Hon Melissa Lee

Melissa Lee is the Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Ethnic Communities, and Associate Minister for ACC. She has served as an MP since the 2008 election.

Melissa’s election made her the first Korean woman to hold office outside of Korea in a National Assembly, and New Zealand’s first Korean MP.  Born in Korea, and growing up in Malaysia, Melissa moved to New Zealand as a young adult in 1988.

Melissa has served in a number of Parliamentary roles including as a Parliamentary Private Secretary, Chair of the Social Services and Commerce Committees as well as sitting on the Health, Education and Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committees.