View source for Melissa Lee

{{Short description|New Zealand politician (born 1966)}}
{{For|the American reporter|Melissa Lee (journalist)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
|name                = Melissa Lee
|native_name         = {{nobold|이지연}}
|honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100%}}
|image               = LEE, Melissa - Mt Albert (cropped).png
|caption             = Lee in 2023
| office             = 11th [[Minister for Economic Development (New Zealand)|Minister for Economic Development]]
|term_start          = 27 November 2023
|term_end            = 24 January 2025
|primeminister       = [[Christopher Luxon]]
|predecessor         = [[Barbara Edmonds]]
|successor           = [[Nicola Willis]]
|office1             = 2nd [[Minister for Ethnic Communities]]
|term_start1         = 27 November 2023
|term_end1           = 24 January 2025
|primeminister1      = Christopher Luxon
|predecessor1        = [[Priyanca Radhakrishnan]]
|successor1          = [[Mark Mitchell (New Zealand politician)|Mark Mitchell]]
|office2             = 28th [[Minister for Media and Communications]]
|term_start2         = 27 November 2023
|term_end2           = 24 April 2024
|primeminister2      = Christopher Luxon
|predecessor2        = [[Willie Jackson (politician)|Willie Jackson]]
|successor2          = [[Paul Goldsmith (politician)|Paul Goldsmith]]
|office3             = Member of the [[New Zealand Parliament]] for the [[National Party of New Zealand|National]] [[Party list]]
|constituency3       =  
|term_start3         = 8 November 2008
|term_end3           =  
|birth_date          = {{Birth year and age|1966}}
|birth_place         = [[South Korea]]
|death_date          = 
|death_place         = 
|restingplace        = 
|restingplacecoordinates = 
|birthname           = Lee Ji-yeon<br>이지연
|nationality         = [[South Korea]]<br />New Zealand
|party               = [[New Zealand National Party]]
|otherparty          =  
|spouse              = 
|partner             =  
}}
'''Melissa Ji-Yun Lee''' ({{langx|ko|이지연}}; born 1966<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.parliament.nz/media/6305/roll-of-members-of-the-new-zealand-house-of-representatives-1854-onwards.pdf |title=Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards |date=24 May 2019 |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref>) is a New Zealand politician. She was elected to the [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] as a list MP for the [[National Party of New Zealand|National Party]] in the [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008 election]]. She serves as the 11th [[Minister for Economic Development (New Zealand)|Minister for Economic Development]] and 2nd [[Minister for Ethnic Communities]]. She also served as the 28th [[Minister of Broadcasting and Media|Minister for Media and Communications]] from November 2023 to April 2024.

==Early life and career==
Lee was born in [[South Korea]] and grew up in [[Malaysia]] before moving to [[Australia]] and then to New Zealand in 1988 with her family. She has a [[Master of Arts|MA Hons]] (First Class) in [[Communication Studies]]. Based in [[Auckland]], she spent twenty three years in journalism, including a five-year stint at the ''[[Sunday News (New Zealand)|Sunday News]]'' and writing for numerous publications including ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' and ''[[New Zealand Listener|The Listener]]''.<ref name=":0">
{{cite web
|url=https://melissalee.national.org.nz/about_melissa
|title=Melissa Lee – Biography
|publisher=New Zealand National Party
|access-date=14 May 2009
}}</ref>
She was also the producer of the TV magazine series ''[[Asia Downunder]]''.<ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10553685&pnum=0
|title=New voices: Brendon Burns, Melissa Lee, Steven Joyce
|author=Trevett, C.
|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald
|date=27 January 2009
|access-date=15 May 2009
}}</ref>

==Member of Parliament==
{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |term       = 49th
 |start      = {{NZ election link year|2008}}
 |end        = 2011
 |electorate = [[Party lists in the 2008 New Zealand general election#National Party|List]]
 |party      = New Zealand National Party
 |list       = 37
}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2011}}
 |end=2014
 |term=50th
 |party=New Zealand National Party
 |electorate = [[Party lists in the 2011 New Zealand general election#National Party|List]]
 |list=34
}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2014}}
 |end=2017
 |term=51st
 |party=New Zealand National Party
 |electorate = List
 |list=31
}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2017}}
 |end=2020
 |term=52nd
 |party=New Zealand National Party
 |electorate = List
 |list=31
}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2020}}
 |end=2023
 |term=53rd
 |party=New Zealand National Party
 |electorate = List
 |list=16
}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2023}}
 |end=present
 |term=54th
 |party=New Zealand National Party
 |electorate = List
 |list=13
}}
{{End}}

