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Casey Costello

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The Honourable
Casey Costello
MP
Costello in 2023
67th Minister of Customs
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byJo Luxton
15th Minister for Seniors
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byGinny Andersen
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for New Zealand First party list
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 October 2023
Personal details
Born1965 or 1966 (age 58–59)[1]
Political partyNew Zealand First (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		ACT (2011)
New Conservatives Party (2019–2020)
ProfessionCompany manager

Cassandra Jane "Casey" Costello (born 1965 or 1966) is a New Zealand politician, lobbyist and former police officer. She was elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, representing the New Zealand First party, in the 2023 New Zealand general election. She was appointed Minister of Customs, Minister for Seniors and Associate Minister of Health in the Sixth National Government of New Zealand.[2][3]

Early life and career

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Costello's parents are racing journalist John Costello and New Zealand tennis representative Maryann Davis.[1] She is one of six children. She is of Māori, Scottish and Irish descent.[4][5] Her father's ancestors were British settlers who arrived in New Zealand in 1860.[6] Her iwi affiliations, through her mother, are Ngātiwai, Ngāti Hau and Ngāpuhi; she is a relative of former politicians Kelvin Davis and Hone Harawira.[1]

Costello's secondary schooling was at Marcellin College, Auckland.[1] After leaving school, Costello worked in an ice cream parlour and also as a reporter with her father at the Counties Sport and News newspaper.[1][6] In a 2023 interview, she stated that working as a crime reporter inspired her to join the New Zealand Police, which she did in 1986.[1] Her fourteen-year, Auckland-based policing career included working the 1992 Pukekohe massacre and a period as vice-president of the police union, being the first woman elected to that role.[7]

She later became a security specialist and building services company manager in Auckland. In the 2000s, she was Parliament's manager of security and operations, overseeing a security upgrade.[1]

Lobbyist career

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From 2016, Costello was a founding trustee of Hobson's Pledge[7] with former ACT New Zealand leader Don Brash. Hobson's Pledge is a right-wing lobby group that disputes some constitutional powers of the Treaty of Waitangi and aims to nullify the partnership between the Crown and Māori.[8] Costello was a prominent spokesperson for the lobby group.[9][10][11] Costello's view is that any policies seeking to redress historical injustices against Māori are "racist and separatist."[6] She campaigned against the creation of the Australian Indigenous Voice to Parliament at the 2023 referendum, writing in The Spectator Australia that New Zealand's equivalent to the Voice had "divided" New Zealanders.[12]

Costello has also been involved in the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union, a right-wing lobby group, including as board chair.[13][7] She resigned from the board so that she could stand in the 2023 general election.[14] Costello is also a trustee of the Migrant Exploitation Relief Foundation, pushing for investigation of the exploitation of illegal immigrants.[15]

Political career

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2023–present 54th List 3 NZ First

Early political career

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Costello first stood for parliament in 2011. Her brother, Dominic Costello, was the ACT New Zealand candidate in Te Atatū in the 2011 general election and encouraged her to stand for the party also.[1] She contested the Māngere electorate and was ranked 34th on the party list,[16] but was not elected.[17]

In 2019, Costello was involved with the New Conservatives Party. She joined the party's board at the beginning of 2019, as did David Moffett.[18][19][20]

2023 general election

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Three years later, Costello later shifted her party affiliation and was selected by New Zealand First to contest the Port Waikato electorate at the 2023 election.[21] She was ranked third on the party list.[22] At the New Zealand First conference where her candidacy was announced, Costello submitted a proposal that it should be party policy to remove the “exclusive authority of the Waitangi Tribunal to determine the meaning and effect” of the Treaty of Waitangi, along with other suggested changes to the Tribunal's authority.[23] The proposal was approved, with the support of senior New Zealand First figures Winston Peters and Shane Jones. Costello also identified the removal of the Māori Health Authority as one of the first things she would like to accomplish if elected.[15]

Costello was elected to parliament as a list MP on 14 October 2023, based on New Zealand First's 6.08% share of the party vote.[1][24][25] The electorate vote in Port Waikato was cancelled on 9 October 2023 after ACT candidate Neil Christensen died. Costello was automatically renominated for the Port Waikato by-election held on 25 November 2023.[26] Costello came second place in the by-election, gaining 2,864 votes.[27]

First term, 2023–present

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New Zealand First formed a coalition government with the National Party and ACT New Zealand. In late November 2023, Costello was appointed Minister of Customs, Minister for Seniors, and an associate minister in the health, immigration and police portfolios in the coalition government.[2][28]

