Priyanca Radhakrishnan

Priyanca Radhakrishnan is a New Zealand politician who has served as a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives since 2017. Born in Chennai, India, and raised in Singapore, she later moved to New Zealand, where she worked as a social worker. A member of the Labour Party, she made history as New Zealand's first minister of Indian origin, serving as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector and Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities from 2020 to 2023. Her legislative work includes advocating for the criminalization of harmful practices such as virginity testing and hymenoplasty. She currently serves as a member of the Shadow Cabinet, holding portfolios related to conservation, disability issues, and the Accident Compensation Corporation.