Simon O'Connor

Simon O'Connor
MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Tamaki
Assumed office
30 November 2011
Preceded by Allan Peachey
Majority 17,768 (48.46%)
Personal details
Born (1976-02-25) 25 February 1976
Nationality New Zealander
Political party National Party
Committees Education and Science and Transport & Industrial Relations
Website simon.org.nz

Simon David O'Connor MP (born 25 February 1976) 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

O'Connor completed training to be a Catholic priest but did not seek ordination.[1] He completed four degrees and worked as a contracts manager for Southern Cross Insurance.[2]

He was the chairperson of Monarchy New Zealand between 2010 and 2012.

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
2011–2014 50th Tāmaki 62 National
2014 – present 51st Tāmaki 43 National

O'Connor was a Deputy Chair of the Northern Region of the National Party prior to seeking the National Party nomination for Maungakiekie in 2008. He was unsuccessful, losing the selection contest to Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, who went on to win the seat. However, O'Connor was appointed a list candidate for National in the 2008 general election. At 72nd on the list, he was not elected to Parliament.[3]

In the 2010 Auckland local elections, he stood for the Waitemata Local Board on the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket. He came tenth in this seven member electorate.[4]

O'Connor was selected by National as their candidate in the Tāmaki electorate following the sudden withdrawal of sitting MP Allan Peachey shortly before the 2011 elections.[5]

O'Connor voted against the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand.[6]

In August 2015, O'Connor uploaded a Facebook video in which he looked at the 40 alternative flag designs shortlisted by the Flag Consideration Panel and responded with "no" to each flag until he turned to the current flag and said "yes".[7]

References

  1. ↑ Nats choose stalwart for Tamaki stronghold New Zealand Herald, 27 October 2011
  2. ↑ Meet Auckland's new MPs The Aucklander, 1 December 2011
  3. ↑ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Elections New Zealand. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "Auckland Council - Waitemata Local Board". Local Elections 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  5. ↑ National Selects Simon O'Connor as Tamaki Candidate scoop.co.nz, 27 October 2011
  6. ↑ "Gay marriage: How MPs voted". NZ Herald. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "National MP rejects flag change". Stuff.co.nz. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Allan Peachey		 Member of Parliament for Tāmaki
2011–present 		Incumbent
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