Carmel Sepuloni
Carmel Jean Sepuloni (born 1977) 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.
Carmel Sepuloni | |
|---|---|
Sepuloni in 2023 | |
| 20th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| In office 25 January 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Grant Robertson |
| Succeeded by | Winston Peters |
| 27th Minister for Social Development | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Anne Tolley |
| Succeeded by | Louise Upston |
| 13th Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage | |
| In office 6 November 2020 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Jacinda Ardern |
| Succeeded by | Paul Goldsmith |
| 14th Minister for ACC | |
| In office 22 July 2020 – 1 February 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Iain Lees-Galloway |
| Succeeded by | Peeni Henare |
| 5th Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety | |
| In office 21 June 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Michael Wood |
| Succeeded by | Brooke Van Velden |
| 3rd Minister for Auckland | |
| In office 21 June 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Michael Wood |
| Succeeded by | Simeon Brown |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Kelston | |
| Assumed office 21 September 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Electorate established |
| Majority | 15,660 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Carmel Jean Sepuloni 1977 (age 46–47) Waitara, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland |
Sepuloni is New Zealand's first MP of Tongan descent. 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.