In November 2008, Lee became a List MP in the New Zealand Parliament. Her [[maiden speech]] included sections in English, [[Māori language|Māori]], and Korean. In English, she mentioned crime, education, and anti-Asian racism issues in New Zealand. In the Māori section, she mentioned the history of Māori first coming to New Zealand by [[canoe]] from [[Hawaiki]] and compared it to her own migration to New Zealand by aeroplane. Near the end of her speech, she thanked, in Korean, all the people that had given her support "simply by virtue of [their] shared heritage".<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2008/12/praise_for_maiden_speeches.html
|title=Praise for maiden speeches
|author=Farrar, D.P.
|work=Kiwiblog
|date=10 December 2008
|access-date=17 May 2009
}}</ref>

Lee became the second Korean, and first Korean woman, to win the election to a non-Korean national legislature. (The first Korean elected to a foreign national-level office, [[Jay Kim]], became a member of the [[United States]] [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in 1992.)<ref>
{{ cite web
|url=http://www.korea.net/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20081218003&part=113&SearchDay=
|title=Melissa Lee – first Korean member in New Zealand's parliament
|date=22 December 2008
|author=Zwetsloot, J.
|publisher=Korean Culture and Information Service
|access-date=14 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223145700/http://www.korea.net/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20081218003
|archive-date=23 December 2008
|url-status=dead

}}
</ref>

A poll conducted between 10 December 2008 and 19 April 2009 by the Spanish newspaper, ''[[20 minutos]]'' (20 minutes) ranked Lee as the world's 51st most beautiful female politician.<ref>
{{cite news
 |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25244276-421,00.html 
 |publisher=[[News Limited]] 
 |work=[[Australian Associated Press]] 
 |date=26 March 2009 
 |access-date=14 May 2009 
 |title=Aussie MPs Penny Wong, Kate Ellis and Melissa Parke in Spanish web poll to find world's most beautiful female politician 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328123430/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C25244276-421%2C00.html 
 |archive-date=28 March 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://listas.20minutos.es/?do=show&id=66425&c=1233508233
|work=Listas
|title=¿Quién es la política más linda del mundo? (Who is the most beautiful politician in the world?)
|author=Larrosa, MC
|access-date=17 May 2009
|publisher=20 minutos
}}</ref>

===First term and Mt Albert by-election, 2008–2011===
During the first months of entering Parliament two Conscience votes were taken, Melissa Lee voted against the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} and the Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill.<ref>{{cite web |title=Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill — First Reading |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/49HansD_20090701_00001280/liquor-advertising-television-and-radio-bill-first |publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]] |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref>

On 16 April 2009, Lee announced her candidacy for the National Party nomination in the [[2009 Mount Albert by-election]].<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=155796 |title=Battle for Mt Albert begins |publisher=[[NewstalkZB]] |access-date=19 April 2009 |date=19 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420114935/http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=155796 |archive-date=20 April 2009 }}</ref> She defeated the previous local National candidate, Ravi Musuku, to win selection for the National Party on 4 May 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gower |first1=Patrick |title=Lee tipped as National contender in Mt Albert |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10564267 |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=30 March 2009}}</ref>

On 13 May 2009, Lee told a candidates' meeting that the [[SH20 Waterview Connection]] could divert criminals from [[South Auckland]] away from the electorate. Lee apologised the next day, saying "if South Auckland people (find) my comments offensive, I apologise. It wasn't about them. It was about criminals." [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[John Key]] later said the remark was a "stupid statement to make".<ref>
{{cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10572257|title=Manukau mayor accepts Lee's apology for 'regrettable' remarks|date=14 May 2009|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=14 May 2009}}</ref> Later that day she apologised again saying, "I apologise unreservedly for the comments I made regarding South Auckland... I sincerely regret my remarks."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2410051/Lee-issues-full-apology|date=14 May 2009|title=Lee issues full apology|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|access-date=18 May 2009}}</ref> In the by-election, Lee attracted only 3,542 votes, coming a distant second to [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour's]] [[David Shearer]]'s 13,260 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=2009 Mt Albert By-Election Official Results |work=Electoral Commission |url=https://www.elections.org.nz/events/past-events-0/2009-mt-albert-election/results-mt-albert-election |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref>

