Labour Party sets sights on capturing Asian votes

Labour will campaign like never before to capture the Asian community's vote in the buildup to the general election, the party has vowed.

Labour president Mike Williams said the Asian community now held six to seven per cent of the vote, and was becoming more active in New Zealand politics.

Last week Labour recognised this by selecting Chinese businessman Stephen Ching as a prominent candidate on the party list for next year's election.

"We have had a big surge of membership among Chinese people. There is a big Chinese branch in Auckland lead by Stephen Ching.

"These people are participating and we think you will see a big turn-out among Asian people in the next general election," said Mr Williams.

He said Labour would campaign among that group "in a way never done before".

The number of Asian MPs is also growing, with three now in Parliament: National MP Pansy Wong, Labour's Dr Ashraf Choudhary and new Act MP Kenneth Wang. Before 1996 there were no Asian MPs in New Zealand.

The number of New Zealanders who identify with one or more Asian groups is projected to reach 604,000, or 13 per cent of the population, by 2021 - up from 272,000, or 7 per cent of the population, in 2001.

National leader Don Brash said the Asian vote was important because the community was playing a more active role in local politics.

Last month, the Asian community flexed its political muscle and forced the Government to change a clause in the Identity Bill on residency.

Mrs Wong said at the time that the community had been buoyed by the success.

"By participating and speaking up it is possible to influence legislation and I think they've been really encouraged," she said.

She also said she believed "absolutely" that New Zealand would one day elect an Asian Prime Minister.

"Maybe not in the next five years but it will happen," she said.