Katherine Rich
|
Parl. | Electorate | List Pos. | Party |
46th | List | 23 | National |
47th | List | 14 | National |
Katherine Rich (born 1967) is a New Zealand politician. She is one of the more prominent members of the National Party, currently in opposition. She is the party's spokesperson on economic development, and state-owned businesses.
Rich was educated at Otago University, gaining a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1990 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993. After leaving university, she held a number management and analytical roles in both the public and private sector.
Rich entered parliament as a list MP in the 1999 elections. She was ranked twenty-third on the National Party list. Once in Parliament, Rich rose quickly through the National Party hierarchy, and was ranked fourth in the party caucus. At various times, she served as the party's spokesperson for employment, broadcasting, and culture. In January 2005, however, she refused to give full support to a "tough-on-welfare" speech by party leader Don Brash, and was demoted to tenth place and dismissed as social welfare spokesperson.
Rich is generally regarded as one of the more liberal members of the National Party, and is co-chair of the party's internal Classical Liberal Policy Advisory Group.
Rich is married, and has four children.