Richard Worth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parl.	Electorate	List Pos.	Party
46th	Epsom	44	National
47th	Epsom	25	National
48th	List	24	National

Dr. Richard Worth, OBE, VRD, OStJ (1948 - ) is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party. He has a background in law and management, and has been active in a wide range of organisations and associations, including the Order of St. John and the Chief of Naval Reserves with the rank of Captain. He was awarded an OBE for services to New Zealand and OStJ. Prior to entering Parliament he was the chairman of Simpson Grierson, one of New Zealand's largest and most high profile law firms. He was the Consul for Colombia, and is currently the Consul for Monaco.

He entered Parliament when he successfully stood as the National Party's candidate for the Auckland seat of Epsom in the 1999 elections with a majority of 1,908. He was re-elected in the 2002 elections with an increased majority of 5,619. He was defeated in the 2005 election by the Act New Zealand leader Rodney Hide. This was as a result of a tactical voting message from Rodney Hide who had called on National voters to support him in order to guarantee a coalition partner for the National in the next parliament, as parties that win an electorate seat are exempt from the requirement of a five-percent minimum threshold to gain parliamentary representation.

He was successfully re-elected as a list MP and secured the highest party vote in the country of 21,310.

In Parliament he served as Shadow Minister of Justice and is Chair of the Regulations Review Committee. That Committee examines all delegated legislation of the Executive.

With a doctorate in international trade he has strong networks in the Korean, Indian and Chinese business communities. He is the Chairman of both the Korea/New Zealand Business Council and the Parliamentary Korean Group.

When John Key became National Party leader in November 2006, Worth lost his Justice and Auckland Issues spokesperson portfolios, but was given the portfolio for Economic Development.