Carmel Sepuloni

Carmel Sepuloni
Sepuloni in 2023
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Assumed office
27 November 2023
LeaderChris Hipkins
Preceded byNicola Willis
19th Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Assumed office
7 November 2023
LeaderChris Hipkins
Preceded byKelvin Davis
20th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office
25 January 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byGrant Robertson
Succeeded byWinston Peters
5th Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
In office
21 June 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byMichael Wood
Succeeded byBrooke Van Velden
3rd Minister for Auckland
In office
21 June 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byMichael Wood
Succeeded bySimeon Brown
27th Minister for Social Development
In office
26 October 2017 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Chris Hipkins
Preceded byAnne Tolley
Succeeded byLouise Upston
14th Minister for ACC
In office
22 July 2020 – 1 February 2023
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Chris Hipkins
Preceded byIain Lees-Galloway
Succeeded byPeeni Henare
13th Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
In office
6 November 2020 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Chris Hipkins
Preceded byJacinda Ardern
Succeeded byPaul Goldsmith
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Kelston
Assumed office
21 September 2014
Preceded byElectorate established
Majority15,660
Personal details
Born
Carmel Jean Sepuloni

1977 (age 46–47)
Waitara, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
Spouse
(m. 2018)
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Auckland

Carmel Jean Sepuloni (born 1977)[1] is a New Zealand politician who served as the 20th deputy prime minister of New Zealand. A member of the Labour Party, she was first elected to Parliament in 2008 for a three-year term as a list Member of Parliament (MP) and was re-elected as MP for Kelston in 2014. In 2023, she was elected as the deputy leader of the Labour Party, succeeding Kelvin Davis.

Sepuloni is New Zealand's first MP of Tongan descent.[2] She was a senior minister in the Sixth Labour Government under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, holding office as Minister for Social Development throughout the government's term and additionally serving as Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Minister for ACC, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Minister for Disability Issues and Minister for Pacific Peoples. She became deputy prime minister in January 2023 when the Labour leadership switched to Chris Hipkins.[3]

  1. ^ "Current MPs – Carmel Sepuloni". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  2. ^ "Carmel Sepuloni makes history as first Pasifika deputy PM". Radio New Zealand. 23 January 2023. Carmel Sepuloni was New Zealand's first MP of Tongan descent
  3. ^ "Live: 'Biggest responsibility of my life' – Hipkins confirmed as PM". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2023.