Scott Simpson (politician)

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MP
Simpson in 2023
Chief Government Whip in the House of Representatives
Assumed office
5 December 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
DeputySuze Redmayne
Preceded byTangi Utikere
29th Minister of Statistics
In office
2 May 2017 – 26 October 2017
Prime MinisterBill English
Preceded byMark Mitchell
Succeeded byJames Shaw
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Coromandel
Assumed office
26 November 2011
Preceded bySandra Goudie
Majority14,596
Personal details
Born
Scott Anthony Simpson

(1959-11-04) 4 November 1959 (age 64)
NationalityNew Zealander
Political partyNational Party
Spouse
​
(divorced)​
OccupationPolitician

Scott Anthony Simpson (born 4 November 1959) is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the National Party.

Early life and career

Simpson's ancestors settled in Kūaotunu, on the Coromandel Peninsula, in the 1800s.[1] He grew up in Auckland and was educated at the University of Auckland, graduating with a law degree.

He was chief executive of the New Zealand Make-a-Wish Foundation from 2008 to 2011,[2] and previously a member of the National Party board of directors.[3] He also managed a safety equipment company.[3]

He was married to Desley Simpson, but the couple separated ca. 2004/2005.[4] She is now married to Peter Goodfellow.[5] The former couple has two children.[1]

Political career

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2011–2014 50th Coromandel 61 National
2014–2017 51st Coromandel 45 National
2017–2020 52nd Coromandel 26 National
2020–2023 53rd Coromandel 10 National
2023–present 54th Coromandel 55 National

Simpson has been MP for Coromandel since 2011, and served as Minister of Statistics, Associate Minister of Immigration and Associate Minister for the Environment at the close of the Fifth National Government.

Prior to his election to Parliament, Simpson held senior positions in the National Party. He was National Party Northern Regional Chair[6] and a member of the National Party's Board of Directors in the 2010s.[7] He stood for the National Party presidency in 2009 but lost to Peter Goodfellow. He previously stood for selection as the National Party candidate for Tamaki in 2004, but lost to Allan Peachey.[6][8]

Simpson was selected as the National Party's Coromandel candidate in April 2011.[9] He was elected at the 2011 general election with a majority of 12,740.[10] From 2013 to 2014, Simpson was chair of the Justice and Electoral select committee.[11]

During the 2014 New Zealand general election, Simpson was re-elected in Coromandel by a margin of 15,801, defeating the Green Party's candidate Catherine Delahunty.[12] Simpson chaired the Local Government and Electoral select committee until his appointment in May 2017 as Minister of Statistics, Associate Minister of Immigration and Associate Minister for the Environment.[11][13]

During the 2017 New Zealand general election, Simpson was re-elected in Coromandel by a margin of 14,326 votes over Labour's Nathaniel James Blomfield.[14] The National Party was not in Government and Simpson served as his party's spokesperson for the environment, workplace relations and safety, and climate change.[11]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Simpson retained Coromandel for a fourth term by a final margin of 3,505 votes over Labour's Nathaniel James Blomfield.[15]

During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Simpson retained Coromandel for a fifth term by a margin of 17,349 votes over Labour's Beryl Riley.[16]

When National formed a

NZ First and ACT following the 2023 election, Simpson was not appointed to a ministerial position despite having been a minister in the previous National government. Instead, he was made Senior Whip of the National Party and became Chief Government Whip in the 54th New Zealand Parliament when it opened on 5 December 2023.[17]

Views

In the National Party caucus, Simpson is a liberal. He voted in favour of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013, the End of Life Choice Act 2019 and the Abortion Legislation Act 2020.[18][19][20]

He has led the National Party's advisory group on environmental issues, the Bluegreens.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Simpson, Scott: Address in Reply – New Zealand Parliament". parliament.nz. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Reaping the dough for charity". Stuff. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b Morton, Jamie (29 November 2011). "Scott Simpson, National – Coromandel". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  4. ^ Marshall, Jonathan (23 August 2009). "Tangled National love triangle". Stuff. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  5. ^ "National luminary married in private rest home ceremony". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b Rowan, Juliet (12 October 2004). "Principal snares prized Tamaki". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  7. ^ Farrar, David (2 August 2009). "Goodfellow elected president". Kiwiblog. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  8. ^ Slater, Cameron (20 April 2011). "Selection updates". Whale Oil. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  9. ^ New Zealand National Party (20 April 2011). "National Selects Scott Simpson as Coromandel Candidate". Scoop. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  10. ^ New Zealand Parliament. "Final Results for the 2011 New Zealand General Election and Referendum". Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Simpson, Scott – New Zealand Parliament". parliament.nz. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Official Count Results – Coromandel". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  13. ^ Moorby, Caitlin (24 April 2017). "Cabinet reshuffle sees Waikato get two more minsters". Stuff. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Coromandel – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Coromandel – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Coromandel - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  17. ^ https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/simpson-scott/
  18. ^ "Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill — First Reading". New Zealand Parliament – Hansard. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  19. ^ "End of Life Choice Bill — Third Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Abortion Legislation Bill — Third Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Coromandel MP Scott Simpson picks up Climate Change portfolio". Stuff. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Coromandel
2011–present 		Incumbent
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