Mike Butterick MP | |
|---|---|
.png) Butterick in 2023 | |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forWairarapa | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kieran McAnulty |
| Personal details | |
| Party | National |
| Spouse | Rachel |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Farmer |
Michael David Butterick is a New Zealand farmer and politician. He was elected as a Member of theNew Zealand House of Representatives forWairarapa, representing theNational Party, in the2023 New Zealand general election.
Butterick grew up in mid-Canterbury, and began his agricultural career as a shepherd inCanterbury. He moved to theWairarapa region in 1990 and bought a property there in 1995, where he farms sheep and beef. He is the Meat and Wool Chair of the Wairarapa branch ofFederated Farmers, and is also a director ofWings over Wairarapa.[1] Butterick has been a spokesperson for the rural lobby group Fifty Shades of Green, which campaigns against the conversion of sheep farms to forestry. He says the group are concerned about the social, environmental and economic effects on rural communities of increased forestry.[2][3] Butterick tried to convert a farm he owned in Te Wharau to a national park, but when that failed and it did not sell as a farm, he sold it to a forestry company.[3]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | Wairarapa | 61 | National | |
Butterick was selected as theNational Party candidate for theWairarapa electorate in May 2020, following incumbent MPAlastair Scott's decision to retire.[2] He got 34.42% of the vote and was defeated byKieran McAnulty.[4] Ranked 58th onNational's list in 2020, he did not enter Parliament.[5]
On 18 March 2023, Butterick was selected to contest Wairarapa again for the2023 election.[6][7] He was placed in 61st position on the2023 party list.[8] On election night he defeated incumbent McAnulty by a margin of 2,816 votes.[9][10]
Butterick is married to Rachel, with whom he has a son and three daughters.[2]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Wairarapa 2023–present | Incumbent |
