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Melissa Lee
NationalCurrent MP
Career MP Salary
$2,798,400
15 years tracked
Career MP Expenses
$1,325,033
15 years of data
Professional Background
Updated 3 Feb 2026No biographical information available
Education
Not specified
Qualifications
None listed
Salary & Role History
15 years of remuneration data| Year | Primary Role | Salary Category | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Minister for Economic Development Also: Minister for Economic Development; Minister for Ethnic Communities; Associate Minister for ACC; Ordinary MP | Minister (Cabinet) | $310,000(highest) |
| 2024 | Minister for Economic Development Also: Minister for Economic Development; Minister for Ethnic Communities; Minister for Media and Communications; Associate Minister for ACC | Minister (Cabinet) | $310,000(highest) |
| 2023 | Minister for Economic Development Also: Minister for Economic Development; Minister for Ethnic Communities; Minister for Media and Communications; Associate Minister for ACC; Ordinary MP | Minister (Cabinet) | $304,000 |
| 2022 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $163,000 |
| 2021 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $163,000 |
| 2020 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $162,500 |
| 2019 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $162,500 |
| 2018 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $162,500 |
| 2017 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $162,500 |
| 2016 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $158,500 |
| 2015 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $154,500 |
| 2014 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $151,200 |
| 2013 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $147,800 |
| 2012 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $144,600 |
| 2011 | Ordinary MP | Ordinary MP | $141,800 |
| Total Career Earnings (15 years) | $2,798,400 | ||
Salary data from Remuneration Authority. Annual salary based on highest-paid role held during the year.
Expense History
Role types: MP (Parliament) · Minister (Executive)
| Year | Role | Accommodation | Travel | Inter-Parl. | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellington | Other | Air | Surface | VIP | ||||
| 2025 | MP | $24,300 | - | $200 | $26,661 | - | - | $51,991 |
| 2024 | Minister | $51,940 | $2,746 | $28,411 | $43,687 | - | $24,334 | $151,118 |
| 2023 | Minister | $35,182 | - | $16,585 | $16,920 | - | - | $69,446 |
| 2022 | MP | $30,914 | - | $20,215 | $19,303 | - | - | $72,539 |
| 2021 | MP | $30,915 | - | $14,048 | $18,022 | - | - | $64,961 |
| 2020 | MP | $30,914 | - | $16,905 | $18,369 | - | - | $67,033 |
| 2019 | MP | $30,914 | - | $17,825 | $21,205 | - | $10,027 | $71,169 |
| 2018 | MP | $22,592 | - | $17,250 | $20,182 | $39,907 | - | $79,148 |
| 2017 | MP | $28,680 | - | $21,501 | $24,369 | $76,487 | $13,057 | $164,094 |
| 2016 | MP | $27,923 | - | $30,134 | $24,786 | $84,336 | - | $146,050 |
| 2015 | MP | $27,923 | - | $35,547 | $21,173 | $85,572 | $9,749 | $109,950 |
| 2014 | MP | $22,564 | - | $25,100 | $23,549 | $72,294 | - | $72,294 |
| 2013 | MP | $20,800 | - | $31,873 | $21,390 | $74,694 | - | $74,694 |
| 2012 | MP | $21,335 | - | $33,325 | $22,338 | $77,789 | $17,164 | $93,806 |
| 2011 | MP | $5,520 | - | $6,310 | $6,332 | $18,579 | - | $36,741 |
MP expenses from Parliament disclosure. Minister expenses disclosed separately via DIA Executive disclosure. Years showing '-' may indicate the person held a ministerial role during that period.
