New Zealand

Chlöe Swarbrick is a New Zealand politician who has served as a co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand since 2024. First elected to Parliament in 2017 via the party list, she later won the Auckland Central electorate seat in 2020 and was re-elected in 2023. Before entering politics, she worked as a journalist, radio host, and entrepreneur. Swarbrick is known for her advocacy on mental health, drug law reform, climate change, and student rights, and she gained international attention for her viral 'OK boomer' remark in Parliament in 2019.

Carmel Sepuloni is a New Zealand politician who has served as a Member of Parliament for Kelston since 2014. A member of the Labour Party, she made history as the first person of Tongan descent to serve as Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, a role she held from 2023 to 2023. Throughout her career, she has held various ministerial portfolios, including Social Development, Disability Issues, and Arts, Culture and Heritage. Before entering politics, she worked as a teacher and in research management within the Pacific health sector. She is currently the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and continues to advocate for social equity and community development.

Lemauga Lydia Sosene is a New Zealand politician serving as the Member of Parliament for Māngere since 2023. Born in South Auckland to Samoan immigrant parents, she previously served as the chair of the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board from 2013 to 2022. She entered Parliament in 2022 following the resignation of Louisa Wall and currently serves as a spokesperson within the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins, focusing on internal affairs and statistics. Her political career has been marked by advocacy for Pasifika communities, particularly regarding housing, wage growth, and local infrastructure development.

Arena Williams is a New Zealand politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for the Manurewa electorate since 2020. Affiliated with Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāi Tūhoe, and Ngāi Tahu, she previously worked as a probation officer and in the legal sector. A graduate of the University of Auckland, Williams was active in student politics before entering national politics. In the Shadow Cabinet, she has held various portfolios including commerce, consumer affairs, and youth. She is known for her advocacy in justice reform and has introduced legislation regarding financial transparency for banking services.

Greg Fleming is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament for the Maungakiekie electorate, first elected in the 2023 general election. Before entering politics, he was a prominent figure in the charitable sector, serving as the CEO of The Parenting Place and co-founding the conservative think tank Maxim Institute and the Venn Foundation. In Parliament, he has advocated for civil society organizations and co-sponsored modern slavery legislation. He is known for his focus on community-based approaches to social issues and his support for Māori media funding.

Helen White is a New Zealand politician and barrister who has served as a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives since 2020. Specializing in employment law, she previously worked with the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union. After unsuccessfully contesting the Auckland Central electorate in 2020, she entered Parliament via the Labour Party list. In 2023, she was elected to represent the Mount Albert electorate. Within the Labour Party's shadow cabinet, she has held various portfolios, including community and voluntary sector and the prevention of family and sexual violence.

Carlos Cheung is a New Zealand politician and medical researcher who has served as the Member of Parliament for Mount Roskill since 2023. Born in Hong Kong, he moved to New Zealand as a teenager and later earned a PhD in biological science from the University of Auckland. Before entering politics, he worked as a medical researcher and founded two property management companies. As a member of the National Party, Cheung focuses on reducing cost-of-living pressures, restoring law and order, and supporting landlords.

Paulo Reyes Garcia is a New Zealand politician and lawyer who serves as a Member of Parliament for the New Lynn electorate. Born in the Philippines, he practiced commercial law there for a decade before moving to New Zealand, where he specialized in immigration law and founded his own firm. In 2019, he became the first MP of Filipino descent in New Zealand history. A member of the National Party, he has focused on justice and social services, notably introducing a successful member's bill to criminalize 'coward punching' acts. He has announced his intention to retire at the 2026 general election.

Dan Bidois is a New Zealand politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Northcote since 2023, having previously held the seat from 2018 to 2020. Of European and Māori descent, Bidois overcame significant early-life challenges, including a childhood cancer diagnosis, to pursue an academic and professional career in economics and management consulting. He holds degrees from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University. Throughout his career, he has worked for organizations such as Deloitte, the OECD, and Foodstuffs. In Parliament, Bidois has focused on economic productivity, infrastructure, and workplace relations, advocating for competitive enterprise and pragmatic policy solutions.

Jenny Salesa is a New Zealand politician and member of the Labour Party who has served as a Member of Parliament since 2014. Of Tongan heritage, she previously worked in the public sector in New Zealand and the United States. During her career, she served as a Cabinet Minister in the Sixth Labour Government, holding portfolios including Building and Construction, Customs, and Ethnic Communities. Following the 2020 election, she served as an Assistant Speaker and currently sits in the Shadow Cabinet as a spokesperson for ethnic communities and associate spokesperson for Pacific Peoples.

