David Bennett (New Zealand politician)

New Zealand politician

The Honourable

David Bennett

Minister of Veterans' Affairs
In office
20 December 2016 – 26 October 2017
Prime Minister| Bill English
Preceded by| Craig Foss
Succeeded by| Ron Mark
Minister for Food Safety
In office
20 December 2016 – 26 October 2017
Prime Minister| Bill English
Preceded by| Jo Goodhew
Succeeded by| Damien O'Connor
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National party list
In office
17 October 2020 – 14 October 2023
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Hamilton East
In office
17 September 2005 – 17 October 2020
Preceded by| Dianne Yates
Succeeded by| Jamie Strange
Personal details
Born|

David Allister Bennett

(1970-10-28) 28 October 1970 (age 54)
Hamilton, New Zealand
Political party| National
Signature|
Website| davidbennett.co.nz

David Allister Bennett (born 28 October 1970) is a New Zealand former National Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Hamilton East from 2005 to 2020 and a list MP from 2020 to 2023. He was Minister for Food Safety and Minister of Veterans' Affairs in the final year of the Fifth National Government.

## Early years

[edit]

Bennett was born on 28 October 1970 in Hamilton. He attended St John's College, Hamilton before gaining an LLB and a BCA from Victoria University of Wellington.[1] Bennett owns two dairy farms near Te Awamutu, is partner in a third, and has also worked as an accountant for KPMG, in Auckland.[2][3]

## Member of Parliament

[edit]

New Zealand Parliament Years  | Term  | Electorate  | List  | Party

|
|
|
|

2005–2008  | 48th | Hamilton East | 32  |  | National
2008–2011  | 49th | Hamilton East  | 44  |  | National
2011–2014  | 50th | Hamilton East  | 48  |  | National
2014–2017  | 51st | Hamilton East  | 37  |  | National
2017–2020  | 52nd | Hamilton East  | 24  |  | National
2020–2023  | 53rd | List  | 11  |  | National

### Fifth Labour Government, 2005–2008

[edit]

In the 2005 election, Bennett stood as the National Party's candidate for the Hamilton East seat. He was successful, defeating the incumbent MP, Dianne Yates of the Labour Party.[4] In his maiden speech, he remarked that at age 34, he was the youngest National MP elected at that election.[5] In his first term, he was a member of the Transport and Industrial Relations committee.[6] He was an associate spokesperson for transport under National leader John Key from 1 December 2006.[7]

### Fifth National Government, 2008–2017

[edit]

Bennett retained Hamilton East for the duration of the Fifth National Government.[8][9][10] He was a member of the Finance and Expenditure Committee from December 2008 to January 2017 (the last two years as chair), the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee from December 2008 to August 2014 (the last three years as chair), and the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee from 2014 to 2017.

He was appointed Minister for Food Safety, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, and Associate Minister of Transport (outside Cabinet) after Bill English became Prime Minister in December 2016, and was additionally appointed Minister of Racing in 2017.[11][12] On appointment, Bennett noted he was the first MP for a Hamilton electorate to become a minister since 1984 (when Ian Shearer completed a term as Minister for the Environment).[13] He introduced the Government's Racing Amendment Bill in July 2017 but it was abandoned after National lost the 2017 election.[14][15]

### Sixth Labour Government, 2017–2023

[edit]

At the 2017 general election, Bennett retained Hamilton East by 5,810 votes over new Labour candidate Jamie Strange,[16] but lost to Strange by a margin of 2,973 votes at the 2020 general election. Despite that loss, he was returned as a list MP.[17][18]

The National Party was in opposition from October 2017. Bennett held various spokesperson roles for the party, including food safety and racing under the leadership of Bill English, corrections and land information under Simon Bridges, agriculture under Todd Muller and Judith Collins, and economic and regional development under Christopher Luxon.[6]

Bennett briefly served as an Assistant Speaker of the House in August 2022.[19] He retired at the 2023 New Zealand general election.[20]

## After Parliament

[edit]

In 2024, Judith Collins, the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, appointed Bennett to the board of Callaghan Innovation.[21]

## Political views

[edit]

In 2005, Bennett voted for the Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill, which would have amended the Marriage Act to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.[22] He opposed the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill at its first and second readings in 2012 and 2013, but voted in support at its final reading in 2013.[23] He supported the Conversion Practices Bill at second and third reading in 2022.[24]

In 2009, Bennett voted against the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill, a bill aimed at amending the Misuse of Drugs Act so that cannabis could be used for medical purposes.[25]

In 2019 and 2020, he voted for the Abortion Legislation Bill at all stages. In 2022, he supported the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill at its second and third reading.

## Personal life

[edit]

