Through leadership our dreams can be achieved
Recently I have had the pleasure of attending a number of events promoting youth leadership among our ethnic communities.
Many of these are largely organised by the youth themselves. I have heard many impressive and heartfelt speeches and I am assured the future of our country is in good hands with these emerging leaders.
I have been inspired by the young men and women willing to put their hands up as future leaders and their confidence knowing that New Zealand is a place where they can succeed if they have the skill and determination.
As we all know, the youth are our future and many of our families migrated to New Zealand to give children the space and opportunity to achieve.
New Zealand is a country founded by migrants and it is heartening to see that diversity is increasing and is continuing to be celebrated through festival and events like Diwali, Chinese New Years and Eid.
As I have said many times before, ethnic New Zealanders should not feel like passive bystanders in our own country, we should all ensure that we contribute to the decision making of our great nation and it is through leadership that this can be achieved.
Each and every one of us has the opportunity and the potential to achieve our dreams and this couldn't be truer for our young ethnic New Zealanders in modern times.
Whether they dream of being a politician, doctor, lawyer, journalist, movie star, teacher, golfer, Black Cap, All Black or Silver Fern - New Zealand is a place where anybody can work hard and pursue their dreams.
For example, the current Parliament is the most ethnically diverse in New Zealand's history; we now have MPs of Indian, Korean, Chinese and Pakistani descent.
And in future years, I am sure that many more ethnic New Zealanders will run for Office because the door to Parliament is now wide open for all ethnic communities and have their voices heard.
As Minister for Ethnic Affairs I am committed to ensuring that these voices are heard heard because it is crucial to New Zealand as a nation that every citizen has a say in the decision making and future of our country.
