Simon Power

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For the English composer, see Simon Power (composer).
The Honourable
Simon Power
QSO
46th Minister of Justice
In office
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2011
Prime Minister John Key
Preceded by Annette King
Succeeded by Judith Collins
Minister for State-Owned Enterprises
In office
19 November 2008 – April 2011
Prime Minister John Key
Preceded by Trevor Mallard
Succeeded by Tony Ryall
Minister of Commerce
In office
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2011
Prime Minister John Key
Preceded by Lianne Dalziel
Succeeded by Craig Foss
Deputy Leader of the House
In office
19 November 2008 – December 2011
Prime Minister John Key
Preceded by Darren Hughes
Succeeded by Anne Tolley
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Rangitikei
In office
1999 – December 2011
Preceded by Denis Marshall
Succeeded by Ian McKelvie
Personal details
Born (1969-12-05) 5 December 1969 (age 54)
 New Zealand
Political party National
Profession Lawyer

Simon James Power QSO (born 5 December 1969) is a former New Zealand politician. He was a member of the National Party and became Minister of Justice in the 2008-2011 National-led Government. He had previously served as the National Party's chief whip, and as its justice and corrections spokesman.

Early years

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 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 incumbent, National MP Denis Marshall, retired from Parliament in 1999.

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
1999–2002 46th Rangitikei 37 National
2002–2005 47th Rangitikei 13 National
2005–2008 48th Rangitikei 3 National
2008–2011 49th Rangitīkei 4 National

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 spokesman 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 caused controversy for his statement that (as regards defence and foreign affairs) "where Britain, the United States and Australia go, we go". Power later expressed regret for how the statement was interpreted, and party leader Don Brash said that it did not reflect National Party policy. In August of the same year, Power was moved from the defence position to that of chief whip.[1]

Between 2005 and 2008, Power was Opposition Spokesperson on Law and Order[1] and repeatedly called for an inquiry into the management of the Corrections Department.[2][3] A few months before the election in 2008, Parliament’s Law & Order Select Committee agreed to hold a wide ranging inquiry.[4] When National won the election in 2008, Power was appointed Minister of Justice.

Life after Parliament

On 2 March 2011 Mr Power announced he would step down at the end of the term in late 2011.[5] In April 2011, Power's ministerial portfolio for State-Owned Enterprises was transferred to Tony Ryall in preparation for Power's transition into business; he wanted to avoid potential conflicts of interest.[6]

In December 2011 Power was granted the right to retain the title of The Honourable[7] in recognition of his term as a Member of the Executive Council of New Zealand and became The Hon. Simon Power QSO. In January 2012 he became the head of Westpac Private Bank.[8] In the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours Power was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services as a Member of Parliament.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Power calls for inquiry into Corrections, Press Release, 23 January 2006,
  3. ↑ Need for Corrections inquiry now undeniable, Press release 6 March 2006
  4. ↑ Corrections inquiry long overdue, Press release 16 April 2008
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ "Retention of the Title ‘The Honourable’" (15 December 2011) 200 The New Zealand Gazette 5729.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ The Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours 2012 (29 June 2012) 74 New Zealand Gazette 2091.

External links

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Rangitikei
1999–2011		 Succeeded by
Ian McKelvie
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Justice
2008–2011		 Succeeded by
Judith Collins
Preceded by Minister of Commerce
2008–2011		 Succeeded by
Craig Foss
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