Jenny Salesa | |
|---|---|
 Salesa in 2023 | |
| First Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 26 November 2020 – 6 December 2023 | |
| Speaker | Trevor Mallard (2020–2022) Adrian Rurawhe (2022–2023) |
| Preceded by | Ruth Dyson |
| Succeeded by | Maureen Pugh |
| 7thMinister for Building and Construction | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Nick Smith |
| Succeeded by | Poto Williams |
| Minister for Ethnic Communities | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Judith Collins |
| Succeeded by | Priyanca Radhakrishnan |
| 65thMinister of Customs | |
| In office 27 June 2019 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Kris Faafoi |
| Succeeded by | Meka Whaitiri |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forPanmure-Ōtāhuhu Manukau East (2014–2020) | |
| Assumed office 20 September 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Ross Robertson |
| Majority | 18,626 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1968 (age 56–57) Tonga |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Damon Salesa |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland |
| Profession | Public servant |
Jennifer Teresia Salesa (néeLatu, bornc. 1968)[1] is a New Zealand politician and member of theLabour Party who has served as aMember of Parliament since2014. She was first elected as MP forManukau East, and after its abolition in 2020 won the replacement electorate ofPanmure-Ōtāhuhu. She served as aCabinet Minister in theSixth Labour Government asMinister for Building and Construction,Minister of Customs (from 2019) and Minister for Ethnic Communities from2017 until 6 November 2020.
She is ofTongan heritage and is married to university academicDamon Salesa.[2] Prior to entering Parliament Salesa had worked in the public sector, and overseas in the United States.[3]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2017 | 51st | Manukau East | 31 | Labour | |
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | Manukau East | 19 | Labour | |
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | Panmure-Ōtāhuhu | 13 | Labour | |
| 2023–present | 54th | Panmure-Ōtāhuhu | 24 | Labour | |
Salesa replaced long serving MPRoss Robertson in theManukau East seat when he retired at the2014 election. She was successful in gaining theLabour party nomination for the seat, ahead of Auckland CouncillorEfeso Collins.[4][5] Salesa won the seat by a margin of 13,254 votes, beating theNational Party candidateKanwaljit Singh Bakshi.[6]
During the2017 New Zealand general election held on 23 September, Salesa retained Manukau East by 12,589 votes, beating the National Party candidate Bakshi.[7]
In mid-October 2017, Salesa was elected as a Cabinet Minister by the Labour Party caucus following Labour's formation of a government withNew Zealand First and theGreens.[8] She was appointed Minister for Building and Construction and Minister of Ethnic Communities, and Associate Minister of Education, Health, and Housing and Urban Development.[9]
In late June 2019, Salesa was madeMinister of Customs following acabinet reshuffle, replacingKris Faafoi who assumed the portfolio of Associate Minister for public housing.[10][11]
During the2020 New Zealand general election, Salesa contested thePanmure-Ōtāhuhu electorate, defeatingNational Party candidateKanwaljit Singh Bakshi by a final margin of 18,626 votes.[12]
When the new Cabinet was announced following the election, Salesa lost all her ministerial positions. She was instead nominated for the role of Assistant Speaker.[13] On 9 November 2020, Salesa was granted retention of the title "The Honourable" for life, in recognition of her term as a member of theExecutive Council.[14] She was officially appointed an Assistant Speaker on 26 November.[15]
During the2023 New Zealand general election, Salesa retained the Panmure-Ōtāhuhu electorate by 7,970 votes, defeating National's candidate Navtej Randhawa.[16]
In late November 2023, Salesa became spokesperson for ethnic communities andcustoms in theShadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[17]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New electorate | Member of Parliament for Panmure-Ōtāhuhu 2020–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Manukau East 2014–2020 | Succeeded by Electorate abolished |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Building and Construction 2017–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Ethnic Communities 2017–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Customs 2019–2020 | Succeeded by |
