Barbara Edmonds
MP | |
---|---|
37th Minister of Internal Affairs | |
In office 1 February 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
Preceded by | Jan Tinetti |
Succeeded by | Brooke van Velden |
14th Minister for Pacific Peoples | |
In office 1 February 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
Preceded by | William Sio |
Succeeded by | Shane Reti |
10th Minister for Economic Development | |
In office 12 April 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
Preceded by | Megan Woods (acting) |
Succeeded by | Melissa Lee |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mana | |
Assumed office 17 October 2020 | |
Preceded by | Kris Faafoi |
Personal details | |
Born | 1981[1] Auckland, New Zealand |
Political party | Labour |
Spouse | Chris |
Children | 8 |
Residence(s) | Porirua, New Zealand |
Barbara Rachael Fati Palepa Edmonds, (born 1981) is a New Zealand politician.
Early life and career
Edmonds was born Rachael Fati Poe, in
Edmonds was educated at
Edmonds is a specialist tax lawyer, and before entering Parliament, worked in both the private and public sectors. In 2016, she was seconded from
Member of Parliament
First term, 2020–2023
Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020–2023 | 53rd | Mana | 49 | Labour | |
2023–present | 54th | Mana | 18 | Labour |
In May 2020, Edmonds was selected as Labour's candidate in Mana, replacing incumbent Kris Faafoi.[16] In August 2020, Edmonds was ranked 49th on the Labour Party's list for the 2020 general election.[17]
During the 2020 election, she won Mana by a large margin of 16,244, defeating National candidate Jo Hayes.[18] Following the election, she was appointed as Labour's associate whip on 2 November.[19] She was deputy chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee from 3 December 2020 to 22 June 2022, when she became chair.[20][21] As a first-term member of Parliament, Edmonds attracted praise from National Party leader Christopher Luxon, who complimented her select committee work and described her as "very, very smart [and] very, very considered."[22] In late 2022, New Zealand Herald journalist Audrey Young ranked her second highest of the 42 new MPs who entered Parliament in 2020.[23]
In a cabinet reshuffle by new Prime Minister
In the internal affairs portfolio, Edmonds oversaw the completion of upgrades at 26 fire stations.[29] As economic development minister, Edmonds led the first all-female trade delegation to Australia in Australia 2023, featuring 26 female business leaders.[30] Also in August 2023, as associate housing minister, she launched consultation on retirement village policies.[31] With finance minister Grant Robertson, Edmonds announced a new tax on multinational companies that provide digital services in New Zealand.[32]
Second term, 2023–present
After being re-selected as Labour's Mana candidate for the 2023 general election,[33] she won an election night majority of 7,324 votes over the National Party candidate Frances Hughes.[34]
On 30 November, she became spokesperson for economic development, infrastructure and associate finance in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[35] On 5 December 2023, Edmonds was granted retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council.[36]
Following the resignation of Grant Robertson in mid February 2024, Edmonds assumed the finance portfolio during a shadow cabinet reshuffle.[37][38]
References
- ^ Luke Malpass in ‘’The Post’’ 1 March 2024 pages 14,15
- ^ "Speech – New Zealand Parliament".
- ^ "Samoan woman lawyer eyes seat in Beehive". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ a b c Husb, Dale (28 November 2020). "Barbara Edmonds: Sacrifice and success". E-Tangata. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ a b Williams, Katarina (30 October 2020). "Tackling poverty in Mana: New MP Barbara Edmonds brings her lived experience to bear". Stuff. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "Barbara Edmonds on swatting away National Party recruit attempts". NZ Herald. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Walters, Laura (28 February 2024). "Labour's golden girl slated as future prime minister". Newsroom. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Barbara Edmonds: Reclaiming my Gagana Samoa is one step in a lifelong journey". NZ Herald. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Raela, Johnson (8 June 2020). "Samoan mother of eight has Parliament in her sights". Tagata Pasifika. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Graduate Search". University of Auckland. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Labour picks lawyers for Manurewa and Mana – National picks farmer in Wairarapa". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Board of Trustees". Mana College. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Barbara Edmonds- Labour Party Candidate for Mana". Pacific Media Network. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill — Third Reading - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Who is Barbara Edmonds, Labour's hope for future finance minister?". NZ Herald. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Young, Audrey (30 May 2020). "Labour selects lawyer to replace Louisa Wall in Manurewa seat". NZ Herald. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Labour announces list for 2020 Election". Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Mana – Official Results". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Barbara Edmonds". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Edmonds, Barbara – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ Witton, Bridie (13 June 2022). "PM Jacinda Ardern's Cabinet reshuffle puts focus on combatting crime". Stuff. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "Christopher Luxon on Three Waters and carbon farming". NZ Herald. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Audrey Young: Best of the bunch - the top 10 new MPs". NZ Herald. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reveals Cabinet reshuffle". Radio New Zealand. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Government announces cyclone recovery taskforce, $50m support package, new ministerial role". RNZ. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "PM's Cabinet reshuffle; new roles added to Green List; Covid settings to stay". NZ Herald. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Coughlan, Thomas (25 July 2023). "Election 2023: David Parker thinks he still has a revenue responsibility, Grant Robertson and Chris Hipkins less sure". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Hipkins reveals who gets Kiri Allan's ministerial posts". 1 News. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Multi-million dollar fire station upgrades now complete". 1 News. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (14 August 2023). "New Zealand's first all-female trade delegation". Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Government proposes changes to law governing retirement villages". RNZ. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Government unveils digital services tax aimed at multinationals". RNZ. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Wong, Justin (18 December 2022). "Barbara Edmonds to stand for re-election as Mana MP". Stuff. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Mana - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet". Radio New Zealand. 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "Retention of the title "The Honourable"". New Zealand Gazette. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Labour reshuffle: Edmonds moves up as Finance spokesperson". Radio New Zealand. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Grant Robertson retires from politics, appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago". The New Zealand Herald. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
External links
- Media related to Barbara Edmonds (politician) at Wikimedia Commons