Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Maiden Statements 
Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Maiden Statements 
[Volume:651;Page:360] 
KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) 
: 
 Mr Speaker I congratulate you on your election as the Speaker of the House. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh. That is the greeting Sikhs first exchange when they meet each other or when they part company. It is a reminder to always stay humble and never forget that God has supreme power. Namaste salaam alaikum kia ora and Pacific greetings to all. 
Today I congratulate our leader the Prime Minister the Hon John Key on winning the trust of the people of New Zealand to lead our country through these difficult times. It is by virtue of his leadership that I stand here today addressing this House of Representatives as a member of Parliament. I shall always remain humbled by the trust shown by the leader the Hon John Key; the National Party President Judy Kirk; and all my National Party colleagues who have shown trust in me. I will do my best to honour their trust. 
During the election campaign I made new friends and supporters like the electorate chair Ray Strong; the campaign chair Kit Parkinson; the campaign manager Jill Spooner; and Gurvinder Singh my financial agent. I would like to thank them and all the supporters from all communities for their immense support and hard work. I also want to thank all my friends well-wishers and supporters who have come all the way from Auckland—and also from Wellington—to join me on this historic day. 
I would like to pay special tribute to my father the late Bakshi Jagdev Singh and my mother the late Basant Kaur Bakshi who instilled in me the invaluable qualities of honesty of integrity and of extending a helping hand to whomever wherever and whenever I can. I know they would be proud to see their son carry on the family tradition of politics and representing communities. 
I thank my family. Without their love support and sacrifice I would not be here today. To my wife Irvinder Kaur and my sons Gawanjit Singh Bakshi and Rijakjit Singh Bakshi who are here today I say they have been a source of my strength. Thank you very much. My brothers Karamjit Singh and Paramjit Singh and my sisters-in-law visited me from India to support me during the election and bless me. I am also grateful to my father-in-law and mother-in-law for their true guidance and moral support. 
I would also like to acknowledge tangata whenua and all the New Zealanders who have opened their hearts to migrants like me and made us a part of this nation. This country has a proud history. It is a history in which my own people have played a part since 1890 when a fellow Indian Sikh Phuman Singh Gill migrated here. He married a Pakeha and worked as a confectioner. His descendants today live in Auckland and I acknowledge Peter Gill amongst them. Indians have served and contributed to New Zealand society in many spheres like farming business and the medical and legal professions. Today our community stands proud in having produced its first Indian Sikh member of Parliament. 
I would especially like to acknowledge the New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Air Force for having integrated the Sikh turban and our five articles of faith commonly termed as the “Five K’s” into their respective uniforms. They are kesh uncut hair; kanga a comb; kirpan a small sword; karha a steel bracelet; and kachhera cotton underwear. Thank you Mr Speaker for allowing my baptised brothers to come to Parliament wearing kirpan which our religion requires. 
I entered politics many years ago because of a burning desire to make a difference in the fields of trade law and order and inter-ethnic relations. I identify with Mark Twain’s statement: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you did not do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. AND discover.” Exploring dreaming and discovering are an innate part of every Kiwi’s world view. That is what makes us a rich nation—rich in innovative talent rich in exploring new scientific frontiers and rich in extending individual freedom. Time and again we have led the world in these areas. It is my belief that under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister the Hon John Key and the brilliance of our Minister of Trade the Hon Tim Groser we can create conditions around the world that favour our innovators our manufacturers and our producers. 
After the free-trade agreement with China and given that talks are in progress for a free-trade agreement with the USA I think it is time to turn our attention to India one of the biggest democracies and the fastest-growing economy in the world. I would like to see a free-trade agreement between these two countries. 
It may not be out of place to say that the prosperity that trade brings to a country becomes meaningless if the person on the street does not feel safe. The deaths of hard-working Kiwis like Sergeant Derek Wootton retailer Navtej Singh cafe owner Joanne Wang young student Krishna Naidu and others remind us of the work that needs to be done in the field of policing in the social sector in education and in inter-ethnic relations. This is not only to safeguard our country’s reputation as a tourist heaven but also to lead the world in providing solutions to tackle crime. 
Tackling the causes of criminal behaviour to prevent it from happening is cost effective and prevents human suffering. We must never lose sight of the fact that even if we put a criminal behind bars the victims and their loved ones are already sentenced for life. That sense of having been wronged for no fault of their own can spread bitterness in all corners of our society. I humbly offer my intimate knowledge of the South Auckland communities and their specific issues to help prevent crime before it is committed because that is the only way to prevent the suffering of the victims. I would like to take this opportunity to stress the need to not lose sight of individual freedom while trying to tackle crime. As Thomas Jefferson pointed out two centuries ago “A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both and deserve neither.” 
Now I come to the growing ethnic diversity of our New Zealand society. Our first Asian Cabinet Minister the Hon Pansy Wong my National Party colleague Melissa Lee and I are examples of the growing ethnic diversity of New Zealand society. I also acknowledge Dr. Ashraf Choudhary Dr. Rajen Prasad and Raymond Huo on the Opposition benches as part of this ethnically diverse Parliament. I humbly pledge to work with our Minister for Ethnic Affairs the Hon Pansy Wong and others to keep the diverse ethnic mosaic of our society harmonious and respectful of each other’s differences. I have come to this Parliament carrying the responsibility of looking after the interests of the people of this great country and I am fully committed to do my best to serve this great country and its people. 
I have come to the conclusion of my maiden speech. I would like to share with the House the ideal city from Sikh scripture which is a guiding light to me and my fellow Sikhs: 
Baygumpura ‘the city without sorrow’ is the name of the City. 
There is no suffering or anxiety there. 
There are no troubles or taxes on commodities. 
There is no fear blemish or downfall. [1] 
Now I have found this most excellent city. 
There is lasting peace and safety there O Siblings of Destiny. [1] [Pause] 
God’s Kingdom is steady stable and eternal. 
There is no second or third status; all are equal there. 
That city is populous and eternally famous. 
Those who live there are wealthy and contented. [2] 
They stroll about freely just as they please. 
They know the Mansion of the Lord’s Presence and no one blocks their way. 
Says Ravi Daas the emancipated shoemaker: 
whoever is a citizen there is a friend of mine. [3] [2] 
That is the vision I bring to this Parliament and I shall do my best to work alongside my esteemed colleagues to achieve it. Tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh.