Labour MP Tamati Coffey wants Minister for rainbow issues

Labour MP Tamati Coffey says Parliament should consider introducing a Minister responsible for rainbow issues.

"I personally think that we need a Minister in Government that's actually in charge of rainbow issues," he said during a Facebook Live interview with Newshub Nation.

"In Canada I know they've got a Minister that's in charge of I think it's diversity and equity and equality, and I think that's something we could absolutely do with someone in that kind of role down here in Wellington."

Mr Coffey said he has "so much faith" in the next generation to make life easier for the rainbow community, with society finally beginning to normalise what it means to be lesbian, gay, intersex, bisexual and transgender.

He said he hopes to be the next MP in Parliament to become a new parent with his husband, after initially believing when he was younger that he might never be able to have children.

"It's not easy to be a gay couple that is trying to embark on having a family, there's quite a few hoops we need to jump through but we feel ready," he said.

"When I came out one of the reasons I didn't want to come out was because I thought to myself, that means I won't be able to have kids...but actually it's 2018, we have the wonders of modern science.

"We've moved as a society into a place where actually being gay is not a terrible thing, it's not illegal anymore, actually you can be the person you want to be and if you want to have a family you just need to make it happen."

Mr Coffey was elected to Parliament for the first time at the 2017 election as the MP for Waiariki, defeating Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell to take the seat.

He's a former weather presenter and What Now host, was the 2009 winner of Dancing With The Stars, and owns a small bar in Rotorua called Ponsonby Road.

Mr Coffey said New Zealand has some real race issues that need to be dealt with.

"We've come so far, I have so much faith in the next generation to wipe clear some of this Hobson's Pledge stuff that I see around the place, which I think is a backwards step."

He started learning to speak Te Reo Māori while at university and believes it should be compulsory in New Zealand schools.

"Once we have a generation of young New Zealand kids being able to jump in and out of English and Te Reo Māori I think that we will have come of age as a country."

Newshub.