Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Integration of ethnic communities at every level of New Zealand society
Labour will establish a Ministry of Ethnic Affairs (MEA). The MEA will play a far more
significant role in articulating and advancing Labour‟s new ethnic policy, from
symbolism to joint nation building.
The MEA will maintain comprehensive intelligence on New Zealand‟s growing pluralism and
international best practice for integrating ethnic communities at every level of national life. It
will have responsibilities for positioning New Zealand as a leader in integrating ethnic
communities with indigenous and other New Zealanders.
The MEA will have responsibilities for undertaking and commissioning research on factors
that enhance the integration of ethnic communities and those that represent risks to
successful integration.
The MEA will be empowered to investigate, report, and advise on the provision of services,
especially state services, to ethnic communities.
The MEA will monitor and advise on representation and participation by ethnic community
members in governance, leadership and advisory roles. It will play a more significant role in
preparing members of ethnic communities for such roles.
The MEA will monitor outcomes for ethnic communities in the major areas affecting them
including: health, employment, education, housing, and settlement. The MEA will provide
advice on the actions to be taken if performance is below what might be expected.
Deepening awareness of our growing pluralism
Labour believes that we should embrace our growing pluralism and the benefits of a being
part of a globalised world. We will have a focus on developing a deeper awareness and
understanding of ethnic communities and their place in New Zealand.
The opportunities provided through existing organisations, the education system, the work
environment, and in the community through festivals and celebrations will be evaluated for
their potential to inform a common, accurate and potentially powerful understanding of our
pluralism.
Labour will begin an honest and constructive conversation with ethnic communities
on their transition to New Zealand, their aspirations and on the factors that will
enhance their transition to citizenship.
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