https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kanwaljit_Singh_BakshiKanwaljit Singh Bakshi - Revision history2026-07-31T12:01:22ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kanwaljit_Singh_Bakshi&diff=432375&oldid=prevBhupesh210 at 13:02, 28 September 20232023-09-28T13:02:13Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|New Zealand politician}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| honorific-prefix = <br />
| name = Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi<br />
| image = Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.png<br />
| caption = <br />
| constituency_MP = [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] List<br />
| parliament = New Zealand<br />
| term_start = [[2008 New Zealand general election|8 November 2008]]<br />
| term_end = [[2020 New Zealand general election|17 October 2020]]<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|2|20|df=yes}}{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Delhi, India]]<br />
| death_date = <br />
| death_place = <br />
| birthname = <br />
| nationality ={{ubl|[[India]]|New Zealand}}<br />
| party = [[New Zealand National Party]]<br />
| spouse = Irvinder Kaur<br />
| relations = <br />
| children = <br />
| residence = <br />
| alma_mater = [[University of Delhi]]<br />
| cabinet = <br />
| committees = <br />
| portfolio = <br />
| religion = <br />
| signature = <br />
| website = <br />
}}{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}<br />
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}}<br />
<br />
'''Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: ਕੰਵਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ੀ; born 20 February 1964) is an Indian-born New Zealand politician and a member of the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]]. He was a [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]] as a list MP from the [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008 election]] to the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 election]].<br />
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==Early life==<br />
In an interview, Bakshi said that he was born in [[Delhi]], India. His father, [[Bakshi Jagdev Singh]] was a politician. Bakshi attended [[Guru Harkrishan Public School]] and acquired a degree in Commerce from the [[University of Delhi]] in 1985. His first job after graduation was in the family's freight business where he eventually became a marketing manager. Bakshi married Irvinder Kaur in 1989, and moved to New Zealand in 2001.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/96626686/getting-candid-with--kanwaljit-singh-bakshi|title=Getting candid with ... Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi|website=Stuff|date=7 September 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kanwaljitsinghbakshi.national.org.nz/about_kanwaljit_singh_bakshi|title=About Kanwaljit|website=Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref><br />
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==Member of Parliament==<br />
{{NZ parlbox header}}<br />
{{NZ parlbox<br />
|term = 49th<br />
|start = {{NZ election link year|2008}}<br />
|end =2011<br />
|electorate = [[Party lists in the 2008 New Zealand general election#National Party|List]]<br />
|party = New Zealand National Party<br />
|list = 38<br />
}}<br />
{{NZ parlbox<br />
|start={{NZ election link year|2011}}<br />
|end=2014<br />
|term=50th<br />
|electorate = [[Party lists in the 2011 New Zealand general election#National Party|List]]<br />
|list=35<br />
|party=New Zealand National Party<br />
}}<br />
{{NZ parlbox<br />
|start={{NZ election link year|2014}}<br />
|end=2017<br />
|term=51st<br />
|electorate = [[Party lists in the 2014 New Zealand general election#National Party|List]]<br />
|list=32<br />
|party=New Zealand National Party<br />
}}<br />
{{NZ parlbox<br />
|start={{NZ election link year|2017}}<br />
|end=2020<br />
|term=52nd<br />
|electorate = [[Party lists in the 2017 New Zealand general election#National Party|List]]<br />
|list=32<br />
|party=New Zealand National Party<br />
}}<br />
{{NZ parlbox footer}}<br />
Bakshi was both New Zealand's first Indian and first Sikh Member of Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1592231971.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140921201115/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1592231971.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 21 September 2014 |title=New Zealand Parliament Gets First Sikh MP |date=10 November 2008 |publisher=Hindustan Times |access-date=20 July 2012}}</ref> He was elected in the {{NZ election link|2008}} by way of the party list, having unsuccessfully contested the [[Manukau East]] electorate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/successfulcand.html |title=2008 Election Results |access-date=25 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218153019/http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/successfulcand.html |archive-date=18 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bakshi recontested Manukau East in 2011, 2014 and 2017; he was elected each time as a list MP. In his parliamentary career, Bakshi served as Chairperson of the Law and Order Select Committee (2015–2017), [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[Minister of Police (New Zealand)|Minister of Police]], and National Party spokesperson for Internal Affairs (2017–2020) and Ethnic Communities (2020).