Cross-Sector Roles
Crown Entity Roles (2)
- Member of ParliamentCurrent
- Member of Parliament
Declared Financial Interests
17 years of declarations20256 declared interests▼
Gifts (2)
- •World of WearableArt – World of WearableArt tickets (x2)
- •Eden Park Trust – Coldplay concert tickets (x2)
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ANZ Bank – mortgage
Real Property (2)
- •Family home – Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
20248 declared interests▼
Real Property (2)
- •Family home – Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ANZ Bank – mortgage
Gifts (4)
- •Government/Embassy of the Republic of – Souvenirs, flowers, and hospitality
- •– Korea
- •Kiely Thompson Caisley, – ASB Classic 2024 attendance and hospitality
- •– Auckland
202311 declared interests▼
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (1)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
Real Property (2)
- •Family home – Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ANZ Bank – mortgage
overseas travel costs (2)
- •Republic of Korea – International Korean Politicians Forum. Contributor to travel and accommodation: Government of the Republic of Korea (OKF - Overseas
- •Korean Foundation).
Gifts (4)
- •Government of the Republic of Korea – Hospitality, miscellaneous souvenirs
- •NZ Tech & Brightstar – Ticket and hospitality for Cyber Security Summit NZ
- •Samsung Korea – Tablet
- •ANZ Bank – Ticket to All Whites football match
202214 declared interests▼
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (1)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
Real Property (2)
- •Family home – Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Gifts (7)
- •Government of the Republic of Korea – Hospitality and miscellaneous souvenirs
- •Taipei – Hospitality, book, and gift boxes (chopsticks, tea, and Taiwanese spirit)
- •– Economic and Cultural Office
- •Embassy of the People’s Republic of – Gift box (2 bottles of NZ wine) and tea
- •– China
- •Jin Noh – KF94 COVID-19 masks
- •Pakistan High Commission – Traditional decorative tapestry
Payment for Activities (3)
- •Payment for speaking at an Overseas Korean Foundation online forum, Busan
- •YMCA (donated to charity)
- •University of Nagano online keynote speaker (donated to charity)
202114 declared interests▼
Other Companies & Business Interests (4)
- •AMP – KiwiSaver, insurance, and financial services
- •Air NZ – domestic and international travel
- •Spark NZ – telecommunications
- •Synlait Milk – dairy processing
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation (honorary New Zealand adviser) - promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust (vice chair) – film festival and promoting film links between New Zealand and Korea
Real Property (2)
- •Family home – Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ANZ Bank – mortgage
Gifts (4)
- •Sky TV – Elton John ticket; February 2020 (x1)
- •NZ Tech / Tech Alliance – Forum attendance and general hospitality
- •Government, Parliament, and provinces, Republic of Korea – Hospitality and gifts (books and souvenirs)
- •Ko family – Golfing paraphernalia
202019 declared interests▼
Other Companies & Business Interests (1)
- •AMP – KiwiSaver, insurance, and financial services
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation (honorary New Zealand adviser) – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust (vice chair) – film festival and promoting film links between New Zealand and Korea
Real Property (2)
- •Family home – Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ANZ Bank – mortgage
overseas travel costs (2)
- •Republic of Korea (South) – OKF (Overseas Korean Politicians Forum)
- •Conferences. Contributors to travel and accommodation: Government of Republic of Korea (South) and Secretariat of Overseas Korean Politicians Forum.
Gifts (10)
- •Air New Zealand – All Blacks rugby tickets (August 2019 Match) and hospitality
- •New Zealand Police Women’s Network – Pounamu
- •TUANZ – Events and hospitality
- •NZTech/TechAlliance – Events and hospitality
- •Government/Parliament of the Republic of Korea (South) – Hospitality and gifts (pottery, books, and souvenirs)
- •Charlie Yang (artist) – Artwork (photographic print)
- •Sky TV – ASB Tennis ticket (January 2020 match) and hospitality
- •InternetNZ/Internet Service Providers Association New – Events and Hospitality
- •– Zealand
- •PXG Korea – Golfing paraphernalia
201918 declared interests▼
Other Companies & Business Interests (1)
- •AMP Capital Responsible Investment Leaders Fund – AMP – KiwiSaver, insurance, and financial services(+2 linked)
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation (honorary New Zealand adviser) – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust (vice chair) – film festival and promoting film links between NZ and Korea
Real Property (2)
- •Family home, Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme), Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ANZ Bank – mortgage
overseas travel costs (3)
- •Republic of Korea (South) – Pyeongchang Olympics, visits to the National
- •Assembly, and parliamentary delegations. Contributors to travel: New Zealand
- •National Party Korean Advisory Group and Government of Republic of Korea (South). Contributor to accommodation: Government of Republic of Korea (South).
