New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has appointed Carmel Sepuloni as the country’s new Deputy Prime Minister. Sepuloni, who has served as Minister for Social Development and Employment since 2020, is of Tongan descent. She was born in New Zealand and has been a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party since 2008.

Sepuloni’s appointment as Deputy Prime Minister follows the resignation of the previous Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson, who stepped down from the position to focus on his role as Minister of Finance. Ardern said Sepuloni was the right person to take on the role, given her extensive experience in government and her deep connections to New Zealand’s Pacific community.

As Deputy Prime Minister, Sepuloni will support Ardern in her role as Prime Minister and take on a number of other responsibilities, including overseeing the government’s COVID-19 response and leading work on social policy. She will also be responsible for leading the government’s engagement with Pacific communities in New Zealand and the wider Pacific region.

Sepuloni’s appointment has been widely welcomed by Tongan and Pacific communities in New Zealand, who see it as a significant milestone in the country’s history. It is hoped that her appointment will help to improve the representation of Pacific peoples in New Zealand’s political leadership and strengthen the relationship between New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.