Associate health

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As Associate Minister of Health, Costello is responsible for the government's policies on tobacco smoking,[29] including the proposed repeal of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, which would have restricted tobacco sales.[30]

On 25 January 2024, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported that Costello had proposed a three year freeze on Consumer Price Index-related excise increases for smoked tobacco and removing the excise tax from smokeless tobacco products. Costello has denied having any links to the tobacco industry. Costello also proposed harsher penalties for selling vaping products to minors, including a NZ$30,000 fine for selling vapes to minors. Costello has disagreed with a prohibition on tobacco, instead advocating the decriminalisation of oral nicotine products such as snus and chewing tobacco.[30]

Costello's proposed three-year tobacco tax freeze was criticised by Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall and anti-smoking advocates Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chairperson Boyd Swinburn, Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ chief executive Letitia Harding, Health Aotearoa Commission co-chairperson Leitu Tufuga, and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) director Ben Youden as detrimental to efforts to combat smoking and improve public health.[31]

In response to criticism, Health Minister Shane Reti expressed confidence in Costello's role as Associate Health Minister and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to reducing smoking rates and tobacco consumption.[32] Luxon subsequently stated that Costello was only exploring smoking policy health options and has made a mistake during an interview. He also expressed confidence in Costello and confirmed that the Government would not pause increases to the tobacco tax.[33] However, notes that Costello sent to health officials on reforming smoke free laws make it clear that a proposed freeze on excise tax for tobacco came from her office. The notes made the case that the tobacco industry is in real financial trouble, claiming "The tobacco industry in New Zealand is on its knees" and comparing the harm from nicotine to the harm from coffee, claiming "Nicotine is as harmful as caffeine.[34][35]

On 27 February 2024, Costello confirmed that the Government would introduce the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill under urgency to repeal the three components of the Smokefree legislation: the retail reduction scheme, de-nicotisation and the smokefree generation measures.[36] The Smokefree Amendment Bill passed its third reading on 28 February 2024. During the first reading, Costello described Labour's Smokefree policy as an "untested regime" focusing on prohibition and said the Government wanted a "practical, workable, and tested approach" to tobacco. She also claimed that vaping could help reduce tobacco addiction and reiterated the Government's commitment to combating smoking. Labour leader Chris Hipkins accused Costello of regurgitating the tobacco industry's talking points.[37]

On 20 March 2024, Costello announced that the Government would introduce legislation to ban disposable vapes, and increase the maximum fine from selling to under-18s from $10,000 to $100,000.[38]

On 11 July 2024, Costello was rebuked by the Chief Ombudsman Judge Peter Boshier and ordered to apologise to public broadcaster RNZ and University of Otago public health professor Janet Hoek for failing to provide them with Official Information Act (OIA) information about the Government's tobacco and vaping policies.[39]

On 18 July, Casey Costello slashed the excise rate on heated tobacco products (HTPs) by 50 percent as part of a trial to reduce smoking rates. The Ministry of Health expressed disagreement, stating "there is no evidence to support HTPs use as a quit smoking tool".[40][41]

On 19 September 2024, Costello was reprimanded again by the Chief Ombudsman Boshier for her handling of a mystery document containing tobacco-industry friendly ideas, which she passed to health officials to develop policy.[42] On 3 October, Costello released five documents which constituted her "independent advice" on heated tobacco products. These documents did not support her premise that HTPs were an alternative to smoking.[43]

