Reuben Davidson | |
|---|---|
 Davidson in 2020 | |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forChristchurch East | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Poto Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Reuben John Davidson[1] |
| Political party | Labour |
| Profession | Television producer |
Reuben John Davidson is a New Zealand television producer and politician. He was on aChristchurch community board from 2019. In the2023 general election, he was elected to represent theChristchurch East electorate in Parliament.
Davidson was born inChristchurch.[2] He got his first job aged just 14 at a café.[3] Later he was a television producer working at Whitebait Media for over 15 years.[4] For seven years he produced the children's showWhat Now and later created the showFanimals.[3] He lives inNorth New Brighton.[2] Davidson has a degree from the New Zealand Broadcasting School.[5]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | Christchurch East | 57 | Labour | |
At the2019 local body elections, he was elected to theBanks Peninsula Community Board. Re-electedin 2022, he became chairman of the community board and was also chairman of the Labour-aligned local political ticketThe People's Choice.[4]
He put himself forward for the Labour nomination in the seat ofPort Hills for the2020 election to replace the retiringRuth Dyson. He missed out with Labour's vice-presidentTracey McLellan winning the selection.[6] He then stood in the seat ofSelwyn and was 67th onLabour's 2020 party list. He finished second in Selwyn to National'sNicola Grigg.[7] Despite losing, Davidson polled higher than normal, coming closest to winning the seat for Labour in 27 years.[8]
After Labour'sPoto Williams announced her retirement from theChristchurch East electorate in December 2022,[9] Davidson was selected for the seat ahead ofDan Rosewarne,Colin Meurk, Melissa Lama, and Teresa Butler. After gaining selection he stated he would resign from the Banks Peninsula Community Board and donate his community board salary to the Mayoral Relief Fund.[4] He was 57th onLabour's 2023 party list.[10] He was elected to the Christchurch East seat in October 2023 with a margin of over 2000 votes.[11][12] Davidson was one of just two new MPs elected in Labour's defeat in 2023 along withCushla Tangaere-Manuel. He stated "It's bittersweet because I'm really aware of the huge shoes I'm stepping into to represent the people of Christchurch East but I had hoped to be doing it as part of a Labour government".[13]
In late November 2023, Davidson was appointed as spokesperson for statistics, digital economy and communications, and associate broadcasting and media in theShadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[14]
Following a cabinet reshuffle in early March 2025, Davidson joined Hipkins' new economics team. He also dropped his previous portfolios and assumed the Science, Technology and Innovation portfolio and the Broadcasting, Media, and Creative Economy portfolio.[15]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Christchurch East 2023–present | Incumbent |
