Now more than ever, the need for a Ministry of Ethnic Communities ... read more

Now more than ever, the need for a Ministry of Ethnic Communities is apparent and urgent.

Discrimination has not been eradicated, far from it. In fact, one need only do a quick search of recent studies to find that ethnic discrimination is on the rise in many countries, especially since the pandemic. Why, then, would we cut back on funding for the Ministry of Ethnic Communities? It would be more in keeping with what we are seeing to put more funding towards this ministry, so that we might work against the tide of discrimination and towards the betterment of the lives of our citizens - who come from all different backgrounds. Moreover, what we are seeing in Palestine is a direct result of ethnic discrimination.

Communities within New Zealand are being affected by the events in Palestine, as they witness brutal and lethal violence against their family members, friends and people of their same ethnic and religious background. We should be committing to helping our citizens and their families by granting emergency visas, and by increasing funding to the very ministry that was created to deal with the ethnic discrimination that motivated a person to attack Muslim communities within our own country. We still have work to do.