During the by-election, allegations were made in May 2009 that Lee's production company Asia Vision had spent [[New Zealand on Air]] money making a promotional video for the National Party ahead of the 2008 election. Lee called the allegations "ridiculous", saying that all work on the video was done by volunteers. The [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] referred the video to  the [[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]], saying that it should have been declared as an election expense.<ref>{{cite web |title=Melissa Lee faces quizzing on election video |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/latest-edition/2733339/Melissa-Lee-faces-quizzing-on-election-video|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|access-date=8 July 2015|date=1 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/2412934/Lee-gaffe-sets-back-her-poll-chances|title=Lee gaffe sets her poll chances back|date=15 May 2009|access-date=17 May 2009|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|author=Martin Kay}}
</ref> An investigation conducted by [[New Zealand on Air]] later cleared Lee of the charge of misuse of funding.<ref>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10573671 |date=21 May 2009|title=Lee cleared of misuse of funding claims |access-date=25 May 2009|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref>

Later in 2009, Lee used NZ$100,000 of contingency funding to increase the [[Markup (business)|markup]] for ''Asia Downunder'' in violation of her contract with New Zealand on Air, which she described as "an innocent error".<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602868
| title=Lee firm's $100,000 error |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=13 October 2009 |first=Audrey |last=Young |date=13 October 2009}}</ref>

In April 2011, Lee courted controversy when, after she had made a speech supporting the controversially rushed-through copyright law 92A,<ref>
{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IIyk1y9o_8&feature=player_embedded|date=15 April 2011|title=Lee's speech to NZ parliament supporting law 92A|access-date=15 April 2011}}</ref> it emerged that hours earlier she had tweeted "Ok. Shower... Reading ... And then bed! listening to a compilation a friend did for me of K Pop. Fab. Thanks Jay"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/melissaleemp/status/57764856488669184|date=15 April 2011|title=Lee tweets of listening to compilation|access-date=14 April 2011}}</ref> which a journalist argued appeared to contradict their stance on law 92A.<ref>
{{cite news |url= http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/melissa-lee-you-appear-be-pirate-ck-90883 |title=Melissa Lee, you appear to be a pirate |first=Chris |last=Keall |work=National Business Review | date=15 April 2011 |access-date=15 April 2011}}
</ref>

===Second term, 2011–2014===
During the [[2011 New Zealand general election|2011 general election]], Melissa Lee increased her electoral vote in the Mt Albert electorate but failed to unseat David Shearer, who retained the seat by a margin of 10,021 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Count Results – Mt Albert (2011) |url=http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/electorate-26.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref>

On 20 December 2011, John Key announced that Lee and [[John Hayes (New Zealand politician)|John Hayes]] would become [[Parliamentary Private Secretary|Parliamentary Private Secretaries]], a role not in use for several years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Key |first1=John |title=Parliamentary Private Secretaries appointed |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/parliamentary-private-secretaries-appointed-0 |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=[[New Zealand Government]] |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref> Key appointed her to the portfolio of Ethnic Affairs, given the heavy workload of [[Judith Collins]] as the newly appointed [[Minister of Justice]]. In January 2014, Lee was appointed Chairperson of the Social Services Select Committee.<ref name="NZ Parliament">{{cite web |title=Melissa Lee |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/lee-melissa/ |publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]] |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref>

There were several conscience votes during the 50th Parliament surrounding issues of the legal alcohol purchase age and [[Same-Sex Marriage]]. In these votes, Lee voted against the [[Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Gay marriage: How MPs voted |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/gay-marriage/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503276&objectid=10878241 |access-date=19 March 2016 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=18 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331174829/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/gay-marriage/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503276&objectid=10878241 |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and voted in favour of retaining the Alcohol Purchase age at 18 in the Alcohol Reform Bill.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}}

===Third term, 2014–2017===
During the [[2014 New Zealand general election|2014 general election]], Melissa Lee failed to win the Mt Albert electorate. Her Labour opponent David Shearer retained the seat by 10,656 votes, a moderate decrease on the previous election, while National won a substantially increased party vote, winning the party by 3,536.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Count Results (2014) |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2014/electorate-27.html|publisher=[[Electoral Commission]]|access-date=8 July 2015|date=12 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Official Count Results – Mt Albert |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/electorate-26.html|website=Elections Electoral Commission|access-date=30 October 2015}}</ref>

