Simon Watts | |
|---|---|
.png) Watts in 2023 | |
| 33rdMinister of Revenue | |
| Assumed office 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Barbara Edmonds |
| 7thMinister of Climate Change | |
| Assumed office 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | James Shaw |
| 19thMinister for Energy | |
| Assumed office 24 January 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Simeon Brown |
| 23rdMinister of Local Government | |
| Assumed office 24 January 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Simeon Brown |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forNorth Shore | |
| Assumed office 17 October 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Maggie Barry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1978 or 1979 (age 46–47)[1] |
| Political party | National |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Accountant |
| Website | simonwatts |
Simon Glen Watts[2] (born 1971/1972)[1] is a New Zealand politician. He has been the Member of theNew Zealand House of Representatives forNorth Shore, representing theNational Party, since the2020 New Zealand general election.
He currently serves asMinister of Climate Change andMinister of Revenue in theSixth National Government of New Zealand.
Watts was born inCambridge, Waikato, where his family were orchardists. He has two younger brothers.[3] He was diagnosed withtype 1 diabetes as a toddler.[4]
Watts attended theUniversity of Waikato, graduating with a Bachelor of Management Studies in accounting and finance. He has worked in both the private and public sector roles in New Zealand, Asia and the United Kingdom, including a summer internship at the New ZealandInland Revenue Department.[4] During the2008 financial crisis, he was working for theRoyal Bank of Scotland in London in various management roles. He is a chartered accountant and was later deputy chief financial officer at theWaitematā District Health Board.[5] He also has a Bachelor of Health Science in paramedicine from theAuckland University of Technology, and at one point worked as a front-line ambulance officer forSt John.[3][6]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | North Shore | 65 | National | |
| 2023–present | 54th | North Shore | 17 | National | |
In 2018 Watts attempted to gain theNational nomination in theNorthcote by-election to replace former Cabinet MinisterJonathan Coleman, but lost toDan Bidois.[7]
Watts was selected as the National candidate for theNorth Shore electorate in March 2020, ahead of four other nominees including former Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member Joe Bergin and Kaipātiki Local Board member Danielle Grant.[5] Watts stated his objectives in politics are giving more government support to the health sector and building more roads and new infrastructure.[6] He is also concerned about improving wastewater networks to improve water quality at beaches.[3]
During the2020 New Zealand general election, he was elected to the North Shore seat by a margin of 3,734 votes, defeatingLabour's candidate Romy Udanga.[8][9] In his first term in Parliament, he sat on the health committee until December 2021 and thereafter sat on thefinance and expenditure committee.[10] In theshadow cabinet of Christopher Luxon, Watts was the party spokesperson for local government, regional development, ACC, climate change, and statistics. In the local government portfolio, he was an outspoken critic of the Labour government'sWater Services Reform Programme. His member's bill, the Accident Compensation (Notice of Decisions) Amendment Bill, proposed broadening the rights of employers to appeal decisions of theAccident Compensation Corporation but was defeated at its first reading on 7 April 2021.[11]
During the2023 New Zealand general election, Watts retained North Shore by a margin of 16,330 votes, defeating Labour's candidate George Hampton.[12]
Following the election, Watts was appointed asMinister of Climate Change andMinister of Revenue in theNational-led coalition government.[13] He attended the2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) shortly after he was sworn in, alongside his predecessorJames Shaw. Watts stated that the government would "advocate for the global phase-out of fossil fuels" despite reopening the country tooil and gas exploration.[14]
On 24 April 2024, Watts assumed former Minister of Media and CommunicationsMelissa Lee's Cabinet place during acabinet reshuffle.[15]
As Climate Change Minister, Watts released the Government's climate change strategy on 10 July 2024. He announced that the Government's climate change strategy would be guided by five pillars: ensuring resilient infrastructure and well-prepared communities, credible markets to support climate transition, abundant and affordable clean energy, climate innovation boosting the economy and nature-based climate change solutions. Watts also announced that the Government would begin consultation for its 2024-2030 emissions reduction plan over the next two weeks.[16] In early October 2024, Watts appointed senior diplomat Stuart Horne as New Zealand's Climate Change Ambassador.[17]
During acabinet reshuffle that occurred on 19 January 2025, Watts assumed theenergy andlocal government portfolios fromSimeon Brown.[18]
On 8 April 2025 Watts, as Climate Change Minister, confirmed that the New Zealand Government would shut down itsgreen investment bankNew Zealand Green Investment Finance, citing poor performance.[19]
On 25 June 2025, Watts as Climate Change Minister confirmed that New Zealand had withdrawn its associate membership of theBeyond Oil & Gas Alliance (Boga), an alliance of countries and stakeholders formed at a 2021 United Nations climate summit to promote a transition away from fossil fuels at international summits. He justified the decision on the grounds that only a small number of countries were involved in Boga, stating "in the context of significance or implications, it doesn't have anything material for this Government." Watts also said that remaining in Boga conflicted with the Government's policy of reversing the previous Labour Government's ban on future oil and gas exploration.Greens co-leaderChlöe Swarbrick criticised the decision, saying that it would undermine New Zealand's international reputation and relationships.[20]
Watts is married with two sons. His wife works in marketing.[5][3]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for North Shore 2020–present | Incumbent |
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| Preceded by | Minister of Revenue 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Minister of Climate Change 2023–present | |
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