Carmel Sepuloni

Daren Kamali

​

(m. 2018)​

The Honourable Carmel Sepuloni MP
Sepuloni in 2023
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 November 2023
Children	2
Alma mater	University 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]

Early years

Sepuloni was born and raised in Waitara, Taranaki, and attended New Plymouth Girls' High School. ^[4] Her father was a Samoan-Tongan migrant freezing worker, who migrated to New Zealand without being able to speak English, and "staunch unionist" and her mother was a Pākehā from a conservative farming family.

She moved to Auckland in 1996 to attend the Auckland College of Education and University of Auckland where she attained a Diploma of Teaching (Primary) and a Bachelor of Education, respectively. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Sepuloni worked as a teacher in Samoa and in alternative education programmes in Auckland. Later, she worked as an equity manager and a research project manager in Pacific health at the University of Auckland. ^{[5] [6]}

She has two sons. ^{[7] [8]} She married writer and musician Daren Kamali in November 2018. ^[9]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate	List	Party
2008 –2011	49th	List	35		Labour
2014 –2017	51st	Kelston	29		Labour
2017 –2020	52nd	Kelston	8		Labour
2020 –2023	53rd	Kelston	8		Labour
2023 –present	54th	Kelston	3		Labour

First term, 2008–2011

Sepuloni came to Parliament in the 2008 general election having successfully stood as a list-only candidate for the New Zealand Labour Party. She had been involved in the party for only a year and a half before being elected. ^[10] Sepuloni's position at 35th on the party list, and the promotion of other new candidates, was cited by The New Zealand Herald as an effort by the Labour Party to "inject new faces" and increase the party's ethnic diversity. ^[11]

After the election, Sepuloni became Labour's spokesperson for civil defence and associate spokesperson for tertiary education and social development. ^[10] In her maiden speech, Sepuloni said, "I've learned through my own experiences and the experiences of others around me, that our young in particular can quickly begin to self-stigmatise when the media and society stigmatise them. When the media only portrays a picture of a ghettoised, poverty-stricken group of trouble makers, then our youth can resign themselves to the fact that this is what they are. They may even take pride in this prescribed image, because it provides them with a level of attention and status which although negative, is attention and status nonetheless."

In June 2010, Sepuloni's Employment Relations (Probationary Period Repeal) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. A bill to repeal the changes to probationary employment contained in the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2008, ^[12] it was defeated at its first reading 64 votes to 57. ^[13]

2011 election loss

On 19 March 2010, Sepuloni was selected as the Labour candidate for the Waitakere electorate in the 2011 general election, facing incumbent National MP and Cabinet minister Paula Bennett. In April 2011, she was ranked number 24 on the party's list for the election. On the election night preliminary count, she placed second in Waitakere, 349 votes behind Bennett, and with her list ranking was set not to be returned to Parliament. When the official results were released on 10 December 2011, Sepuloni had received sufficient special votes to win Waitakere and defeat Bennett by eleven votes. ^[14] Bennett requested a judicial recount and on 17 December regained her seat with a nine-vote majority, removing Sepuloni from Parliament. ^{[15] [16]} This was not before the Labour Party leadership election on 13 December, in which she participated as a member-elect of the Labour caucus and supported David Cunliffe. ^[17]

Not long after leaving Parliament Sepuloni travelled to Egypt to participate as a short-term observer on the NDI International Election Mission. Prior to being reelected, Sepuloni was employed as the chief executive of Vaka Tautua, an Auckland-based Pacific disability, mental health, and social services provider. ^[18]

Second term, 2014–2017

During the 2014 general election, Sepuloni stood as Labour's candidate in the Kelston electorate in Auckland, winning by a majority of 15,091 votes. ^[19] She served as Labour's social development spokesperson under new Labour leader Andrew Little, although she was temporarily stood down from that role in 2015 after her mother was charged with benefit fraud; ^{[20] [21]} her mother was subsequently sentenced to four and a half months of home detention for illegally receiving benefits totalling $34,000. ^[22]

Government minister, 2017–2023

During the 2017 general election, Sepuloni stood again in her Kelston seat, returning to Parliament with a majority of 16,789 votes. Following Labour's formation of a coalition government with New Zealand First and the Greens, ^[23] Sepuloni was elected as a Cabinet minister by the Labour Party caucus. She was subsequently appointed as minister of social development and disability issues as well as associate minister for Pacific Peoples, and arts, culture & heritage. ^[24]

On 28 April 2018, Sepuloni issued a statement criticising Work and Income for turning away a homeless woman who was trying to apply for a benefit after being discharged from hospital. ^[25] As social development minister, Sepuloni likened her Government's approach to welfare reform to "trying to turn a jumbo jet in mid-air." ^[26]

On 22 July 2020, Sepuloni was appointed as minister for ACC following the resignation of Iain Lees-Galloway, who admitted to having an "inappropriate relationship" with a former staffer. ^{[27] [28]}

Sepuloni (left) and Chris Hipkins (right), after being sworn in as deputy prime minister and prime minister, by the governor-general, Dame Cindy Kiro, at Government House, Wellington, on 25 January 2023

During the 2020 general election held on 17 October, Sepuloni was re-elected in Kelston by a final margin of 15,660 votes, retaining the seat for Labour. ^[29] In early November, she retained her previous ministerial portfolios for social development, disability issues, and ACC, while also becoming the minister for employment and arts, culture and heritage. ^[30] She vacated the disability issues portfolio in June 2022. ^[31]

