On this page
Our work
We work with communities, government agencies and other organisations to strengthen the wellbeing of Ethnic Communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
What we do:
- Advise on the impact of government policies on Ethnic Communities and look for opportunities for positive change
- Improve how the public sector responds to the needs of Ethnic Communities
- Understand what Ethnic Communities need to succeed and communicate this to the government
- Support ethnic communities to achieve their goals
We want to help create real change for Ethnic Communities in New Zealand. By working together and sharing knowledge, we can support Ethnic Communities to thrive in New Zealand society.
Our values
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Our priorities
To understand what Ethnic Communities want us to focus on, the then-Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities ran a series of targeted workshops in April and May 2021.
Based on the results of the workshops, Cabinet agreed the Ministry’s priorities are to:
- Promote the value of diversity and improve the inclusion of Ethnic Communities in wider society
- Ensure government services are provided fairly and are easily accessible for Ethnic Communities
- Improve economic outcomes for Ethnic Communities and look at the barriers to employment
- Connect and uplift Ethnic Community groups
To learn more about the workshops, and the goals and priorities of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, check out the following links:
Our Executive Leadership Team
Mervin Singham, Chief Executive
Pratima Namasivayam, Deputy Chief Executive, Advisory, Analytics and Ministerial
Pratima joined the Ministry in March 2022 from the Ministry of Defence. With a background in policy, law and management, Pratima’s career has been in New Zealand’s public service. Since starting as a Policy Advisor in the Public Law Unit of the Ministry of Justice, she has held many professional roles in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, ACC, and the Ministry of Fisheries. For the last three years, she has acted as an independent consultant for the Crown Law Office, the Ministry of Education, and Waka Kotahi - New Zealand Transport Agency. Her management career has included strategic and operational policy, legislative change and implementation, organisational change programmes, and negotiations on behalf of the Crown. Pratima has post-graduate qualifications in health sciences and law, and is an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
Berlinda Chin, Deputy Chief Executive, Strategic Engagement and Stakeholder Insights
Berlinda Chin joined the Ministry in August 2021 and is the Deputy Chief Executive for Strategic Engagement and Stakeholder Insights. She previously held senior roles in the Office of Ethnic Communities, including Director, and has built a career focused on diversity, multiculturalism, and social cohesion.
Her experience includes Strategic Specialist on Ethnic Communities at the State Services Commission, Private Secretary to two Ministers with Ethnic Communities portfolios, Intercultural Advisory Manager at the Office of Ethnic Affairs, and Chief Advisor to the Chief Executive of Ethnic Communities. She was also Head of Community Engagement for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care.
Berlinda brings deep insight into the opportunities and challenges shaping New Zealand’s Ethnic Communities and social cohesion landscape. She is known for her sound judgement, strong stakeholder relationships, and collaborative leadership. An empathetic and values-driven leader, she champions diverse perspectives and is committed to inclusive outcomes that uphold the dignity and mana of communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Christine Hogg, Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate Services
Christine joined the Ministry in October 2021, continuing a successful career in a wide range of leadership, people and culture focused roles. She has held senior leadership positions in a range of public and private sector organisations including, New Zealand Racing Board and TAB, Parliamentary Service, Inland Revenue and more recently as Head of Survivor Accounts at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care. Christine and her team are responsible for all the Ministry’s corporate work, including communications, human resources, health, safety and wellbeing, governance, reporting, property, finance and procurement, and privacy and security, management of the Ethnic Communities Development Fund and the Language Assistance Service.
Our Minister
The Minister for Ethnic Communities, is Hon Mark Mitchell.
Our history
Plans for the Ministry started in 1995, with the Ethnic Affairs Desk within the Department of Internal Affairs. Since then, the organisation has grown, both in size and work.
In December 2020, Cabinet agreed the Ministry for Ethnic Communities would be created from 1 July 2021.
Click on the link below to see the main points in our journey to becoming a full Ministry.