Korean Job Discussion Forums

[julian_w]

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5201224

Korean MP wishes NZ First good riddance
December 9, 2008, 4:36 pm

Parliament's feisty new Korean-born MP has delivered her maiden speech, praising the removal of New Zealand First from Parliament.

Broadcaster Melissa Lee says her election as MP has made her the first Korean woman to become an MP outside of Korea.

Ms Lee told Parliament at her joy that New Zealand First did not make it back to Parliament. She says they are a party supported by people who do not like people like her simply because of her ethnicity.

" New Zealand has come of age it seems, by saying we have no room at this particular end for racists. It is the dawning of a new era and it is my privilege to be a part of it."

Ms Lee says she calls herself a kiwi, but to some New Zealanders she will always be seen as a foreigner because of her skin colour - and that must change.

National's first Samoan MP has also delivered his maiden speech in Parliament.

Sam Lotu-Iiga wrestled the Maungakiekie electorate from Labour at the election. His reward was to be the first MP chosen by John Key to deliver a maiden address at the reopening of Parliament.

Mr Lotu-Iiga told Parliament of his pride at having made it as an MP.

"While I arrived here as a migrant 35 years ago from Samoa, carrying with me rich pride in my culture, my language and my values, today I stand here as a New Zealander to carry this pride."

At the conclusion of the speech, a group of people in the public gallery broke into a Samoan song.

[Weetbix Kid]

she sounds fantastic! Hopefully she sticks around!

[Donald Frost]

It'd be great to hear her viewpoint on the status quo in South Korea.

[asylum seeker]

This kind of news makes me feel all warm and fuzzy about my home country.

[Mr-Dokdo]

[Cheonmunka]

Certainly a lot easier for her to find acceptance in NZ than a 'foreigner' does living (and trying to seek assimilation or permanence) in Korea.

If it weren't for the fact that when my children who were born here were growing up I still had to apply for a work visa through my lying boss, I couldn't get anything at all done in my own name - If it weren't for the Korean anti-foreigner assimilation package, I'd be very happy for her.
NZ gives all rights to people who become permanent residents just by living there for three years. That's easy. But, there was, and is still really, no reciprocation, so I don't get warm fuzzies about this news or about her being Korean or the NZ Korean society getting stronger and stronger.

Saying that NZ has finally come of age in the context I look at it, is insulting. Even with a few minor restrictions as NZ First wanted, NZ would still be way ahead of Korea in terms of decent policy pertaining to immigrants.

Look at Tompatz, did everthing by the rules to try to get an F5. In the end denied to him. The guy Matthew who passed the courses and got accreditation to become a Korean public school teacher couldn't get a position beyond that of 원어민 foreign teacher because of the visa system. On the other hand, six years ago the first Korean became a NZ public school teacher - not because regulations initially blocked it, just that he was the first to complete the course.

Saying NZ has racism in political/bureaucratic contexts is total BS.

[Cornfed]

Anyone find it ironic that she is criticizing NZ First simply for advocating that NZ adopt the same immigration policies as Korea and most other Asian countries? I wonder what she thinks of those policies. I'd be willing to bet her opinions are hypocrisy personified. The fact that we are importing racists of other races and making them cabinet ministers indicates not so much that we have "come of age" but that we are senile and headed for oblivion.

[Cheonmunka]

Exactly what I think. ^

[Gaber]

I Doubt she approves of the more insular policies of the Korean system. Anyway, there's a Samoan in National? It was only like 10 years ago that the National Party leader called them a bunch of home invading criminals, climbing in peoples windows a night.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

Woop dee bloody doop, another ethnic Korean doing well abroad story to fan the flames of ethnic exceptionalism and give the minjok a collective hangasm.

[drunkenfud]

[Cheonmunka]

Well frankly Mr Shankly I perfectly agree.

[dossi]

[Chris_Dixon]

[asylum seeker]