On 22 January 2023, incoming prime minister Chris Hipkins confirmed Sepuloni as his deputy prime minister. ^[32] She is the first Pasifika deputy prime minister and third woman to hold the role. ^[5] On her promotion to deputy prime minister, Sepuloni dropped the ACC portfolio and became the associate foreign affairs minister responsible for the Pacific region. ^[33] She additionally became Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety and Minister for Auckland on 21 June 2023, following the resignation of Michael Wood from cabinet. ^[34]

Fifth term, 2023–present

Sepuloni retained her Kelston electorate at the 2023 New Zealand general election by a margin of 4,396 votes despite Labour losing the election to the National Party. ^[35]

On 7 November 2023, Sepuloni was elected as deputy leader of the Labour Party during a leadership vote. ^[36] In early November 2023, along with the National Party's foreign affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee, she represented New Zealand at the 2023 Pacific Islands Forum. ^[37] She also attended a leaders' retreat in Aitutaki. ^[38]

In late November 2023, she became Deputy Leader of the Opposition and spokesperson for social development, Pacific Peoples, Auckland issues, and child poverty reduction in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins. ^[39]

On 5 December 2023, Sepuloni was granted retention of the title The Honourable , in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council. ^[40]

References

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". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 24 January 2023.
4. "Who is the new Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni?". Stuff . 22 January 2023.
5. "Who is new Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni?". Stuff . 22 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
6. "Hon Carmel Sepuloni". beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
7. "Who is Carmel Sepuloni? New Zealand's first Pasifika deputy prime minister". The Guardian . 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
8. Husband, Dale (4 November 2017). "Carmel Sepuloni: Māori and Pacific are the mainstream in this country". E-Tangata.
9. Mitchell, Stephanie (18 November 2018). "Labour party MP gets married in Fiji and enlists another MP as bridesmaid". Stuff.co.nz . Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
10. Neville, Alice (9 November 2008). "The back bench baby MPs". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
11. Young, Audrey; Oliver, Paula (1 September 2008). "New generation to fly party flag at election". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
12. "Employment Relations (Probationary Period Repeal) Amendment Bill". Parliament of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
13. "Member's Bill to remove 90 day probationary period voted down". New Zealand Labour Party. 5 August 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
14. Carroll, Joanne; Backhouse, Matthew (11 December 2011). "Sepuloni wins by 11 votes". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 12 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
15. "Paula Bennett reclaims Waitakere". The New Zealand Herald . 16 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
16. "Paula Bennett regains Waitakere". Television New Zealand. 16 December 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
17. Gower, Patrick (12 December 2011). "'Vicious' scrap over Labour leadership". 3 News. MediaWorks New Zealand. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
18. Brown, Kirsten (29 January 2020). "Minister Sepuloni visits Vaka Tautua". Vaka Tautua. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
19. "Official Count Results – Kelston". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
20. "Mother of Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni in court on benefit fraud charges". The New Zealand Herald . 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
21. SMALL, DEENA COSTER and VERNON (25 February 2015). "Mother of Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni remanded to face fraud charges". Stuff . Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
22. "Sepuloni's mother sentenced for benefit fraud". RNZ . 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
23. "Who's in? Who's out?". Radio NZ . 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
24. "Hon Carmel Sepuloni". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
25. "'Unacceptable' Work & Income turned away homeless woman – Carmel Sepuloni". Newshub. 28 April 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
26. Satherley, Dan (28 April 2018). "Welfare overhaul to get underway 'in next three years' – Carmel Sepuloni". Newshub. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
27. Whyte, Anna (22 July 2020). "PM dismisses Iain Lees-Galloway as minister after 'inappropriate relationship'". 1News . Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
28. Sawman-Lund, Stewart (22 July 2020). "Live updates, July 22: David Seymour denies role in leak, accuses Winston Peters of dead cat flounce". The Spinoff . Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
29. "Kelston – Official Result". Electoral Commission . Retrieved 9 November 2020.
30. "Ministerial List for Announcement on Monday" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
31. Weekes, John (13 June 2022). "Cabinet shake-up: Mallard, Faafoi depart; Williams replaced as Police Minister". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 20 June 2024.
32. Desmarais, Felix (22 January 2023). "The 'girl from Waitara' – Carmel Sepuloni makes history". 1News . Retrieved 23 January 2023.
33. "Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reveals Cabinet reshuffle". RNZ . 31 January 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
34. "Michael Wood resigns as minister after revelations of further shareholdings". The New Zealand Herald . 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
35. "Kelston - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
36. "Labour votes to keep Chris Hipkins as leader, Carmel Sepuloni takes over as deputy". Radio New Zealand . 7 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
37. Terite, William (8 November 2023). "Pacific Islands Forum: Carmel Sepuloni, Gerry Brownlee arrive in Rarotonga". Newshub . Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
38. Ryan, Aaron; Potaka-Dewes, Atutahi (10 November 2023). "LIVE from the Pacific Forum: All but one aboard". Te Ao Māori News. Māori Television. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
39. "Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet". Radio New Zealand. 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
40. "Retention of the title "The Honourable"". New Zealand Gazette . 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.

External links

New Zealand Parliament
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Kelston 2014–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Nicky Wagner	Minister for Disability Issues 2017–2022	Succeeded by Poto Williams
Preceded by Anne Tolley	Minister for Social Development 2017–2023	Succeeded by Louise Upston
Preceded by Iain Lees-Galloway	Minister for ACC 2020–2023	Succeeded by Peeni Henare
Preceded by Jacinda Ardern	Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage 2020–2023	Succeeded by Paul Goldsmith
Preceded by Grant Robertson	Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand 2023–2023	Succeeded by Winston Peters