Bennett was in a long-distance relationship with Australian senator Bridget McKenzie and both are members of their respective countries' National Parties with Senator McKenzie having served as her party's deputy leader between 2017 and 2020.[26][27] On 26 July 2022 Bennett announced his intention to step down from Parliament at the 2023 election in order to spend more time with his fiancee Nicky Preston and their first child.[20]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ El-Gamel, Nancy (9 June 2016). "Catholic school boys get pep talk from Bill English". Stuff. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
2. ^ Burke, Peter (10 June 2020). "National ag spokesman is a dairy farmer". Rural News Group. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
3. ^ Lines-MacKenzie, Jo (3 January 2017). "David Bennett is Hamilton's first minister in 33 years". Stuff. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
4. ^ "Official Count Results -- Hamilton East". Electoral Commission. 1 October 2005. Archived from the original on 22 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
5. ^ "Bennett, David: Address in Reply - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
6. ^ a b "Bennett, David - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
7. ^ "Key announces his shadow cabinet". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
8. ^ "Official Count Results -- Hamilton East". Electoral Commission. 22 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
9. ^ "Official Count Results -- Hamilton East". Electoral Commission. 10 December 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
10. ^ "Official Count Results -- Hamilton East". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 January 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
11. ^ MacKenzie, Jo-Lines (3 January 2017). "David Bennett is Hamilton's first minister in 33 years". Stuff. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
12. ^ "Minister hoping for first reading before election". Otago Daily Times. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
13. ^ Lines-MacKenzie, Jo (2 January 2017). "David Bennett is Hamilton's first minister in 33 years". Stuff. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
14. ^ Turner, Jonny (10 August 2017). "Minister confident tax can be collected". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
15. ^ "Racing Amendment Bill - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
16. ^ "Hamilton East - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
17. ^ Whyte, Anna (18 October 2020). "Analysis: The winners, losers, new faces and goodbyes of election 2020". 1News. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
18. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums - Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
19. ^ "Appointments — Assistant Speakers - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
20. ^ a b "Family and farming new future focus for retiring veteran Hamilton MP". Waikato Times. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
21. ^ "Appointment to the Callaghan Innovation Board". 8 April 2024. 2024-go1520. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
22. ^ "Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill – First Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 7 December 2005. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
23. ^ Carson, Jonathan (18 April 2013). "David Bennett: Why he voted yes". Stuff. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
24. ^ "Conversion practices ban passes in Parliament". 1 News. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
25. ^ "Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill — First Reading". Hansard. 655. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand House of Representatives: 4850. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
26. ^ "Trans-Tasman relations: Long-distance love for Hamilton East MP David Bennett, who confirms he is in a relationship with Australian senator". The New Zealand Herald. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
27. ^ Bridget McKenzie: New Zealand enchants another National, The Australian, 9 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Profile at New Zealand Parliament
* Profile at National Party

Portals:

* Politics
* New Zealand

David Bennett (New Zealand politician) at Wikipedia's sister projects:

* Media from Commons
* Data from Wikidata

New Zealand Parliament

Preceded by

Dianne Yates

|  Member of Parliament for Hamilton East
2005–2020  | Succeeded by

Jamie Strange

* v
* t
* e

Fifth National Government of New Zealand

Leadership|

* John Key (2008–2016)
* Bill English (2016–2017) (Prime Minister)
* English (2008–2016)
* Paula Bennett (2016–2017) (Deputy Prime Minister)

Political parties|

* National Party (main)
* United Future
* ACT
* Māori Party (confidence and supply)

Ministers|

| Cabinet|

* John Key
* Bill English
* Paula Bennett
* Steven Joyce
* Gerry Brownlee
* Simon Power
* Simon Bridges
* Judith Collins
* Tony Ryall
* Nick Smith
* Anne Tolley
* Chris Finlayson
* Michael Woodhouse
* Murray McCully
* David Carter
* Tim Groser
* Wayne Mapp
* Georgina te Heuheu
* Phil Heatley
* Kate Wilkinson
* Hekia Parata
* Nathan Guy
* Jonathan Coleman
* Pansy Wong
* Amy Adams
* Craig Foss
* Nikki Kaye
* Todd McClay
* Sam Lotu-Iiga
* Maggie Barry
* Paul Goldsmith
* Louise Upston
* Alfred Ngaro
* Mark Mitchell

|

Non-
Cabinet|

| National Party|

* Maurice Williamson
* Richard Worth
* Jo Goodhew
* Chester Borrows
* Nicky Wagner
* Jacqui Dean
* David Bennett
* Tim Macindoe
* Scott Simpson

|

ACT|

* Rodney Hide
* Heather Roy
* John Boscawen
* John Banks

United Future|

* Peter Dunne

Māori Party|

* Tariana Turia
* Pita Sharples
* Te Ururoa Flavell

Parliamentary
leadership|

| Speaker of the House|

* Lockwood Smith (2008–2013)
* David Carter (2013–2017)

|

Leader of the House|

* Gerry Brownlee (2008–2017)
* Simon Bridges (2017)

Chief Government Whip|

* Nathan Guy (2008–2009)
* Chris Tremain (2009–2011)
* Michael Woodhouse (2011–2013)
* Louise Upston (2013–2014)
* Tim Macindoe (2014–2017)
* Jami-Lee Ross (2017)

Elections
(parliaments)|

* 2008 (49th)
* 2011 (50th)
* 2014 (51st)
* 2017 (defeated)

Significant
policies
and events|

* Partial privatisation of state-owned enterprises
* Ultra-Fast Broadband
* Flag referendum
* 2008 financial crisis
* 2010 and 2011 earthquakes
* Creation of Auckland Super-City
* Pike River Mine disaster
* Legalisation of same-sex marriage
* 2011 Rugby World Cup
* 2015 Cricket World Cup

Other offices|

| Governor-General|

* Sir Anand Satyanand (2008–2011)
* Sir Jerry Mateparae (2011–2016)
* Dame Patsy Reddy (2016–2017)

|

Chief Justice|

* Dame Sian Elias

Leader of the Opposition|

* Phil Goff (2008–2011)
* David Shearer (2011–2013)
* David Cunliffe (2013–2014)
* Andrew Little (2014–2017)
* Jacinda Ardern (2017)

* 2008–2017

* ← Fifth Labour Government
* Sixth Labour Government →

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