After the 2014 election, Lee was appointed to chair the Commerce Select Committee while also retaining her position as  Parliamentary Private Secretary for Ethnic Communities, the position being renamed to reflect the change in name of the eponymous Ministry and Minister, Lee has been joined by [[Jacqui Dean]] as a Parliamentary Private Secretary since the retirement of  John Hayes at the 2014 Election. Lee also has one [[Private Members Bill]] waiting to be drawn from the ballot: the Accident Compensation (Recent Migrants and Returning New Zealanders) Amendment Bill.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand Parliament – Members' bills ballot |url= http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/legislation/proposed-bills/ballot/51HOOOCBallot201506251/members%E2%80%99-bills-ballot-for-thursday-25-june-2015|access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>

In 2015, [[New Zealand First]] [[Ron Mark]] was criticised by members of all parties when he told Lee to [[Go back to where you came from|go back to Korea]] in parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/73722468/nz-first-mp-ron-mark-denies-racism-over-go-back-to-korea-jibe |title=NZ First MP Ron Mark denies racism over 'go back to Korea' jibe |date=5 November 2015 |work=Stuff |first=Sam |last=Sachdeva}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/288959/mark-tells-lee-'go-back-to-korea' |title=Mark tells Lee: 'Go back to Korea' |date=5 November 2015 |work=[[RNZ]] |first=Chris |last=Bramwell}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201777626/politicans-slam-ron-mark-for-go-back-to-korea-comments |title={{as written|Polit|icans [sic]}} slam Ron Mark for go back to Korea comments |date=6 November 2015 |work=[[RNZ]] }}</ref>

===Fourth term, 2017–2020===
During the [[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 general election]] in mid-September 2017, Melissa Lee was re-elected on the National Party List.<ref>{{cite web |title=Attachment A: 2017 General Election list of successful candidates |url=https://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/media/attachments/07_10_17_attachment_a_successful_candidates.pdf |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref> Lee stood against Labour Party leader [[Jacinda Ardern]] in the Mt Albert electorate but was defeated by a margin of 15,264 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mt Albert – Official Result |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-27.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref> Following the formation of a [[Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand|Labour-led coalition government]] on 19 October 2017, the National Party became the main opposition party in Parliament. Lee is currently the National Party's spokesperson for broadcasting, communications, and digital media, and ethnic communities. She is also a member of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation select committee.<ref name="NZ Parliament" />

In March 2018, Lee challenged the Broadcasting Minister [[Clare Curran]] about her undisclosed meeting with Carol Hirschfield, the head of content at [[Radio New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web |title=7. Question No. 7—Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20180301_052800000/7-question-no-7-broadcasting-communications-and-digital |publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]] |access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref> Curran initially claimed the meeting had been coincidental but later admitted that it had been prearranged. Lee accused Curran of engaging in a cover-up.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Walters|first1=Laura|last2=Cooke|first2=Henry|title=Curran's 'informal' meeting with Carol Hirschfeld planned for an hour|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102619960/rnz-senior-manager-carol-hirschfeld-resigns-over-meeting-with-minister|access-date=11 April 2018|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|date=27 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Carol Hirschfeld resigns over Clare Curran meeting|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/carol-hirschfeld-resigns-over-clare-curran-meeting|access-date=11 April 2018|agency=[[New Zealand Media and Entertainment|NZME]]|newspaper=[[Otago Daily Times]]|date=27 March 2018}}</ref>

In mid-September 2019, Lee raised the issue in Parliament about Asian children being denied measles vaccinations at their local clinic on the pretext that [[Māori people|Māori]] and [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]] children were being given priority. In response, the Waikato [[District Health Board]] acknowledged that it was prioritizing Maori and Pacific children due to their lower vaccination rate and poorer health outcomes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walls |first1=Jason |title=MP: Asian children refused measles vaccination as they weren't the priority |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12268886 |access-date=20 September 2019 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=20 September 2019}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand]] in mid-July 2020, Lee raised the plight of Dowook Kang, a six-year-old Korean child who was unable to attend school since his father, a temporary visa holder, was unable to return to New Zealand due to lock down travel restrictions. Under New Zealand law, international students under the age of ten are unable to attend schools without the presence of a parent or guardian. [[Minister of Education (New Zealand)|Education Minister]] [[Chris Hipkins]] declined to intervene, citing policy issues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scotcher |first1=Katie |title=Covid-19 border restrictions leave Korean boy stranded in NZ and unable to go to school |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/421733/covid-19-border-restrictions-leave-korean-boy-stranded-in-nz-and-unable-to-go-to-school |access-date=3 August 2020 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=22 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723072502/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/421733/covid-19-border-restrictions-leave-korean-boy-stranded-in-nz-and-unable-to-go-to-school|archive-date=23 July 2020}}</ref>

