Simon Power
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Missing image SimonPower.png Photo of Simon Power | |||
| Parl. | Electorate | List Pos. | Party |
| 46th | List | 37 | National |
| 47th | List | 13 | National |
Simon James Power (born 1970) is a New Zealand politician. He is currently one of the more prominent members of the National Party, the main opposition party. He serves as the National Party's chief whip, and as its conservation spokesperson.
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 was strongly criticised by politicians on both sides of the political spectrum for his statement that (as regards defence and foreign affairs) "where Britain, the United States and Australia go, we go". This was criticised as "subservience" and as an abrogation of sovereignty. Power later expressed "regret" for the statements, and party leader Don Brash said that they did not reflect National Party policy. In August of the same year, Power lost the defence portfolio, instead becoming chief whip.
Despite this slip, however, Power is still ranked in third place within the National Party, and is often considered to be one of its "rising stars". It is assumed that he would enter cabinet if National wins the next election. He has sometimes been mentioned as a possible future leader for the National Party.
External link
- Simon Power's official website (http://www.simonpower.co.nz)