Rajen Prasad QSO is a politician from New Zealand. He was elected to represent the Labour Party on the party list at the 2008 general election and retired in 2014.

Prasad is of Indo-Fijian descent.^[1][2] Prasad has a PhD from Massey University, completed in 1986.^[3] Prasad led Massey University at Albany during its establishment in 1993 and was Race Relations Conciliator between 1996 and 2001.^[4] In the 2003 New Year Honours, Prasad was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.^[5]

In June 2004 Prasad was appointed as the first Chief Commissioner of the newly established Families Commission, serving until 2008.^[4]

He joined the board of the Bank of Baroda's New Zealand office in 2008 ^[6] and remained a director of the Bank until 2016.^[7]

At the 2008 election Prasad was placed at number 12 on the Labour Party list and was subsequently elected to Parliament. This was a very high list placing, far in advance of many sitting cabinet ministers. He was re-elected, albeit at a lower list placing of 20, in 2011.

In 2008, Prasad was appointed Labour's spokesperson for Voluntary and Community Sector, and associate spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs and Social Development – Family and CYF by Labour leader Phil Goff.^[8] He was later appointed spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs, as well as associate spokesperson for Social Development.^[9]

In 2013 under the new leadership of David Cunliffe, a new Labour shadow cabinet reshuffle was announced with Prasad the Spokesperson on Immigration, Associate Spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs and Associate Spokesperson for Social Development (CYFS).^[10] Prasad announced his plans to retire ahead of the general election in September 2014.^[2][11]

Since leaving Parliament, Prasad has been appointed a Commonwealth Envoy with special responsibility for Lesotho working directly in Africa to help develop better Political practices.^[12][13]