MP Jenny Lātū Salesa has become the first Tongan-speaker to enter New Zealand Parliament following Saturday’s election result.

The Labour Party MP said she was humbled by the result and would like to thank the voters of Manukau East who have given her their votes.

She won the election contest at the electorate by 11,318 votes while the first runner up National’s Kanwal Bakshi has 3,923.

Salesa was born and raised in Tonga before migrating to New Zealand.

The first MP to be listed by New Zealand Parliament and Labour Party in 2008 as of Tongan descent to have first entered parliament was Carmel Sepuloni. Sepuloni was born and raised in New Zealand and known to many as Samoan but she is Tongan through her paternal grandparent.

At this yearʻs election, National won by 48 per cent of the party vote and will hold 61 seats in the 121-member parliament.

Prime Minister John Key will work through support agreements with ACT, United Future and the Maori Party, the three allies that have been with National since 2008, to form a stronger government.

Other Tongan candidates:

Mangere electorate:

Edwards Saafi for Conservative Party has 1,264 votes. It was won by Labour Party MP Sua William Sio with 16,130 votes.

Maunakiekie:

Prof Sitaleki ‘Ata’ata Finau for Mana Party has 355 votes.

Litia Simpson for Conservative has 932 votes. The electorate was won by National Party’s Minister Peseta Sam Lotu Inga with 12,231  votes.

Upper Harbour :

Makelesi Ngata for Mana Party has 158 votes. It was won by National Minister Paula Bernett with 15,696 votes.

Manurewa:

Trish Tupou for Green Party has 868 votes. Labour Party MP Louisa Hareruia Wall won it with 11,705 votes

Kelston:

It was won by Carmel Sepuloni with 10,647 votes.

Manukau East:

Vilimahe Taukolo for Conservative Party has 425 votes. It was won by Jenny Lātū Salesa.

List of successful candidates:

