Wong needs to stop talking and start doing

National’s preoccupation with holding even more talkfests will do nothing to solve the alarming problem of increasing Asian unemployment in New Zealand, says Labour Associate Ethnic Affairs spokesperson Raymond Huo.

“Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong seems to sit on the sidelines,” Raymond Huo said. “Instead of advocating for Asian New Zealanders, she prefers to sit down for yet another chat show.

“Asian unemployment has hit 9.2 percent, well above the national average. And what is Pansy Wong’s solution? Her department is organising a series of business forums at which ethnic New Zealanders will be able to talk about their ‘fantastic international networks’.

“In other words, more talkfests. Asian New Zealanders are only too well aware what a failure last year’s major talkfest, the Prime Minister’s Job Summit, was in terms of creating new jobs,” Raymond Huo said.

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“Pansy Wong seems to be still celebrating her election victory from 2008, but what New Zealanders need is a government of substance, not a populist one only interested in polling performance. Her reluctance to front on behalf of Asian New Zealanders is even more depressing when taken in conjunction with the release of the UMR Research Survey on perceptions of discrimination and harassment.

“The survey revealed that public perceptions of discrimination against Asians have increased in the past 12 months. The reality is that it is more difficult for Asian New Zealanders to make headway in the labour market without a strong advocate speaking on their behalf,” Raymond Huo said.

“There are now 21,200 Asian people without jobs. This unprecedented rise in Asian unemployment rates is hurting Asian families across the country who are struggling to make ends meet following the recession.

“Asian New Zealanders keenly feel the irony that New Zealand is benefitting from free trade agreements with Asian countries, while in New Zealand Asians face worse problems than other ethnic groups.

“Asian New Zealanders want to make a real contribution to this country. They would find it so much easier to do so if they had a genuine champion in government for their cause.”

ENDS

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