New Zealand Aotearoa has a new Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Barbara Rachael Fati Palepa Edmonds (pictured).
Minister Edmonds takes over from Aupito William Sio, who retires from parliament at the next election in October.
Minister Edmonds also joins the Cabinet as part of a major reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Rt Hon Chris Hipkins.
Additionally, she will also hold the Internal Affairs, Associate Health and Associate Housing portfolios.
Of Samoan descent, Minister Edmonds resides in Porirua and was a specialist tax lawyer before being elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mana in 2020.
She has acted as a senior advisor to ministers under successive governments and was a key contributor to the Labour Government’s law reforms following the March 15 terror attacks.
Minister Edmonds was also heavily involved in the Government’s tax, social policy, small business, and economic responses to COVID-19.
The new Minister has often spoken about inequality and during her time as an MP, she has been chairing the finance and expenditure committee.
Minister Edmonds is looking forward to continuing her work on building a fairer, safer New Zealand, where every family can get ahead.
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