Rajen Prasad QSO is an Indian-born politician from New Zealand. He was elected to represent the Labour Party on the party list at the 2008 general election and retired in 2014.
Rajen Prasad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour Party list | |
| In office 2008–2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Suva, Fiji |
| Nationality | Fiji New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Children | 2 |
| Committees | Social Services Committee |
Professional life
editPrasad is of Indo-Fijian descent.[1][2] Prasad has a PhD from Massey University, completed in 1986.[3] Prasad led Massey University at Albany during its establishment in 1993 and was Race Relations Conciliator between 1996 and 2001.[4] In the 2003 New Year Honours, Prasad was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[5]
In June 2004 Prasad was appointed as the first Chief Commissioner of the newly established Families Commission, serving until 2008.[4]
He joined the board of the Bank of Baroda's New Zealand office in 2008 [6] and remained a director of the Bank until 2016.[7]
Member of Parliament
edit| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2011 | 49th | List | 12 | Labour | |
| 2011–2014 | 50th | List | 20 | Labour | |
At the 2008 election Prasad was placed at number 12 on the Labour Party list and was subsequently elected to Parliament. This was a very high list placing, far in advance of many sitting cabinet ministers. He was re-elected, albeit at a lower list placing of 20, in 2011.
In 2008, Prasad was appointed Labour's spokesperson for Voluntary and Community Sector, and associate spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs and Social Development – Family and CYF by Labour leader Phil Goff.[8] He was later appointed spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs, as well as associate spokesperson for Social Development.[9]
In 2013 under the new leadership of David Cunliffe, a new Labour shadow cabinet reshuffle was announced with Prasad the Spokesperson on Immigration, Associate Spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs and Associate Spokesperson for Social Development (CYFS).[10] Prasad announced his plans to retire ahead of the general election in September 2014.[2][11]
Since leaving Parliament, Prasad has been appointed a Commonwealth Envoy with special responsibility for Lesotho working directly in Africa to help develop better Political practices.[12][13]
References
edit- ^ Back Benches (29 April 2009). "Back Benches–episode 13" (video). TVNZ. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ^ a b "Indian-origin MP in New Zealand, Rajen Prasad to retire in September". news.biharprabha.com. Indo-Asian News Service. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ Prasad, Rajen (1986). Transitions in foster care : the development of training programmes for foster care workers (Doctoral thesis). Massey Research Online, Massey University. hdl:10179/3582.
- ^ a b "Beehive – Families Commissioners appointed".
- ^ "New Year honours list 2003". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ McBeth, Paul (1 September 2009). "Bank of Baroda to open in NZ". Stuff.co.nz. Business Wire. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ "Companies Register". New Zealand Companies Office. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Five newcomers to Labour's frontbench".
- ^ "Labour Leader reveals new caucus line-up".
- ^ "Rajen Prasad". New Zealand Labour Party. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ "MP Rajen Prasad retires". The Global Indian. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ "Special Envoy for Lesotho Releases Guidelines on Coalition Formation". Commonwealth. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ "Commonwealth warns coalition government". Lesotho Times. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.