Karen Chhour

Karen Chhour is a New Zealand politician who has served as a Member of Parliament for ACT New Zealand since 2020. Of Māori descent, she spent time in foster care during her youth, an experience that has heavily influenced her political focus on child poverty, social development, and youth justice. In 2023, she was appointed Minister for Children and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence. During her tenure, she has been a prominent advocate for the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act and the implementation of military-style academies for serious youth offenders, policies that have drawn both support and significant public debate.