Paula Bennett

Paula Bennett is a former New Zealand politician who served as the 18th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2016 to 2017 under Prime Minister Bill English. A prominent member of the National Party, she held several senior cabinet portfolios, including Minister of Social Development and Minister for Climate Change Issues. Bennett first entered the House of Representatives in 2005 as a List MP and later represented the Upper Harbour electorate.

Early life and education

Born in Auckland on 9 April 1969, she was raised by her grandmother in the Waitākere Ranges region after her mother's death. She attended Rutherford College in Te Atatū before leaving school at the age of sixteen. Her early career included various roles, such as working at the Waitakere Hospital and as a real estate agent in West Auckland. She later studied extramurally through Massey University, completing a Bachelor of Business Studies degree.

Political career

Elected as a List MP in the 2005 general election, she was appointed to the Social Services Committee and the Government Administration Committee. Following the 2008 election, which brought the National-led government to power under John Key, she was promoted to Minister for Social Development and Employment and Minister of Youth Affairs. She notably oversaw significant welfare reforms, including the introduction of the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Act 2013. After winning the newly formed Upper Harbour seat in the 2014 election, she was appointed Minister of Police and Minister for Climate Change Issues. Upon Bill English becoming Prime Minister in 2016, she was elevated to Deputy Prime Minister, also assuming the roles of Minister of Social Development and Minister of Tourism. She served as Deputy Leader of the National Party from 2016 to 2020 and was the party's campaign manager for the 2020 election. She announced her retirement from politics in June 2020 and left Parliament prior to that year's election.

Post-parliamentary activities

Since leaving Parliament, she has taken on roles in the corporate and media sectors. She was appointed a director on the board of the New Zealand Rural Land Company and joined the Fletcher Building board in 2021. She has worked as a political commentator for Newshub and Radio New Zealand, and co-hosted a talkback show on Today FM. In 2023, she was named Chief Executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association.

Personal life

She is married to Alan Philps, a former New Zealand Police officer, and they have one daughter. The family resides in West Auckland. She has been open about her personal challenges in her youth, including being a solo mother at age seventeen, which she has cited as informing her political perspectives on social policy.

Honours and awards

In the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the New Zealand Parliament. She has also received the National Party’s President's Award for outstanding service.

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand National Party MPs Category:Deputy prime ministers of New Zealand