The highest-ranked Pacific MP in New Zealand's Cabinet says she will continue the welfare reforms that started three years ago.
Carmel Sepuloni is the Minister for Social Development and Employment, Arts et al and Disability Issues. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Christine Rovoi
Carmel Sepuloni has her hands full this time around - she has been given the portfolios of social development and employment, Accident CC, arts and disability issues.
Sepuloni said the government has been given another term to continue its work from 2017.
Following her appointment by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Sepuloni said she was honoured and privileged with the confidence the PM had in her.
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Sepuloni, who has Tongan and Samoan heritage, said she looked forward to the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.
"It's an honour and privilege to be a member of parliament, to be elected by the public," she said.
"But even moreso to be asked to actually serve as a Cabinet.
"There's also that sense of responsibility because it's not about holding the position, it's what you do whilst you're in the position."
She said a huge part of what the Ministry for Social Development included supporting people in relation to income support.
She said that's particularly important now given the Covid context the country is in and the "difficulty that some people might find getting employment or sustaining employment".
Financial support 'key to recovery'
The Minister for Social Development said she's committed to working with the stakeholders to address employment amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sepuloni said thousands more people were out of work as financial support offered to businesses started to run out.
"This time around I've been given the employment side of the portfolio too which last time was separated," she said.
"The arts, culture and heritage portfolio is not that far removed in some ways with what I'm doing with some of my other portfolios.
"There is a whole recovery package that needs to be rolled out and I've had an opportunity to work on that with the prime minister and with the finance minister."
Carmel Sepuloni and Chris Hipkins. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Sepuloni said while recovery was key, jobs and sustaining careers in the creative arts sector were equally crucial.
She said there were also opportunities for improvement in her ACC and disability issues portfolios.
She said she is expected to continue to work with all the communities in New Zealand.
"The arts, culture and heritage portfolio is important to a broad range of communities including Pasifika.
"We have many of our Pacific communities that do have careers or are invested in the creative arts.
"We must ensure that they are looked after during this recovery period."
Sepuloni said while the well-being of Pacific communities is important such as the mental, spiritual and having access to arts, culture and heritage she added their financial well-being was also vital.
She said this is because there are many people who are reliant on the creative industries for their income.
She said there are other opportunities for Pasifika to access apprenticeships including flexiway which the ministry will extend.
"I am relieved that the prime minister has the confidence in me to be able to undertake the work," Sepuloni said.
Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Loss of Jenny Salesa
As for her friend Jenny Salesa, who missed out on a Cabinet spot, Sepuloni said the former minister "will still have a valuable contribution to make in parliament".
Salesa was Minister for Building and Construction and Ethnic Communities, and was Associate Minister Responsible for Education, Health, Housing and Urban Development.
She lost her Cabinet role and the prime minister said they had agreed it would be helpful to take a different path.
"I will be nominating her as an assistant speaker," Ardern said. "I'm always looking to make sure we use those roles to reach into our relationships, particularly in to the Pacific.
"I've asked her to strengthen those relationships with the Pacific parliaments, she will also be in mind for the nominations as part of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee."
PM Ardern has 20 members in Cabinet and four outside Cabinet.
Other notable roles in Cabinet include Nanaia Mahuta in Foreign Affairs, the first woman to hold the role in New Zealand's history.
Meanwhile, Chris Hipkins takes on a new role as Minister for Covid-19 Response and Ayesha Verrall has been elevated straight to the portfolios of Seniors, Minister for Food Safety, Associate Minister of Health, and Associate Minister of Research, Science and Innovation.
No doubt, all eyes will be on Carmel Sepuloni as she takes on the portfolios of social development and employment, ACC, arts and disability issues in the next three years.