Priyanca's power move FROM MIGRANT TO MINISTER
Woman’s Day Magazine NZ|November 14, 2022
Despite choosing not to have children of her own, the Maungakiekie MP feels right at home being in charge of the youth portfolio
Leena Tailor
Priyanca's power move FROM MIGRANT TO MINISTER

She's travelled the world, advocated for issues like domestic violence, emigrated to Aotearoa, found love outside a shoe shop, and is New Zealand's first minister of Indian descent. But of all the interesting topics people could raise when meeting Priyanca Radhakrishnan, there's one question she can't shake: "When are you having kids?"

The 43-year-old politician and her husband Ewan Richardson have happily built a life without children, yet Priyanca frequently finds herself interrogated over the decision.

"At the start, it was very much, 'Why don't you have children?" says the Aucklander. "Now people assume I have kids, but I still get, 'You don't know what you're missing, or, 'A woman's role is to raise children. People say I'm wasting my life or that Ewan and I would make good parents and are being selfish.

"If you don't have children, the onus is on you to explain why, which is unfair because it's as valid a choice as choosing to have children.

"It's tiresome having to constantly explain - and it's not a justification expected of my male colleagues."

Born in Chennai, India, Priyanca and her older sister Manavi grew up in Singapore (on a street called One Tree Hill - the name of the Auckland region she's now MP for), where her parents Raman and Usha worked. A "girly girl" who loved playing house with her dolls, she imagined becoming a mum.

"I saw married women had children and assumed someday that would be me," she recalls. "But as I grew up, I started questioning parenthood. I had friends talking about their biological clocks ticking and couldn't relate. People said I would eventually experience a desire to have children, but that never happened."

It's a choice that defies traditional Indian expectations, but Priyanca's life has always been a colourful merging of Western and Asian influence.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 14, 2022 من Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 14, 2022 من Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE NZ مشاهدة الكل
TREASURE & TRAUMA
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TREASURE & TRAUMA

The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

JUDGE JAY-JAY

Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas

time-read
2 mins  |
August 31, 2024
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'

The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO

The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!

Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR

The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay

time-read
2 mins  |
August 31, 2024
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'

The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
CARMEL SEPULONI  I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!

Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR

The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!

time-read
5 mins  |
August 31, 2024
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!

Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024