Safe battleground

Panmure-Ōtāhuhu

General electorate

—

days to election day

What it takes to flip this seat

Jenny Salesa won by 7,970 votes in 2023. 3,985 voters switching to a challenger would have flipped Panmure-Ōtāhuhu.

In the news

Coverage naming Panmure-Ōtāhuhu or Jenny, from our tracked feeds.

The roster

The defender's record, and who's confirmed to challenge them in 2026.

Won Panmure-Ōtāhuhu by a majority of 7,970 in 2023, making it a safe seat.

Jennifer Teresia Salesa is a New Zealand politician and member of the Labour Party who has served as a Member of Parliament since 2014. She was first elected as MP for Manukau East, and after its abolition in 2020 won the replacement electorate of Panmure-Ōtāhuhu. She served as a Cabinet Minister in the Sixth Labour Government as Minister for Building and Construction, Minister of Customs and Minister for Ethnic Communities from 2017 until 6 November 2020.

Full MP profile

What Jenny has prioritised this term

Official roles, sourced from parliament.nz.

Spokesperson roles

Ethnic Communities
Pacific Peoples

Select committees

Regulations Review

Legislative activity this term

From Parliament's official bills record, as at 16 September 2026.

Members' bill in the ballot (1)

Justices of the Peace (Regulating Justices) Amendment Bill

Written questions to Ministers this term

What is this, and why does it matter to you?

Any MP can put a written question to a Minister, demanding information on the record. The Minister must reply, usually within days. It costs nothing and needs no debate, which makes it the main day-to-day tool MPs use to hold the government to account between bills. It matters most for opposition MPs, who can't pass laws but can still force information into the open. Which Ministers an MP questions most, below, is a numbers-based picture of what they watch on your behalf, and it's worth comparing against what they say they prioritise.

993written questions asked since the 2023 election

Where it's gone, by Minister

Minister of Customs

588

Minister for Ethnic Communities

362

Minister of Health

Battlegrounds map 2026 election

2023 result and margin: Electoral Commission. 2026 candidates are added only once officially confirmed — never assumed.

Read 5 recent questions & replies, in Jenny’s and the Minister’s own words

To the Minister for Ethnic Communities · 2026-09-07

"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 31 August 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Ethnic Communities · 2026-09-07

"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 31 August 2026, by title and date?"

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Ethnic Communities · 2026-08-31

"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 24 August 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"

Reply not yet due or not yet published.

To the Minister for Ethnic Communities · 2026-08-18

"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 10 August 2026, by title and date?"

Reply: None.

To the Minister for Ethnic Communities · 2026-08-18

"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 10 August 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"

Reply: On 12 August 2026, my office received the report titled “Status report” from the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.