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January 2023 brought an unexpected changing of the guard for the Labour Party – a new leader, a new Prime Minister of New Zealand and also a new Deputy Prime Minister.
The Honourable Carmel Sepuloni was still trying to get her head around her new job when Tagata Pasifika spoke with her prior to the floods in Auckland and Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastation.
“It’s still very surreal that this has happened so quickly and in some ways I’m still getting my head around it. But, I’m feeling very privileged, very humble that I have been chosen to take up this very important role,” she says.
“Obviously the news of Jacinda leaving was very sudden, and quickly off the back of her telling us that, Grant also said that he wouldn’t be putting his name up, to make it very clear that he wasn’t a contender.
“Anyone that was interested in being the leader had to put their hand up fast, because we needed to make sure that this was a synced process. And it became very apparent, very quickly, that there was support from Chris Hipkins and from the caucus, for me to consider taking up the role of deputy.”
In his first press conference, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins expressed that he asked Carmel to be the Deputy PM because he believes she is the best person for the job.
“I was very humbled by the support of Chris and also my caucus for me to step into this 2IC role.”
Jacinda Ardern’s shock resignation took Carmel, her colleagues, the country and the world by surprise.
“It was a shock, a shock to all of us. I think just some of us did wonder how any human being could deal with everything that came her way,” Sepuloni says the former PM had to deal with a lot.
“The volcanic eruption, the terrorist attack, the pandemic, as well as still trying to get on and be the transformational leader that she committed to being.
“So, despite being sad she was leaving us and the country as the leader, part of me was thinking, ‘good on you girl! You do you!”
This duo maybe new to the roles but the new Prime Minister and his Deputy have worked together for a number of years
“My relationship with Chris Hipkins is pretty good. We both came in in 2008, we have worked together quite closely on different things and different roles, we were both whips together.
“So, I absolutely support Chris, I know he’s the right person for the job and as I’ve said to him, I’m there to be his work wife, and to back him up and to make sure he is the best Prime Minister that he can be.”
Stepping up as Deputy Prime Minister has highlighted that Pacific People can make it to the highest levels of power.
“I think it is a huge signal that our Pasifika community are valued and what we have to offer is valued at the highest decision making table,” Sepuloni says.
“It’s another glass ceiling that’s been smashed and it signals to our young people that anything is possible, you can sit at the highest decision making tables, in the highest positions and that is within your reach.”
The new Deputy PM knows all too well the weight of her role for the Pacific Island communities.
“I knew it was going to be significant to our Pasifika community, but I didn’t realise to be honest, to the extent it would be celebrated, and the emotions that would come with it from our Pacific community.”
And with fears of a coming economic recession coupled with a general election year later this year Sepuloni says the government focus will be on communities.
“What we’re focused on is making sure that we’re responding to the immediate concerns of New Zealanders that includes our Pasifika community,” she says.
“We want our communities across Aotearoa to feel like we are listening and to feel like we are representing them so that is what we will be focused on.”