Rima Nakhle is a New Zealand politician and a member of the House of Representatives for the Takanini electorate. Born in Sydney, Australia, to parents of Lebanese descent, she holds a law degree from Western Sydney University and is an enrolled barrister and solicitor. Before entering politics, she served as the executive manager of the Te Mahia Community Village. Nakhle is known for her 'tough on crime' political stance, advocating for stricter penalties for drink driving and opposing gang involvement in state-funded rehabilitation programs. She currently serves as the deputy chair of the Māori affairs committee and is a member of the justice committee.

Oriini Kaipara is a New Zealand politician and former award-winning broadcaster who has served as a Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau since September 2025. Before entering politics, she gained international recognition as the first television news presenter to feature a traditional moko kauae facial tattoo, working for major networks including TVNZ and Three. A strong advocate for Māori rights and the revitalization of te reo Māori, she has emphasized her identity as a product of Māori resilience. In her parliamentary role, she has campaigned on issues such as the repeal of the Gangs Act 2024 and the protection of indigenous cultural heritage.

Philip Stoner Twyford is a New Zealand politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Te Atatū since 2011. A member of the Labour Party, he previously held several ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Housing and Urban Development and Minister of Transport, during the Sixth Labour Government. Before entering politics, he worked as a journalist, trade union organiser, and the founding director of Oxfam New Zealand. Twyford identifies as a social democrat and has been a prominent figure in urban development and foreign affairs policy within the Labour Party.

David Ashley Wilson is a New Zealand politician and member of the New Zealand First party who has served as a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives since June 2025. An expert in economic development, he previously held leadership roles including CEO of Northland Inc and chairman of the Economic Development Association of New Zealand. He holds a PhD in public policy from the Auckland University of Technology. Throughout his career, Wilson has focused on regional economic development, governance, and innovation, and he is a vocal advocate for consumer protection and accessibility.

Deborah Russell is a New Zealand politician and academic who has served as a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives since 2017. An expert in taxation and philosophy, she previously worked as a lecturer at Massey University and as a policy analyst. During her parliamentary career, she has held ministerial roles, including Minister of Statistics and Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission. Russell is known for her advocacy on tax fairness, gender equality, and transparency in business payment practices. She continues to serve in the Shadow Cabinet, focusing on revenue and climate change portfolios.

Wayne Brown is a New Zealand politician and engineer currently serving as the Mayor of Auckland since 2022. Before his election to the Auckland mayoralty, he served as the Mayor of the Far North District from 2007 to 2013 and held various leadership roles in public and private infrastructure organizations, including chairing several district health boards. Known for his background in property development and engineering, Brown has focused his mayoral tenure on fiscal consolidation, budget management, and infrastructure reform, including his opposition to the Three Waters programme. His administration has faced scrutiny regarding his communication style and his response to the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods.

Tom Rutherford is a New Zealand politician and communications executive who has served as the Member of Parliament for the Bay of Plenty since October 2023. Before entering national politics, he worked as a communications executive for the Rotorua Lakes Council and served as a Youth MP in 2013. Rutherford is also an active community member, serving as a volunteer firefighter, a hockey umpire, and a rugby referee. His political priorities include addressing the cost of living, improving regional transport infrastructure, and advocating for increased police powers.

Tania Tapsell is a New Zealand politician serving as the Mayor of Rotorua since 2022. A member of the National Party, she previously served as a Rotorua Lakes District councillor starting in 2013, becoming the youngest councillor elected at the time. Tapsell is the first woman of Māori descent to hold the office of Mayor of Rotorua. Her political career has focused on local infrastructure, financial management, and community safety, including initiatives to reduce emergency housing reliance. She was re-elected for a second term in 2025.

Mahé Drysdale is a New Zealand politician and retired professional rower who currently serves as the Mayor of Tauranga. Before entering politics, he achieved international acclaim as a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion in the single sculls. He was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 for his services to rowing. Since his election as mayor in July 2024, he has focused on local governance, including navigating complex public health policy decisions such as the city's water fluoridation mandate.

Jan Tinetti is a New Zealand politician who has served as a Member of Parliament since 2017. A former primary school teacher and principal with 20 years of experience in education, she previously held several ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Education, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Minister for Women. Throughout her career, she has focused on education policy, child poverty reduction, and social investment. She currently serves in the Shadow Cabinet, holding responsibilities for workplace relations, safety, and social investment.