Printer-friendly VersionMinister For Ethnic Affairs Speech
Chinese New Year Speech
Honourable Chris Carter, Minister for Ethnic Affairs See footnote below
11 February 2003
Ni Hao Ma!
Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests, happy New Year and welcome to this celebration of Chinese culture at Parliament. I acknowledge the Prime Minister, Mr Speaker, my Parliamentary colleagues, diplomats, Chinese community leaders, and the excellent performers that opened our function tonight.
My special acknowledgement also to George Hawkins, my predecessor in the ethnic affairs portfolio, and New Zealand’s very first Minister for Ethnic Affairs, appointed in 1999.
It is often said that Parliament is a place for all New Zealanders, and I, as Minister for Ethnic Affairs, believe that Chinese New Zealanders should feel at home here. I intend to host more of these functions in the future, both to celebrate the Lunar New Year, but also to mark the important festivals of other ethnic communities.
We are here tonight to celebrate, but also to remember that our country did not always welcome Chinese migrants. This time last year, the Prime Minister apologised to those Chinese New Zealanders who were forced to pay the unfair poll tax, and to their descendants. Her speech tonight recalled that important step. I believe the apology turned a new leaf in relations between Chinese Kiwis and the Government. We are willing to acknowledge that some people were not treated fairly in the past, because of their race. More importantly, however, we are willing to state unequivocally that there is no place for discrimination in today’s New Zealand.
My department, the Office of Ethnic Affairs, has been working with representatives of your community on achieving lasting reconciliation over the poll tax issue. The Government has introduced a number of important initiatives in the ethnic affairs portfolio.
Cabinet decided in December that all policy that affects ethnic people must be subject to consultation with the Office of Ethnic Affairs, and thus it must take into account the needs and views of ethnic people. We have moved forward on implementing the telephone interpreting service, which will provide instantaneous, free-to-user telephone interpreting to government departments. The service will include Cantonese as well as Mandarin. I have launched a major consultation initiative by hosting listening forums for ethnic people. The first such forum was in December, involving Auckland’s Moslem community, but I plan to meet with the Chinese community in the near future, in all the main centres. Ours is a government that listens and cares.
Ethnic people, and especially Chinese New Zealanders, contribute to our country in every way. They help strengthen our economy, enrich our culture, and add vibrancy to our society. They also help us to better appreciate the tranquil Pacific paradise that we call home.
New Zealand has a bicultural foundation. Today, however, it is becoming an increasingly multicultural society. Diversity is the greatest strength of modern New Zealand. The Government’s willingness to engage ethnic communities is recognition of that fact. As a Chinese proverb says, if you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people.
Chinese migrants have been a wonderful asset to New Zealand. Chinese migrants work hard. Chinese migrant pupils have excelled in our schools. Chinese migrants are law-abiding and valued citizens. The Government will ensure that all ethnic New Zealanders are seen, heard, accepted and included, and that they are able to grow and thrive in our society.
The Year of the Goat is believed to be a time for peace, for unity, and for artistic expression. It is my earnest hope that the New Year will be a time of peace, prosperity and racial accord in New Zealand. Please accept my very best wishes for happiness and success in the New Year, for you and your families.
I now invite Mr David Tai, President of the New Zealand Chinese Association, to speak on behalf of the Chinese community.
Gung Hei Fat Choy! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Thank you!
Footnote: Minister for Ethnic Affairs from 2002 - 2008. The Minister for Ethnic Affairs is now Hon Pansy Wong.