Scott Simpson | |
|---|---|
.png) Simpson in 2023 | |
| 19thMinister for ACC | |
| Assumed office 24 February 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Andrew Bayly |
| 17th Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs | |
| Assumed office 24 February 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Andrew Bayly |
| Chief Government Whip in the House of Representatives | |
| In office 5 December 2023 – 4 March 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Deputy | Suze Redmayne |
| Preceded by | Tangi Utikere |
| Succeeded by | Stuart Smith |
| 29thMinister of Statistics | |
| In office 2 May 2017 – 26 October 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Bill English |
| Preceded by | Mark Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | James Shaw |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forCoromandel | |
| Assumed office 26 November 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Sandra Goudie |
| Majority | 14,596 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Scott Anthony Simpson (1959-11-04)4 November 1959 (age 66) |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse | |
| Occupation | Politician |
Scott Anthony Simpson (born 4 November 1959) is a New Zealand politician and a member of theNew Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of theNational Party.
Simpson isMinister for ACC andMinister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in theSixth National Government, and was previously theChief Government Whip. He was formerlyMinister of Statistics in theFifth National Government from May to October 2017.
Simpson's ancestors settled inKūaotunu, on theCoromandel Peninsula, in the 1800s.[1] He grew up in Auckland and was educated at the University of Auckland, graduating with a law degree.
He was chief executive of the New Zealand Make-a-Wish Foundation from 2008 to 2011,[2] and previously a member of the National Party board of directors.[3] He also managed a safety equipment company.[3]
He was married toDesley Simpson, but the couple separated ca. 2004/2005.[4] She is now married toPeter Goodfellow.[5] The former couple has two children.[1]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2014 | 50th | Coromandel | 61 | National | |
| 2014–2017 | 51st | Coromandel | 45 | National | |
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | Coromandel | 26 | National | |
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | Coromandel | 10 | National | |
| 2023–present | 54th | Coromandel | 55 | National | |
Simpson has been MP for Coromandel since 2011. Prior to his election to Parliament, Simpson held senior positions in the National Party. He was National Party Northern Regional Chair[6] and a member of the National Party's Board of Directors in the 2010s.[7] He stood for the National Party presidency in 2009 but lost toPeter Goodfellow. He previously stood for selection as the National Party candidate forTamaki in 2004, but lost toAllan Peachey.[6][8]
Simpson was selected as the National Party'sCoromandel candidate in April 2011.[9] He was elected at the2011 general election with a majority of 12,740.[10] From 2013 to 2014, Simpson was chair of the Justice and Electoral select committee.[11]
During the2014 New Zealand general election, Simpson was re-elected in Coromandel by a margin of 15,801, defeating theGreen Party's candidateCatherine Delahunty.[12] Simpson chaired the Local Government and Environment select committee until his appointment in May 2017 asMinister of Statistics, Associate Minister of Immigration and Associate Minister for the Environment.[11][13]
During the2017 New Zealand general election, Simpson was re-elected in Coromandel by a margin of 14,326 votes overLabour's Nathaniel Blomfield.[14] The National Party was not in government and Simpson served as his party's spokesperson for the environment, workplace relations and safety, and climate change.[11]
During the2020 New Zealand general election, Simpson retained Coromandel for a fourth term by a final margin of 3,505 votes over Labour's Nathaniel Blomfield.[15]
During the2023 New Zealand general election, Simpson retained Coromandel for a fifth term by a margin of 17,349 votes over Labour's Beryl Riley.[16]
When National formed agovernment withNZ First andACT following the 2023 election, Simpson was not appointed to a ministerial position despite having been a minister in the previous National government. Instead, he was madeSenior Whip of the National Party and became Chief Government Whip in the54th New Zealand Parliament when it opened on 5 December 2023.[17] He was chair of the Environment committee from 23 May 2024 until 29 January 2025, replacingDavid MacLeod, who was removed from that role after failing to declare political donations.[18] On 24 February 2025, Simpson was appointed asMinister for ACC andMinister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, outside Cabinet, afterAndrew Bayly resigned.[19][20] He was succeeded as Senior Whip byStuart Smith.
In the National Party caucus, Simpson is a liberal. He voted in favour of theMarriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013, theEnd of Life Choice Act 2019 and theAbortion Legislation Act 2020.[21][22][23]
He has led the National Party's advisory group on environmental issues, the Bluegreens.[24]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Coromandel 2011–present | Incumbent |