===Fifth term, 2020–2023===
During the [[2020 New Zealand general election]], Lee contested [[Mount Albert (New Zealand electorate)|Mount Albert]] and came second place behind Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]], who retained the seat by a final margin of 21,246 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mt Albert – Official Result |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-24.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=12 November 2020 }}</ref> However, Lee was able to return to Parliament via the National Party list.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result Successful Candidates |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/successful-candidates.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=12 November 2020}}</ref>

Lee was one of only eight MPs to vote against the [[Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 February 2022|title=Politicians react as bill to ban conversion therapy passes|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/461599/politicians-react-as-bill-to-ban-conversion-therapy-passes|access-date=17 February 2022|work=[[Radio New Zealand]]|language=en-nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218050733/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/461599/politicians-react-as-bill-to-ban-conversion-therapy-passes|archive-date=18 February 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2022, Lee introduced the Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill which requires gift cards to have a minimum validity period of three years, aiming to mitigate approximately $10M in annual consumer losses from expired gift cards.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gift card expiries could be extended if new bill becomes law |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/478471/gift-card-expiries-could-be-extended-if-new-bill-becomes-law |access-date=9 August 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809060956/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/478471/gift-card-expiries-could-be-extended-if-new-bill-becomes-law |archive-date=9 August 2023 |url-status=live |date=10 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill |url=https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/3ca21699-2ee9-4fa9-82b3-e9cefd493724?Tab=history |access-date=9 August 2023 |ref=[[New Zealand Parliament]]}}</ref>

=== Sixth term, 2023–present ===
Lee contested [[Mount Albert (New Zealand electorate)|Mount Albert]] in the [[2023 New Zealand general election]] and came second place behind [[Helen White (politician)|Helen White]] by just 20 votes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 October 2023 |title=Auckland seats on knife-edge as Nats celebrate snatching Labour strongholds |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/election-2023-the-auckland-seats-still-on-a-knife-edge/JOOX5XD3F5HSHFTS7IO53YXJPA/ |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> After Lee sought a judicial recount, White's margin dropped to 18 votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Desmarais |first1=Felix |title=Labour's Mt Albert margin shrinks to 18 votes after recount |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/15/labours-mt-albert-margin-shrinks-to-18-votes-after-recount/ |access-date=17 November 2023 |work=[[1News]] |publisher=[[TVNZ]] |date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116062042/https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/15/labours-mt-albert-margin-shrinks-to-18-votes-after-recount/ |archive-date=16 November 2023}}</ref> However, she was re-elected to Parliament on the National Party list.<ref>{{cite web |title=2023 General Election - Successful Candidates |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124182138/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |archive-date=24 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In late November, Lee assumed the positions of [[Minister for Economic Growth|Minister for Economic Development]], [[Minister for Ethnic Communities]], [[Minister for Media and Communications]], and Associate [[Accident Compensation Corporation]] (ACC) Minister in the [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand|National-led coalition government]]'s cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled - who gets what? |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503156/cabinet-lineup-for-new-government-unveiled-who-gets-what |access-date=11 December 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204122806/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503156/cabinet-lineup-for-new-government-unveiled-who-gets-what |archive-date=4 December 2023}}</ref>

In March 2024, Lee in her capacity as Media and Communications Minister confirmed that she was working with officials to develop a plan to support the New Zealand media following reports of job and programme cuts at [[TVNZ]], and a proposal by [[Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand]] to scrap its [[Newshub]] news service.<ref>{{cite news |title=Melissa Lee on plan to help New Zealand's struggling media industry |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/11/melissa-lee-on-plan-to-help-nzs-struggling-media-industry/ |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=[[1News]] |date=11 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311022627/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/11/melissa-lee-on-plan-to-help-nzs-struggling-media-industry/ |archive-date=11 March 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2024, Lee expressed sympathy for [[TVNZ]] and [[Newshub]] journalists and other employees following the confirmation of hundreds of job losses in the media sector, stating it was a "terrible day" for the media industry but that it was also a global issue and that the "media needed to transition." However, she declined to elaborate on details of her plan to help the media sector and was unable to give a timeframe for when Cabinet would consider her paper. One of her ideas has included reviewing the Broadcasting Act.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Doyle |first1=Trent |title=Melissa Lee defends work during time as Broadcasting Minister amid Newshub, TVNZ woes |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/melissa-lee-defends-work-during-time-as-broadcasting-minister-amid-newshub-tvnz-woes.html |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=10 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410202813/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/melissa-lee-defends-work-during-time-as-broadcasting-minister-amid-newshub-tvnz-woes.html |archive-date=10 April 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lee has also expressed opposition to the [[Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand|previous Labour Government]]'s Fair News Digital Governing Bill, which proposed forcing social media platforms to pay media companies for distributing their content. Labour leader [[Chris Hipkins]] criticised Lee's response to the media sector's woes, saying that she had "more than enough time" to come up with solutions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Russell |title=Media Minister had 'more than enough time' to find solutions - opposition |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/513939/media-minister-had-more-than-enough-time-to-find-solutions-opposition |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=10 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411223541/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/513939/media-minister-had-more-than-enough-time-to-find-solutions-opposition |archive-date=11 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