Gifts (8)
- •NZTech – Education and Technology Summit ticket, attendance, and hospitality
- •Sky TV – All Blacks v France ticket
- •– Hospitality (meals and events, Korean ceramics, gift pen, green tea gift box, scarf,
- •Republic of Korea (Government, Parliament, and – presidential souvenir)
- •– Diplomatic Corps representatives)
- •Coca Cola – Christmas in the Park VIP ticket and transportation
- •Korean Calligraphy Association New Zealand – Calligraphy artworks (x2)
- •Nakhle Group – Boxing Day Races ticket
201814 declared interests▼
Other Companies & Business Interests (1)
- •AMP Capital Responsible Investment Leaders Fund – AMP – KiwiSaver, insurance, and financial services(+2 linked)
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation (Honorary NZ Adviser) – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust (Vice Chair) – film festival & film links promotion between NZ and Korea
Real Property (2)
- •Family home, Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme), Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ANZ Bank – mortgage
Gifts (7)
- •Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Zealand – Hospitality and functions, ornamental gifts and congratulatory bouquet of flowers(+1 linked)
- •
- •Michael Hill International Violin – Ticket to competition grand finale
- •– Competition Charitable Trust
- •
- •
- •Gilhong Ko – Golfing paraphernalia
201713 declared interests▼
Gifts (5)
- •Ceramic Dish – Ceramic dish
- •
- •
- •
- •Tennis Auckland – Ticket to ASB Tennis
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ANZ Bank – mortgage
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Real Property (2)
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme), Wellington
- •Family home, Auckland
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (3)
- •Zealand and Korea
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – film festival and promotes film links between New
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
Other Companies & Business Interests (1)
- •AMP Capital Responsible Investment Leaders Fund – AMP – KiwiSaver, insurance, and financial services(+2 linked)
201613 declared interests▼
Other Companies & Business Interests (1)
- •AMP Capital Responsible Investment Leaders Fund – AMP – KiwiSaver, insurance, and financial services(+2 linked)
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (3)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – Film Festival and promotes film links between New
- •Zealand and Korea
Real Property (2)
- •Family home, Auckland
- •Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme), Wellington
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •
overseas travel costs (1)
- •Republic of Korea – political forum and lectures. Contributor to travel and accommodation: Overseas Korean Foundation.
Gifts (3)
- •
- •Embassy of the Republic of Korea – Hospitality (meals and events)
- •
Payment for Activities (1)
- •Honorarium / lecture fee (donated to charity) - Overseas Korean Foundation
20159 declared interests▼
Company Directorships (2)
- •Asia Vision Limited (not trading) – TV/film production 2 Other companies and business entities
- •AMP – KiwiSaver, insurance, and financial services * Interest rate payable in relation to the debt is less than the normal market interest rate that applied at the time the debt was incurred or, if the terms of the debt have been amended, at the time of that amendment. ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – hosts Korean Film Festival and promotes film links between New Zealand and Korea
Real Property (1)
- •Family home, Auckland
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •ASB Bank – mortgage
Gifts (2)
- •Lydia Ko – Golf paraphernalia
- •Embassy of the Republic of Korea – Hospitality (dinners and lunches)
201411 declared interests▼
Company Directorships (2)
- •Asia Vision Limited (not trading) – TV/film production 2 Other companies and business entities
- •AMP Capital Responsible Investment Leaders Fund – AMP – KiwiSaver, insurance, and financial services(+2 linked)
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – promotes film links between New Zealand and Korea. Hosts Korean film festival every two years
Real Property (1)
- •Family home, Auckland
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •
overseas travel costs (3)
- •Korea – 60th commemoration of Armistice. Contributor to accommodation: Korean Ministry of Patriot and Veterans Affairs.
- •Korea – Global Leaders Lecture Series. Contributor to travel and accommodation: Overseas Korean Foundation.
- •China – National Party delegation. Contributor to travel (domestic travel) and accommodation: Chinese Government.
Payment for Activities (1)
- •Overseas Korean Foundation – lecture fee (donated to charity)
201310 declared interests▼
Company Directorships (4)
- •Asia Vision Limited – TV/film production
- •Asia Downunder Limited – TV/film production
- •Face Value Talent Agency Limited – talent management
- •Melissa Lee Productions Limited – TV/film production
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – promotes film links between New Zealand and Korea. Hosts Korean Film Festival every two years
Real Property (1)
- •Family home, Auckland
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •
Gifts (1)
- •Samsung Electronics New Zealand – Samsung TV
201210 declared interests▼
Company Directorships (4)
- •Face Value Talent Agency Limited – talent management
- •Melissa Lee Production Limited – TV/film production
- •Asia Vision Limited – TV/film production ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7
- •Asia Downunder Limited – TV/film production
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – promotes film links between NZ and Korea. Hosts Korean Film Festival every two years
Real Property (1)
- •Family home, Auckland
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •
Payment for Activities (1)
- •Asia Vision Limited – shareholder salary
201111 declared interests▼
Company Directorships (4)
- •Asia Vision Limited – TV/film production
- •Asia Downunder Limited – TV/film production
- •Face Value Talent Agency Limited – talent management
- •Melissa Lee Production Limited – TV/film production
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Asia New Zealand Foundation – promotes understanding of Asia in New Zealand
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – promote film links between New Zealand and Korea; hosts Korean Film Festival every two years
Real Property (1)
- •Family home, Auckland
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •
overseas travel costs (1)
- •Taiwan – familiarisation. Contributor to travel and accommodation: Government of Taiwan.
Payment for Activities (1)
- •Asia Vision Limited – shareholder salary
20109 declared interests▼
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •
overseas travel costs (1)
- •Korea – keynote speaker. Contributor to travel and accommodation: Overseas Korean Foundation.
Company Directorships (4)
- •Asia Vision Limited – film/TV production
- •Face Value Talent Agency Limited – talent management
- •Melissa Lee Productions Limited – film/TV production
- •Asia Downunder Limited – film/TV production
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (1)
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – promote film links between New Zealand and Korea; hosts Korean Film Festival every two years
Real Property (1)
- •Family home, Onehunga, Auckland
200912 declared interests▼
Company Directorships (7)
- •Soo Bahk Do (Moo Duk Kwan) Federation Limited (not trading) – martial arts
- •Asia Vision Limited – film/TV production
- •Face Value Talent Agency Limited – talent management
- •Melissa Lee Productions Limited (not trading) – film/TV production
- •Asia Downunder Limited (not trading) – film/TV production
- •Oceania Healthcare Limited – Oceania Soo Bahk Do Federation Limited (not trading) – martial arts
- •Tang Soo Do (Moo Duk Kwan) Federation Limited (not trading) – martial arts
Organisations Seeking Govt Funding (2)
- •Korean Cinerama Trust – promote film links between New Zealand and Korea; hosts Korean Film Festival every two years
- •Asia Vision Limited – film/TV production
Real Property (1)
- •Family home, Onehunga, Auckland
Retirement Schemes (1)
- •Chul Ssinjin Super
Debts (Mortgages & Loans) (1)
- •
Source: Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament
Data Sources
- MP expenses from Parliament.nz
- CE remuneration from Te Kawa Mataaho
- Financial interests from Register of Pecuniary Interests