Rachel Brooking | |
|---|---|
 Brooking in 2023 | |
| 13thMinister for Oceans and Fisheries | |
| In office 12 April 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | David Parker (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Shane Jones |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forDunedin | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | David Clark |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forLabourparty list | |
| In office 17 October 2020 – 14 October 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-10-18)18 October 1975 (age 50) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Chris Jackson |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Rachel Jane Brooking[1] (born 18 October 1975)[2] is a New Zealand lawyer and politician.
Brooking was elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives at the2020 New Zealand general election.[3] She wasMinister for Oceans and Fisheries and Minister for Food Safety in theSixth Labour Government.
Brooking grew up in Dunedin, where she attendedOtago Girls' High School.[4][5]Brooking has a double degree in ecology and law from theUniversity of Otago.[6]
Prior to entering Parliament, Brooking worked as a lawyer.[7] She specialised in environmental, resource management and local government law, and worked for a period for theParliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in Wellington before returning to Dunedin to practice law with Anderson Lloyd.[6] In 2019, Brooking was appointed to a government panel charged with reviewing theResource Management Act 1991.[2][8] She was previously the chair of the Otago/Southland branch of the Resource Management Law Association.[3]
Brooking became a student activist in 1994, her first year at university, protesting against education ministerLockwood Smith over excessively high student fees. She was elected president of theOtago University Students' Association in 1997.[6] In 2010, Brooking was appointed to the board of University Book Shop (Otago) Ltd, and in 2019 to the board ofDunedin International Airport.[3]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | List | 46 | Labour | |
| 2023–present | 54th | Dunedin | 23 | Labour | |
At the2020 election Brooking stood for Parliament for theLabour Party. She hoped to be Labour's candidate for theDunedin South electorate, later renamedTaieri, but Labour selectedIngrid Leary instead.[9] Brooking was ranked 46 on theparty list,[10] which was a high enough ranking to enter Parliament.[11] In her first term, she was appointed deputy chair of the environment committee and the regulations review committee.[12]
The day afterDunedin MPDavid Clark announced on 13 December 2022 that he would retire, Brooking said she would seek the Labour candidacy for the electorate in 2023,[13] for which she was selected.[14]
On 11 April 2023, Brooking was appointed as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, and also allocated the associate environment and immigration portfolios.[15] She was a minister outside cabinet.[16] Brooking was given the Food Safety portfolio followingMeka Whaitiri's switch toTe Pāti Māori.[17]
On 6 October 2023 Brooking, in her capacity as Oceans and Fisheries Minister, along with Minister of ConservationWillow-Jean Prime announced that the Government would create six new marine reserves betweenTimaru and theCatlins in the lower South Island.[18] In late June 2024, theDepartment of Conservation delayed plans to create these six marine reserves, citing logistical concerns.[19]
During the 2023 election, she won the Dunedin electorate seat, defeating National's candidateMichael Woodhouse by a margin of 7,980 votes.[20]
In late November 2023, Brooking was given the environment, food safety, and space portfolios in theShadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[21]
On 5 December 2023, Brooking was granted retention of the titleThe Honourable, in recognition of her term as a member of theExecutive Council.[22]
On 7 March 2025, Brooking gained theRMA Reform portfolio in addition to her existing portfolios.[23]
Brooking is married toChris Jackson, acancer specialist who was the medical director for the Cancer Society of New Zealand. They have three children.[2][3] Her fatherTom Brooking [de] is an emeritus history professor and retired lecturer at the University of Otago.[24]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Dunedin 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Oceans and Fisheries 2023 | Succeeded by |
