Building networks

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

Greetings and welcome to the Ethnic Affairs International Women's Day celebrations, especially to the many of you who have travelled from outside Wellington.

Happy International Women's Day to you all!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our special dignitary guests and members of the diplomatic corps, your attendance here today is a sign of the closeness of New Zealand's international community.

The reason we are all gathered here today is to discuss ways to increase networking opportunities for New Zealand's ethnic women.

Networking is one of the most important tools for anyone who is looking for opportunities, a good network of contacts can open closed doors and can expand business opportunities as well.

Networking gives us the opportunity to share strategies to overcome challenges and to achieve goals for ourselves, our families and our communities.

When talking about networking, I like to use the analogy of a spider web.

Like a web, networking takes hard work, diligence and patience and brings together individual strands to create a strong and powerful environment that can capture almost anything.

The benefit of spinning a strong network is that we have the opportunity to utilise our individual talents and bring them together for strength and prosperity.

On Thursday it was my privilege to attend the Parliamentary function for the Indian and New Zealand men's cricket teams, where I met a young boy who told me he'd come along with his Dad.

But not only had he managed to come with his Dad, but three of his friends had as well!

This young boy impressed me with his confidence and with his ability to spin onto his dad's network so he and his friends could meet their sporting heroes.

This young boy, no older than 12, epitomised the fact that you are never too young to start networking.

Of course, you are also never too old to begin or to add to your existing network. 

Many women within our ethnic communities probably had strong networks in their countries of origin, but think that upon moving to New Zealand their web had broken and contact was lost.

But let me assure you that the strands of your networks can transcend borders. I would also point out that international networks are as important as ever given these tough economic times.

Likewise, moving to a new country gives you great opportunity to expand your networks.

We live in a global economy and I would encourage you all to use your international and your Kiwi contacts to the benefit of you, your family and our country.

There are opportunities everywhere for you to add strands to your network, you don't have to wait for business meetings or organised functions to network, you can start building your webs anywhere at anytime.

Quite often networks start with one word .... ‘Yes'.

For example, I spun a web without consciously knowing it. I started my networking career by saying ‘Yes' to after work drinks on Friday nights. By the way, you do not need to drink alcohol to network.

It was at those was at those Friday night work gatherings that I learned about the rules of rugby and cricket and made small talk about all sorts of things including office politics.

It wasn't long before the Partners at the firm encouraged me to join the Institute of Chartered Accountants and I continued to say ‘Yes'.

Next minute I was in the executive and then Chair of the Canterbury Westland region of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

They even awarded me as a Fellow of the Institute.

Once you start saying ‘Yes', it is hard to stop.

After saying ‘Yes' to the Institute of Chartered Accountants, I said ‘Yes' to the Canterbury Chinese Association, Girl Guides, the National Council of Women and many other organisations.

I even say ‘Yes' to standing for Canterbury Regional Council in the 1989 local body elections and hence began my political life.

There is a bit more than just saying ‘Yes', one also has to be disciplined towards doing a good job, must work hard to  stamp their mark to leave an impression, take risks and make a difference.

I have also learned that being ambitious and wanting power can be positive and important in fulfilling one's vision.

In my case, I have a vision of ethnic New Zealanders being confident, equal and proud citizens.
It is much easier to realise that vision now that I am the Minister as I can enlist the help of the Office of Ethnic Affairs, which is full of dedicated individuals who in different perspectives wanting the same vision.

As Minister it is easier to work with you all towards realising that vision because there is inherent trust and goodwill towards a Government Minister.

So I challenge each and every one of you to say ‘Yes' the next time your neighbour, colleague or friend asks you to do something, because you never know what strand of your network web will be built through each outing.

You never know where it will take you.

Little did I know all those years ago that when I said ‘Yes' to having a drink with my colleagues that it would take me on a path that would lead me to be standing here today addressing you all as the Minister of Women's and Ethnic Affairs!

I would encourage you all to trade phone numbers and to talk about business opportunities and interests with each other here today and, most importantly, to keep in touch with each other because you never know what's around the corner.

Perhaps the most important strand of your network web could be an acquaintance of the woman sitting next to you!

Again thank you very much for coming here today and I wish you all the best in your future networking careers.