Mark Mitchell (New Zealand politician)
Mark Mitchell MP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 39th Minister of Defence | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Bill English |
| Preceded by | Gerry Brownlee |
| Minister for Land Information | |
| Assumed office 20 December 2016 | |
| Prime Minister | Bill English |
| Preceded by | Louise Upston |
| Minister of Statistics | |
| In office 20 December 2016 – 2 May 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Bill English |
| Preceded by | Craig Foss |
| Succeeded by | Scott Simpson |
| Member of Parliament for Rodney | |
| Assumed office 30 November 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Lockwood Smith |
| Majority | 12,222 (32.3%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 May 1968 Auckland |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse | Peggy Bourne |
| Relations | Frank Gill (grandfather) |
| Alma mater | The Wharton School |
| Website | markmitchell |
Mark Patrick Mitchell (born 22 May 1968)[1] is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the National Party.
Early life
Mitchell was born on Auckland's North Shore and attended Rosmini College. He then attended the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.[2]
He was in the New Zealand Police for thirteen years from 1989 to 2002, including time as a dog handler. After leaving the police, Mitchell worked for eight years as a private security contractor and spent time in Iraq, including the siege of the Italian-run An Nasiriyah compound in Southern Iraq by the Mahdi militia in 2004.[2][3]
Member of Parliament
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2014 | 50th | Rodney | 59 | National | |
| 2014–present | 51st | Rodney | 42 | National | |
Mitchell was selected as the National Party's candidate for Rodney on 26 April 2011, replacing Lockwood Smith.[4]
Mitchell voted against the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand.[5]
In 2014, Nicky Hager's book Dirty Politics presented evidence which suggested that Mitchell had hired political strategist Simon Lusk during the National Party selection process for the Rodney electorate. Lusk appeared to have collaborated with blogger Cameron Slater to discredit Mitchell's opponents, particularly Brent Robinson. Mitchell strongly denies ever paying Lusk or Slater.[6]
He served as Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee from the 2014 general election, before being appointed Minister for Land Information and Minister of Statistics in December 2016.[7]
In 2017, Mitchell said he would quit politics if National lose the 2017 general election.[8]
Personal life
Mitchell has had two previous marriages, and is currently married to Peggy Bourne, who is the widow of rally driver Possum Bourne.[4][9]
His grandfather was Frank Gill, a cabinet minister between 1975 and 1980.[2]
References
- ^ The Dominion Post. 17 March 2012. p. C3.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ a b c In the line of duty Sunday Star Times, 27 March 2011
- ^ Hager, Nicky (2014). "5. Simon Lusk's Plan". Dirty Politics. footnote 43. ISBN 9781927213360.
- ^ a b National selects Mark Mitchell for Rodney stuff.co.nz, 26 April 2011
- ^ "Gay marriage: How MPs voted". NZ Herald. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ^ Chang, Derek (26 August 2014). "Disclosures disgust defeated candidate". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ "Mark Mitchell". parliament.nz. New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Our most intriguing Defence Minister ever?". NZ Herald. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ^ Peggy Bourne weds National Party politician New Zealand Herald, 13 November 2011
External links
- Mark Mitchell MP official website
- Profile on National party website
- Profile on the New Zealand Parliament website