Simon Power (politician)
Simon Power MP | |
|---|---|
| 46th Minister of Justice | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Annette King |
| Minister for State-Owned Enterprises | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Trevor Mallard |
| Minister of Commerce | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Lianne Dalziel |
| Deputy Leader of the House | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Darren Hughes |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Rangitikei | |
| Assumed office 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Denis Marshall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 5, 1969 New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Simon James Power (born 5 December 1969) is a New Zealand politician. He is a prominent member of the National Party and a cabinet minister. He currently holds the posts of Minister of Justice, Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Minister of Commerce, Minister Responsible for the Law Commission and Associate Minister of Finance. He is also the Deputy Leader of the House.[1] He had previously served as the National Party's chief whip, and as its justice and corrections spokesperson. He has an office in Marton.
Power was educated in Palmerston North, attending St. Peter's College. He was prominent in the life of St. Peter's, captaining two senior sports teams and chairing the School Council. He later studied at Victoria University in Wellington, gaining first a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and then a Bachelor of Laws degree. For two years, he was President of the Victoria University Law Students' Society. He completed his university study in 1993.
After leaving university, Power worked as a lawyer in Palmerston North. For a brief period, he also worked in Auckland. In 1998, he decided to enter national politics. Having been a member of the National Party since the year he left university, he secured the party's nomination for Rangitikei, a predominantly rural area just outside Palmerston North. The seat was being vacated by sitting National MP Denis Marshall.
In the 1999 election, Power won Rangitikei. He defeated his opponent, the Labour Party's Craig Walsham, by slightly under three hundred votes. Once in parliament, Power became his party's spokesperson on Labour, Industrial Relations, and Youth Affairs. After he retained his seat in the 2002 elections, these roles were swapped for Justice, Tertiary Education, and Workplace Skills. In 2003, when Don Brash became leader of the National Party, Power's responsibilities were once again reshuffled, giving him the portfolios of Defence, Veterans' Affairs, and Youth Affairs.
In May 2004, Power caused controversy for his statement that (as regards defence and foreign affairs) "where Britain, the United States and Australia go, we go". Power later expressed regret for how the statement was interpreted, and party leader Don Brash said that it did not reflect National Party policy. In August of the same year, Power was moved from the defence position to that of chief whip.[2]
Power is currently ranked in fourth place within the current National Party caucus.
References
- ^ "Ministerial List for Announcement on 17 November 2008" (PDF) (Press release). New Zealand Government. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
- ^ "New Zealand Parliament - Simon Power". Archived from the original on Jan 30, 2008.