Priyanca Radhakrishnan was born on 1979 and is a New Zealand politician who has been elected to the New Zealand parliament since the 2017 general election as a representative of the New Zealand Labour Party and is currently Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector.
11 Facts About Priyanca Radhakrishnan
2.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan grew up in Singapore before moving to New Zealand.
3.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan attended Victoria University of Wellington and graduated with a master's degree in development studies.
4.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan 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.
5.
At the 2014 election, Priyanca 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.
6.
In October 2016, Priyanca Radhakrishnan was selected as Labour's candidate for the electorate of Maungakiekie for the 2017 election.
7.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan was 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.
8.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan did not win the electorate, but entered parliament via the Party list.
9.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan was mugged in broad daylight in an Auckland street after returning from a visit to Bangladesh.
10.
On 2 November 2020, Priyanca 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, making her New Zealand's first Minister of Indian origin.
11.
In January 2021, Priyanca Radhakrishnan was conferred a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award for public service, by the Indian president in a virtual ceremony.