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Doug Woolerton | |
|---|---|
| 1stPresident of New Zealand First | |
| In office 1993–2005 | |
| Leader | Winston Peters |
| Succeeded by | Dail Jones |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forNew Zealand Firstlist | |
| In office 1996–2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1944-05-17)17 May 1944 (age 80) |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | New Zealand National Party (1990–92) New Zealand First (1992–) |
Doug Woolerton (born 17 May 1944) is a New Zealand politician who has been a member of theNew Zealand First party since it was founded, and theNational Party for a few years before that.
He was educated atHamilton Boys' High School, and has a background in agriculture, having been a farmer for twenty-one years and director of a milk company for nine.
Woolerton was originally a member of theNational Party. He stood for selection as the National candidate for the seat ofHamilton West in 1990, but lost toGrant Thomas, who was later elected to the seat. Woolerton left the National Party in 1992 to form theNew Zealand First party withWinston Peters.
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–99 | 45th | List | 8 | NZ First | |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | List | 5 | NZ First | |
| 2002–05 | 47th | List | 5 | NZ First | |
| 2005–08 | 48th | List | 5 | NZ First | |
Woolerton first entered Parliament in the1996 election, becoming alist MP after being ranked fifth on the New Zealand Firstparty list. He remained an MP until his party lost all parliamentary seats in the2008 general election.
He was the president of New Zealand First from the party's inception until 2005 when he resigned in protest against Winston Peters taking a visible role in theLabour-led government as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Later there were frictions between then New Zealand First presidentDail Jones on the one hand, and Woolerton andBrian Donnelly on the other, over the latter's support forSue Bradford'sprivate members bill to outlawparental corporal punishment of children (orsmacking).[1]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New political party | President of New Zealand First 1993–2005 | Succeeded by |