ACT New Zealand
SEYMOUR, David
Epsom Electorate
Green Party
CLENDON, David
List Seat 
DELAHUNTY, Catherine
List Seat 
GENTER, Julie Anne
List Seat 
GRAHAM, Kennedy
List Seat 
HAGUE, Kevin
List Seat 
HUGHES, Gareth
List Seat 
LOGIE, Jan
List Seat 
MATHERS, Mojo
List Seat 
NORMAN, Russel
List Seat 
ROCHE, Denise
List Seat 
SAGE, Eugenie
List Seat 
SHAW, James
List Seat 
TUREI, Metiria
List Seat 
Labour Party
ARDERN, Jacinda
List Seat 
CLARK, David
Dunedin North Electorate
COSGROVE, Clayton
List Seat 
CUNLIFFE, David
New Lynn Electorate
CURRAN, Clare
Dunedin South Electorate
DAVIS, Kelvin
Te Tai Tokerau Electorate
DYSON, Ruth
Port Hills Electorate
FAAFOI, Kris
Mana Electorate
GOFF, Phil
Mt Roskill Electorate
HENARE, Peeni
Tāmaki Makaurau Electorate
HIPKINS, Chris
Rimutaka Electorate
KING, Annette
Rongotai Electorate
LEES-GALLOWAY, Iain
Palmerston North Electorate
LITTLE, Andrew
List Seat 
MAHUTA, Nanaia
Hauraki-Waikato Electorate
MALLARD, Trevor
Hutt South Electorate
MORONEY, Sue
List Seat 
NASH, Stuart
Napier Electorate
O’CONNOR, Damien Peter
West Coast-Tasman Electorate
PARKER, David
List Seat 
ROBERTSON, Grant
Wellington Central Electorate
RURAWHE, Adrian
Te Tai Hauāuru Electorate
SALESA, Jenny
Manukau East Electorate
SEPULONI, Carmel
Kelston Electorate
SHEARER, David
Mt Albert Electorate
SIO, Sua William
Māngere Electorate
TIRIKATENE, Rino
Te Tai Tonga Electorate
TWYFORD, Phil
Te Atatū Electorate
WALL, Louisa Hareruia
Manurewa Electorate
WHAITIRI, Meka
Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Electorate
WILLIAMS, Poto
Christchurch East Electorate
WOODS, Megan
Wigram Electorate
Māori Party
FLAVELL, Te Ururoa James
Waiariki Electorate
FOX, Marama
List Seat 
National Party
ADAMS, Amy
Selwyn Electorate
BAKSHI, Kanwal
List Seat 
BARCLAY, Todd
Clutha-Southland Electorate
BARRY, Maggie
North Shore Electorate
BAYLY, Andrew
Hunua Electorate
BENNETT, David
Hamilton East Electorate
BENNETT, Paula
Upper Harbour Electorate
BISHOP, Chris
List Seat 
BORROWS, Chester
Whanganui Electorate
BRIDGES, Simon
Tauranga Electorate
BROWNLEE, Gerry
Ilam Electorate
CARTER, David
List Seat 
COLEMAN, Jonathan
Northcote Electorate
COLLINS, Judith
Papakura Electorate
DEAN, Jacqui
Waitaki Electorate
DOOCEY, Matt
Waimakariri Electorate
DOWIE, Sarah
Invercargill Electorate
ENGLISH, Bill
List Seat 
FINLAYSON, Christopher
List Seat 
FOSS, Craig
Tukituki Electorate
FOSTER-BELL, Paul
List Seat 
GOLDSMITH, Paul
List Seat 
GOODHEW, Jo
Rangitata Electorate
GROSER, Tim
List Seat 
GUY, Nathan
Ōtaki Electorate
HAYES, Jo
List Seat 
HUDSON, Brett
List Seat 
JOYCE, Steven
List Seat 
KAYE, Nikki
Auckland Central Electorate
KEY, John
Helensville Electorate
KORAKO, Nuk
List Seat 
KURIGER, Barbara
Taranaki-King Country Electorate
LEE, Melissa
List Seat 
LOTU-IIGA, Peseta Sam
Maungakiekie Electorate
MCCLAY, Todd
Rotorua Electorate
MCCULLY, Murray
East Coast Bays Electorate
MACINDOE, Tim
Hamilton West Electorate
MCKELVIE, Ian
Rangitīkei Electorate
MITCHELL, Mark
Rodney Electorate
MULLER, Todd
Bay of Plenty Electorate
NAYLOR, Jono
List Seat 
NGARO, Alfred
List Seat 
O’CONNOR, Simon
Tāmaki Electorate
PARATA, Hekia
List Seat 
PARMAR, Parmjeet
List Seat 
PUGH, Maureen
List Seat 
RETI, Shane
Whangarei Electorate
ROSS, Jami-Lee
Botany Electorate
SABIN, Mike
Northland Electorate
SCOTT, Alastair
Wairarapa Electorate
SIMPSON, Scott
Coromandel Electorate
SMITH, Nick
Nelson Electorate
SMITH, Stuart
Kaikōura Electorate
TISCH, Lindsay
Waikato Electorate
TOLLEY, Anne
East Coast Electorate
UPSTON, Louise
Taupō Electorate
WAGNER, Nicky
Christchurch Central Electorate
WILLIAMSON, Maurice
Pakuranga Electorate
WOODHOUSE, Michael
List Seat 
YANG, Jian
List Seat 
YOUNG, Jonathan
New Plymouth Electorate
New Zealand First Party
BALL, Darroch
List Seat 
BINDRA, Mahesh
List Seat 
MARK, Ron
List Seat 
MARTIN, Tracey
List Seat 
MITCHELL, Clayton
List Seat 
O’ROURKE, Denis
List Seat 
PARAONE, Pita
List Seat 
PETERS, Winston
List Seat 
PROSSER, Richard Ivor
List Seat 
STEWART, Barbara
List Seat 
TABUTEAU, Fletcher
List Seat 
United Future
DUNNE, Peter
Ōhāriu Electorate

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