP and a significant increase from her ranking three years earlier.

Radhakrishnan did not win the electorate, but entered parliament via the Party list.

Radhakrishnan was mugged in broad daylight in an Auckland street after returning from a visit to Bangladesh.

Following a cabinet reshuffle on 27 June 2019, Radhakrishnan was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary for Ethnic Affairs.

On 2 November 2020, Radhakrishnan was appointed as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, Minister for Youth and Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment.

Radhakrishnan continues her love with Malayalam songs and she said her most admired singer is none other than popular Keralite playback singer K.J. Yesudas.