MP Jenny Latu Salesa of the New Zealand Labour Party, will become the first Tongan-born New Zealand Cabinet Minister tomorrow October 26, when her party leader Jacinda Ardern assumes office as the newly elected Prime Minister of New Zealand, replacing the outgoing Prime Minister Bill English. Ardern announced her 21-member cabinet last Friday, including Jenny Salesa.

Jenny Salesa is one of seven women and three Pacific Islanders named in Ardern’s cabinet.  The 49-year-old won her electorate of Manukau East in New Zealand’s general election held last month. She immigrated to New Zealand from Tonga as a teenager with her family.

The 37-year-old Jacinda Ardern will be youngest Prime Minister in New Zealand history. She won last month’s New Zealand general election after successfully securing a coalition with minor parties, ousting the outgoing Prime Minister Bill English of the New Zealand National Party.