During a [[cabinet reshuffle]] on 24 April 2024, Lee was removed from her role as [[Minister for Media and Communications]] and [[New Zealand Cabinet|Cabinet]] position by Prime Minister [[Christopher Luxon]] due to controversy surrounding the closure of [[Newshub]] and her response to it. [[Paul Goldsmith (politician)|Paul Goldsmith]] assumed her Media and Communications portfolio while Climate Change and Revenue Minister [[Simon Watts]] assumed her place in Luxon's cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Media Minister Melissa Lee demoted from Cabinet, Penny Simmonds stripped of portfolio |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/515100/media-minister-melissa-lee-demoted-from-cabinet-penny-simmonds-stripped-of-portfolio |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=24 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424032409/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/515100/media-minister-melissa-lee-demoted-from-cabinet-penny-simmonds-stripped-of-portfolio |archive-date=24 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late July 2024, Lee declined to speak and motion that the Government's Regulatory Systems (Social Security) Amendment Bill be read during its first reading in Parliament despite her position as the duty minister on that day. The bill's sponsor [[Louise Upston]] was absent from Parliament at the time. As a result, Assistant Speaker [[Maureen Pugh]] withdrew the bill, which was returned to the Business select committee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Thomas |title=Bill dumped after chaos in Parliament sees Government caught without minister |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/bill-dumped-after-chaos-in-parliament-sees-government-caught-without-minister/SNPYPJYYAZATBLPHHGERROTXWM/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=24 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729075321/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/bill-dumped-after-chaos-in-parliament-sees-government-caught-without-minister/SNPYPJYYAZATBLPHHGERROTXWM/ |archive-date=29 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 19 January 2025, Lee was stripped of her economic development and ethnic communities ministerial portfolios during a cabinet reshuffle, which were assumed by [[Nicola Willis]] and [[Mark Mitchell (New Zealand politician)|Mark Mitchell]] respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Day |first=Tom |date=19 January 2025 |title=Shane Reti out as Health Minister as PM makes major cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/01/19/shane-reti-out-as-health-minister-as-pm-makes-major-cabinet-reshuffle/ |access-date=19 January 2025|work=[[1News]] |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119113652/https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/01/19/shane-reti-out-as-health-minister-as-pm-makes-major-cabinet-reshuffle/|archive-date=19 January 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=As it happened: Luxon announces Cabinet reshuffle, Shane Reti loses health portfolio to Simeon Brown |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/539370/as-it-happened-luxon-announces-cabinet-reshuffle-shane-reti-loses-health-portfolio-to-simeon-brown |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119031900/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/539370/as-it-happened-luxon-announces-cabinet-reshuffle-shane-reti-loses-health-portfolio-to-simeon-brown |archive-date=19 January 2025}}</ref> On 24 January 2025, she was granted retention of the title ''[[The Honourable]]'', in recognition of her term as a member of the [[Executive Council of New Zealand|Executive Council]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2025-vr436 |title=Retention of the title "The Honourable" |date=24 January 2025 |work=[[New Zealand Gazette]] |access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}
*{{official website|http://www.melissalee.co.nz/}}
*[https://melissalee.national.org.nz/about_melissa Melissa Lee – MP Profiles – NZ National Party]
*[https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/lee-melissa/  New Zealand Parliament – Lee, Melissa]

{{Sixth National Government of New Zealand}}
{{NZ National Party}}
{{Current members of the New Zealand House of Representatives}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Melissa}}
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