James Meager | |
|---|---|
.png) Meager in 2023 | |
| 18thMinister for Youth | |
| Assumed office 24 January 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Matt Doocey |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forRangitata | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Jo Luxton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Rawiri Meager 1986 or 1987 (age 38–39) Timaru, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
James Rawiri Meager[1] (born 1986 or 1987) is a New Zealand politician andMember of Parliament in theHouse of Representatives for theNational Party in the electorate ofRangitata.
Born inTimaru in 1986 or 1987, Meager is ofNgāi Tahu descent.[2] He grew up in Timaru, where he lived in state housing.[3] Meager attendedTimaru Boys' High School, where he was head boy anddux.[4] He gainedBachelor of Laws andBachelor of Arts degrees from theUniversity of Otago, although he had originally intended to become a doctor.[5] He describes himself at university as "loud-mouthed, obnoxious and opinionated". After an incident where he threw a drink over another student, frying his laptop, he ascribed his bad behaviour partly to alcohol use.[5] While at university, Meager helped on National Party list MPMichael Woodhouse's 2011 campaign, and went on to run the 2014 campaign.[5] Prior to being elected to Parliament, Meager worked as a seniorsolicitor forSimpson Grierson,[6][7] and ran aconsultancy firm. He has also worked as apress secretary toPaula Bennett, as a staffer forChris Bishop's parliamentary office, and an advisor toBill English andSimon Bridges.[8]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | Rangitata | 19 | National | |
Meager was selected as National's candidate for the formerlysafe seat ofRangitata on 18 September 2022. It was a close contest with one other competitor vying for the nomination.[2]
On election night, Meager received 22,792 votes, beating incumbent Labour Party MPJo Luxton by 10,846 votes.[9][10] Meager said his first priority as a member of parliament would be to ensure the building of a second bridge forAshburton happened according to the planned timeframes.[4] The bridge was announced by the Labour government in August 2023, with construction due to start in 2024 and take two years. Meager was concerned that timeframes might change, but promised to begin construction in the first parliamentary term.[4]
Perhaps to some I am a walking contradiction—you know, a part-Māori boy, raised in aState house by a single parent on the benefit, now a proud National Party MP in a deeply rural farming electorate in the middle of the South Island—but there is no contradiction there. Members opposite do not own Māori. Members opposite do not own the poor. Members opposite do not own the workers. No party and no ideology has a right to claim ownership over anything or anyone.
Meager was selected to give the National Party's first speech in the54th Parliament'sAddress in Reply as hismaiden speech. His contribution, which discussed his upbringing as a "part Māori boy raised in a state house by a single parent on the benefit" and the "walking contradiction" of that boy becoming a National Party MP received a standing ovation from both sides of the House and was praised by commentators, who described Meager as "assured and confident" and a possible future prime minister.[11][12][13]
In the January 2025 Cabinet reshuffle, Meager was promoted to a Minister outside Cabinet as theMinister for Youth, Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for the South Island and an Associate Minister of Transport. He was the first National MP who was elected in2023 to be appointed a ministerial portfolio.[14]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Rangitata 2023–present | Incumbent |
