Carmel Sepuloni

Sepuloni first entered Parliament after the 2008 general election as a List member, becoming New Zealand's first MP of Tongan descent.

She is the MP for Kelston and has been New Zealand's Minister for Social Development since 2017.

She is also Minister for ACC and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

She was also previously the Minister for Disability Issues, but last year passed that portfolio to colleague Poto Williams.

Born and raised in Waitara, Taranaki, Sepuloni moved to Auckland in 1996.

Sepuloni also picked up Minister for Disability Issues, Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Associate Minister for Pacific Peoples.

Of Tongan-Samoan descent, Sepuloni says she's humbled to have been selected as a Cabinet Minister and they're ready to lead the country.

"For those of us that have run for the last three or four elections, we really do know what's involved and we've had lots of time to think about what policy we think can address the challenges that we face as a country," she says.