"Raised with values of service and hard work, I am committed to social justice, ensuring positive health and educational outcomes, healthy housing, equal opportunities and fairness for all."

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Hon Jenny Salesa is the Member of Parliament for the Panmure–Ōtāhuhu electorate, in which she lives with her two daughters, husband and extended family.

She has been honoured to serve the community for 11 years as the MP, first, as MP for Manukau East (2014–2020) and then, following the 2020 boundary changes, as MP for Panmure–Ōtāhuhu.

Born and raised in Tonga, her family moved to Aotearoa New Zealand, seeking better educational opportunities when she was 16 and they settled in Auckland. Jenny’s commitment to social justice and ensuring equal opportunities and fairness for all led her to politics.

Jenny graduated from the University of Auckland with a BA/LLB in 1996. While there she was the Founding President of the Pacific Island Law Students Association. 

She has over 25 years’ experience working as a public servant in the New Zealand health and education sectors, with NGOs and as a politician. She has also spent time living and working in America, where she implemented, and spread to other cities, an evidence-based health initiative developed in Michigan.

Currently, Labour’s spokesperson for Ethnic Communities and for Customs, she has also been Minister for Minister of Building & Construction, Minister for Ethnic Communities, Minister of Customs and has held Associate Minister delegations in Education, Health, Housing & Urban Development.

She has served as the Assistant Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives and Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee.

Jenny was Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Tongan-born Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister.