Melissa Lee is a New Zealand National Party Member of Parliament [39], first elected as a list MP in 2008 [28][37].
According to a single reputable secondary source, Lee worked as a journalist and broadcaster at News Media Auckland [1] and, from 1994, as a reporter and presenter on the TVNZ programme Asia Downunder [5][6][2]. She is also reported to have worked as a television presenter, reporter, director, and producer on the Asia Dynamic/Asia Down Under programme on TVNZ [7], and to have taken on a producer role for Asia Downunder from 2004 [3]. According to the same single source, she holds a postgraduate qualification in Communication Studies [17].
Before entering Parliament, Lee is reported to have held a number of civic and community roles, including Vice-President of the Korean Association [14], Vice-President of the Korean Women's Association [15], Vice President of the Korean Society [12], and World President of the Overseas Korean Foundation's Future Leaders Group [16]. She is also reported to have served as an Advisory Committee Member of the Auckland Police [8], a Committee Member of the Asia-Pacific Producer Network [10], and an Advisory Committee Member of the National Unification Advisory Council [9]. In 2004, according to a single secondary source, she served as project manager of the inaugural Korean Film Festival in Auckland [4].
Lee entered Parliament as a National Party list MP in 2008 [29][38]. She is reported to have chaired the Social Services Select Committee from January 2014 [26] and to have served as Chairperson of the Commerce Select Committee [24]. She held the role of Parliamentary Private Secretary for Ethnic Communities from 2015 [36] and, according to a single source, served as National Party spokesperson for broadcasting, communications, and digital media, and ethnic communities from 19 October 2017 [11]. From 2020, she is reported to have served as Opposition Spokesperson for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, and Ethnic Communities [34].
Following the 2023 general election, Lee was appointed, according to a single reputable secondary source, as the 11th Minister for Economic Development [18], the 28th Minister for Media and Communications [19], and the 2nd Minister for Ethnic Communities [20], all from 27 November 2023. She is also reported to have held the role of Associate Minister for ACC [21].