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bakshi, Kanwaljit Singh - New Zealand Parliament|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/bakshi-kanwaljit-singh/|access-date=2020-12-21|website=www.parliament.nz|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tougher new gun control laws proposed to tackle gang members, ammunition rules|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/91346002/tougher-new-gun-control-laws-proposed-to-tackle-gang-members-ammunition-rules|access-date=2020-02-13|website=Stuff|date=7 April 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Parliamentary Private Secretaries appointed|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/parliamentary-private-secretaries-appointed-2|access-date=2020-12-21|website=The Beehive|language=en}}</ref><br />
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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.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10591650 |title=National MP faces police probe on jobs |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=19 August 2009 |access-date=19 August 2009 |first=Patrick |last=Gower}}</ref> Bakshi was later cleared by the police of wrongdoing; the main complainant was not interviewed as they had had left the country.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603527 |title=Bakshi cleared of scam |first=Patrick |last=Gower |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=16 October 2009 |access-date=28 January 2013}}</ref><br />
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In June 2010, his Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill was drawn from the member's ballot.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/0/c/3/00DBHOH_BILL10015_1-Military-Manoeuvres-Act-Repeal-Bill.htm |title=Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill |publisher=Parliament of New Zealand |access-date=18 June 2010}}</ref> The bill passed into law in April 2012. A second member's bill, seeking to legalise the carrying of [[kirpan]]s by [[Sikhs]], was drafted but not drawn.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-27|title=On the backbenches: A seven-day-a-week job|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-house/audio/2018740457/on-the-backbenches-a-seven-day-a-week-job|access-date=2020-12-21|website=RNZ|language=en-nz}}</ref><br />
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Kanwaljit accompanied New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key on his visit to India in June 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title= New Zealand PM embarks on first visit to India |url= http://www.smetimes.in/smetimes/news/indian-economy-news/2011/Jun/25/new-zealand-pm-embarks-on-first-visit-to-india183731.html |access-date= 26 February 2015|date= 25 June 2011}}</ref> He has been recognised for fostering ties between New Zealand and India.<ref>{{cite news |title= Another first for the first inductee of the Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame<br />
|url= http://www.indianweekender.co.nz/Pages/ArticleDetails/7/5259/New-Zealand/Another-first-for-the-first-inductee-of-the-Kiwi-Indian-Hall-of-Fame |access-date= 27 February 2015 |date= 16 January 2015 }}</ref> Bakshi has also assisted the New Zealand Government in publishing their policies in Indian languages such as Hindi, Gujrati and Punjabi for the benefit of the Indian community.<ref>{{cite news |title= Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi |url= http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/threads/kanwaljit-singh-bakshi.26225/|access-date= 27 February 2015|date= 12 August 2009}}</ref> He also received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award at a ceremony in India in January 2015 for building a positive profile of people of Indian Origin in New Zealand and South Pacific.<ref>{{cite news |title= National MP receives prestigious Pravasi Bhartiya Award |url= https://www.national.org.nz/news/news/media-releases/detail/2015/01/13/national-mp-receives-prestigious-pravasi-bhartiya-award |access-date= 27 February 2015 |date= 13 January 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150225034304/https://www.national.org.nz/news/news/media-releases/detail/2015/01/13/national-mp-receives-prestigious-pravasi-bhartiya-award |archive-date= 25 February 2015 |url-status= dead }}</ref><br />
