Jenny Salesa

The Honourable Jenny Salesa MP
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
7th Minister 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
65th Minister of Customs
In office 27 June 2019 – 6 November 2020
Prime Minister	Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by	Kris Faafoi
Succeeded by	Meka Whaitiri
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Panmure-Ōtāhuhu Manukau East (2014–2020)
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 September 2014
Preceded by	Ross Robertson
Majority	18,626
Personal details
Born	c. 1968 (age 55–56) Tonga
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Damon Salesa
Alma mater	University of Auckland
Profession	Public servant

Jennifer Teresia Salesa (née Latu, born c. 1968) is a New Zealand politician and member of the Labour Party who has served as a Member of Parliament since 2014. She was first elected as MP for Manukau East, and after its abolition in 2020 won the replacement electorate of Panmure-Ōtāhuhu. She served as a Cabinet Minister in the Sixth Labour Government as Minister for Building and Construction, Minister of Customs (from 2019) and Minister for Ethnic Communities from 2017 until 6 November 2020.

Early life and career

She is of Tongan heritage and is married to university academic Damon Salesa. Prior to entering Parliament Salesa had worked in the public sector, and overseas in the United States.

Political career

New Zealand Parliament

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

In opposition, 2014–2017

Salesa replaced long serving MP Ross Robertson in the Manukau East seat when he retired at the 2014 election. She was successful in gaining the Labour party nomination for the seat, ahead of Auckland Councillor Efeso Collins. Salesa won the seat by a margin of 13,254 votes, beating the National Party candidate Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.

In government, 2017–2023

During the 2017 New Zealand general election held on 23 September, Salesa retained Manukau East by 12,589 votes, beating the National Party candidate Bakshi.

In mid-October 2017, Salesa was elected as a Cabinet Minister by the Labour Party caucus following Labour's formation of a government with New Zealand First and the Greens. She was appointed Minister for Building and Construction and Minister of Ethnic Communities, and Associate Minister of Education, Health, and Housing and Urban Development.

In late June 2019, Salesa was made Minister of Customs following a cabinet reshuffle, replacing Kris Faafoi who assumed the portfolio of Associate Minister for public housing.

During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Salesa contested the Panmure-Ōtāhuhu electorate, defeating National Party candidate Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi by a final margin of 18,626 votes.

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. On 9 November 2020, Salesa was granted retention of the title "The Honourable" for life, in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council. She was officially appointed an Assistant Speaker on 26 November.

In opposition, 2023–present

During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Salesa retained the Panmure-Ōtāhuhu electorate by 7,970 votes, defeating National's candidate Navtej Randhawa.

In late November 2023, Salesa became spokesperson for ethnic communities and customs in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.