Kanwal Singh Bakshi

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Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi is a New Zealand politician and a member of the National Party. He was elected into the 49th New Zealand Parliament in 2008 by way of the party list.[1]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
2008–2011 49th List 38 National
2011 – present 50th List 35 National

Bakshi was born in Delhi, India and is both New Zealand's first Indian and first Sikh Member of Parliament.[2]

In June 2010, his Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill was drawn from the member's ballot.[3] The bill passed into law in April 2012.

Controversy

In early 2009 and again in August 2009, he was investigated by police and Immigration New Zealand over a scheme where he allegedly made false job offers to Indian people wishing to enter New Zealand.[4] Bakshi was later cleared by the police of wrongdoing without an interview of the main complainant who had left the country[5]

Bakshi voted against the first reading of Louisa Wall's same-sex marriage bill in August 2012.[6] Bakshi controversially later attended a protest against Louisa Wall's bill stating: "We understand that God made us and we are firm believers (that) marriage is between a man and woman," Bakshi told the crowd of around 250. "I tell you, the majority of the National Party MPs voted against this bill. There were only three Labour party MPs who voted against this bill. So you can understand who believes in Christianity, who believes in this bill. It is the National Party.". Bakshi later conceded that in fact a majority of National MP's had voted for the bill.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 2008 Election Results
  2. ↑ "New Zealand Parliament Gets First Sikh MP". Hindustan Times. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill". Parliament of New Zealand. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
  4. ↑ Gower, Patrick (19 August 2009). "National MP faces police probe on jobs". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
  5. ↑ Gower, Patrick (16 October 2009). "Bakshi cleared of scam". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 January 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill — First Reading". New Zealand Parliament - Hansard. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013. 
  7. ↑ Weekes, John (28 October 2012). "MPs attend protest against gay marriage". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 January 2013. 

External links

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