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Bakshi voted against the first reading of [[Louisa Wall]]'s [[Same-sex marriage in New Zealand|same-sex marriage]] bill in August 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/a/c/d/50HansD_20120829_00000032-Marriage-Definition-of-Marriage-Amendment.htm |title=Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill — First Reading|work=New Zealand Parliament – Hansard |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=28 January 2013}}</ref> Bakshi later attended a protest against Louisa Wall's bill stating to the crowd of around 250: "We understand that God made us and we are firm believers [that] marriage is between a man and woman, 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 MPs had voted for the bill.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10843389 |title=MPs attend protest against gay marriage |first=John |last=Weekes |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=28 October 2012 |access-date=28 January 2013}}</ref><br />
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In 2016 Bakshi faced criticism for comparing international students to a commodity such as fridges. In an interview, following a question about treating Indian students as "economic commodities", Bakshi said "if New Zealand gets fridges from China and they're faulty then they send them back".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/84663557/national-party-mp-kanwaljit-singh-bakshi-compares-international-students-to-faulty-fridges|title=National Party MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi compares international students to 'faulty fridges'|last=Muir|first=Jo|date=26 September 2016|website=Stuff|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref><br />
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In Bakshi's fourth term, the National Party was in Opposition and he was the party's spokesperson for Internal Affairs (2017–2020) and Ethnic Communities (2020). He voted against the [[End of Life Choice Act 2019]] and the [[Abortion Legislation Act 2020]].<ref name="Parliament 3rd reading">{{cite web|date=13 November 2019|title=End of Life Choice Bill — Third Reading|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20191113_20191113_16|access-date=15 November 2019|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]}}</ref><ref name="NZ Parliament 3rd reading">{{cite web|date=18 March 2020|title=Abortion Legislation Bill — Third Reading|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20200318_20200318_24|access-date=18 March 2020|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]}}</ref><br />
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During the [[2020 New Zealand general election]], Bakshi contested the [[Panmure-Ōtāhuhu]] electorate (which had replaced the [[Manukau East]] electorate due to boundary changes). He again lost the electorate seat to [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] candidate [[Jenny Salesa]], by a final margin of 18,626 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Panmure-Ōtāhuhu - Official Result |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-37.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=12 November 2020 }}</ref> Bakshi had been raised in the National Party list, going from 32nd to 24th, but the National Party as a whole fared poorly in the election, receiving only 33 seats of which only 10 went to list MPs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 General Election and Referendums - Official Result|url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/}}</ref> Bakshi did not rank high enough on National's party list to be re-elected, and so left Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whyte |first1=Anna |title=Analysis: The winners, losers, new faces and goodbyes of election 2020 |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/analysis-winners-losers-new-faces-and-goodbyes-election-2020 |access-date=22 October 2020 |work=[[1 News]] |date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022090204/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/analysis-winners-losers-new-faces-and-goodbyes-election-2020 |archive-date=22 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/bakshi-kanwaljit-singh/ Profile] at New Zealand Parliament<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110812053221/http://www.national.org.nz/MP.aspx?Id=48556 Profile] at National party (archive copy from 2011)<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101109180627/http://www.bakshi.co.nz/ Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi] official site (archive from 2010)<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20200119011012/https://twitter.com/bakshiks?lang=en Twitter account] (archive from January 2020)<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakshi, Kanwal Singh}}<br />
[[Category:1964 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:New Zealand National Party MPs]]<br />
[[Category:New Zealand Sikhs]]<br />
[[Category:New Zealand people of Punjabi descent]]<br />
[[Category:New Zealand list MPs]]<br />
[[Category:Indian emigrants to New Zealand]]<br />
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians]]<br />
[[Category:Candidates in the 2011 New Zealand general election]]<br />
[[Category:Candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election]]<br />
[[Category:Candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election]]<br />
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman]]<br />
[[Category:Foreign-born New Zealand politicians]]</div>Bhupesh210