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Story: Koreans

Melissa Lee gives her maiden speech

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Melissa Lee gives her maiden speech

National Party list MP Melissa Lee gives her maiden speech to Parliament in 2008. Born in Korea, Lee came to New Zealand with her family in 1988 and had a long career as a journalist before entering Parliament. She concluded her maiden speech: ‘I’m grateful that the Korean community is always behind me to support me, as I take my baby steps as the very first New Zealand member of Parliament of Korean heritage.’

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New Zealand Herald

Reference: NZH-1040207

by Mark Mitchell

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How to cite this page

Inshil Choe Yoon and Hong-key Yoon, Koreans – Employment, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/46751/melissa-lee-gives-her-maiden-speech (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Inshil Choe Yoon and Hong-key Yoon, published 30 October 2015, updated 1 August 2024.