Former Labour cabinet minister and MP Luamanuvao Winnie Laban has announced she will be resigning from Parliament to take up a new role as Assistant Vice Chancellor Pasifika at Victoria University.
Ms Laban was first elected to Parliament in the 1999 election as a list MP, becoming New Zealand’s first Pacific Island woman MP. In the 2002 election she successfully contested the Mana electorate. In 2005 she was re-elected by a majority of 6,734 votes and became Minister of Pacific Island Affairs. Ms Laban retained her electorate seat and most of her majority at the last election.
The Mana electorate covers most of the eastern side of Paraparaumu, Raumati and Paekākāariki.
In a statement today Ms Laban said: “I have worked out that it’s time for me to step away from Parliament now. This career move is an exciting one and I am very privileged and honoured to be able to be the MP for Mana and I am very proud of my Party.”
Labour leader Phil Goff praised Winnie Laban’s contribution to Pacific people and to politics in New Zealand: “Winnie has made a significant contribution to Pasifika and this is a new opportunity for her as a Labour member to continue to work to raise Pasifika aspirations and achievements,” Phil Goff said.
He said: “We are delighted she has been appointed to the position and she remains a strong supporter of the Labour Party.”
The Mana seat, considered safe for Labour, is likely to be hotly contested in the by-election.