On 21 October 2024, Costello announced that ambulance provider Hato Hone St John would receive an additional NZ$21 million in government funding.[44] On 24 October, the Ministry of Health apologised to Costello after failing to inform her that one of its officials advising her on tobacco reform was the sister-in-law of Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall, which constituted a conflict of interest. NZ First leader Winston Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon criticised the Health Ministry for not following its protocols.[45][46]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "'Most Māori are successful' – Casey Costello pushes message of aspiration". NZ Herald. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Who's in the new Cabinet? The full list of ministers". NZ Herald. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  3. ^ Jones, Nicholas (24 November 2023). "Who are the new Cabinet ministers? Full list revealed in National-Act-NZ First Government". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  4. ^ Mays, Richard (7 May 2018). "Forum to be held on Māori wards". Stuff. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Costello rockets up NZ First list". Waatea News: Māori Radio Station. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Casey Costello: First I am a New Zealander". NZ Herald. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Silva, Tommy de (16 October 2023). "Meet the new NZ First MPs". The Spinoff. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  8. ^ "About us". Hobson's Pledge. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  9. ^ "'Your day is done': Conflict erupts at controversial Māori ward meeting". NZ Herald. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  10. ^ Waikanae watchers (19 June 2023). "Healthcare must be prioritised based on need, not race". Waikanae Watch. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. ^ Bathgate, Benn (27 June 2017). "Treaty tussle follows meet of Hobson's Pledge". Stuff. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  12. ^ "New Zealand's Voice divided us". The Spectator Australia. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  13. ^ McConnell, Glenn (15 October 2023). "Who's coming and going in Parliament after seismic election result". Stuff. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. ^ Williams, David (31 October 2023). "Chiding in plain sight". Newsroom. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  15. ^ a b Du Plessis-Allan, Heather (25 September 2023). "'Tragic workforce underbelly': Migrant Exploitation Relief Foundation trustee calls for further investigation". Newstalk ZB. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Party lists from the 2011 General Election". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Official Count Results – Māngere". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  18. ^ "New Conservative – from Strength to Strength" (Press release). New Conservative. Scoop. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Hobson's Pledge leads Costello to New Conservatism". Waatea News. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  20. ^ Braae, Alex (25 July 2019). "'NZs resurgent New Conservatives: riding the culture wars to the 2020 election". The Spinoff. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  21. ^ "New Zealand First Announces Casey Costello As Candidate For 2023 Election" (Press release). New Zealand First Party. Scoop. 22 July 2023. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Election 2023: New Zealand First releases party list". Radio New Zealand. 16 September 2023.
  23. ^ Adam Pearse (16 October 2023). "NZ First members vote to scrap Waitangi Tribunal, build gang-only prison". NZ Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  24. ^ "2023 General Election: Successful candidates". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Official count – Overall Results". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  26. ^ Ensor, Jamie (10 October 2023). "Port Waikato by-election: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announces date after ACT candidate dies". Newshub.
  27. ^ "Port Waikato – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 December 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled – who gets what?". Radio New Zealand. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  29. ^ Hauiti, Claudette (13 December 2023). "Smokefree roll back delegated to rookie minister". Waatea News. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  30. ^ a b Espiner, Guyon (25 January 2024). "Official documents suggest a NZ First minister wants to freeze excise tax on cigarettes - but she denies it". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  31. ^ Dunn, Jordan (25 January 2024). "Call for Casey Costello to be removed after 'outrageous' proposal for tax freeze on tobacco". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  32. ^ Witton, Birdie (25 January 2024). "NZ First MP under fire over cigarette pricing document leak". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Casey Costello tobacco excise possibly a mistake - PM Christopher Luxon". Radio New Zealand. 30 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  34. ^ Espiner, Guy (1 February 2024). "Revealed: NZ First Minister Casey Costello's notes on tobacco tax freeze". Radio New Zealand.
  35. ^ Espiner, Guyon (2 February 2024). "Smokefree laws: Obtained notes show NZ First Minister Casey Costello's specific request on tobacco tax freeze". Newshub. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  36. ^ "Smokefree Amendment Bill introduced". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 27 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  37. ^ "Smokefree generation law scrapped by coalition government". Radio New Zealand. 28 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  38. ^ "'Crackdown': Total ban on disposable vapes, retailer fines increase". 1News. TVNZ. 20 March 2024. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  39. ^ Espiner, Guyon (11 July 2024). "NZ First Minister Casey Costello forced to apologise after acting 'contrary to law'". Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  40. ^ "NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products". RNZ. 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  41. ^ "Watch: Minister Casey Costello says heated tobacco tax cuts a 'trial'". RNZ. 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  42. ^ Espiner, Guyon (19 September 2024). "Chief Ombudsman criticises Costello over withholding tobacco documents". RNZ. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  43. ^ "Casey Costello releases 'independent' advice on heated tobacco". RNZ. 3 October 2024. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  44. ^ "Hato Hone St John to receive $21 million funding boost". Newstalk ZB. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  45. ^ McCulloch, Craig (24 October 2024). "Ministry of Health apologises to minister over failure to disclose conflict of interest". RNZ. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  46. ^ Ensor, Jamie (25 October 2024). "Christopher Luxon calls out ministry for failing to tell Casey Costello worker was Ayesha Verrall's relative". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2024.



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