Jami-Lee Ross

Jami-Lee Ross
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Botany
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 March 2011
Preceded by Pansy Wong
Majority 3,996
Personal details
Born 10 December 1985 (1985-12-10) (age 26)
New Zealand
Political party National
Spouse(s) Lucy Schwaner

Jami-Lee Ross (born 10 December 1985) is a New Zealand National Party Member of Parliament for Botany, having won the 2011 Botany by-election on 5 March.

Contents

Early life

Ross was brought up by his grandmother as his mother was "not in the best space to raise a child", and he has never met his father who descends from the Māori tribe of Ngāti Porou. He attended Dilworth School, a boarding school for pupils from difficult backgrounds, then Pakuranga College, but left without formal qualifications. He has been studying towards a politics and economics degree at the University of Auckland.[1]

Political career

Auckland Council
Years
Ward
Affiliation
2010–2011 Howick Citizens & Ratepayers

Ross was elected to the Manukau City Council in 2004 aged 18 and worked as an electorate secretary in Pakuranga for Maurice Williamson.[2] He has been a member of the National Party since 2003.

In 2010, he ran in the Auckland local elections for a place on the new Auckland Council, winning a seat in the Howick ward. He was subsequently elected co-leader of the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket, who form the opposition on the council.[3] He resigned from the Council on the 7 March 2011, after winning election to parliament.[4]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
2011 49th Botany National
2011–present 50th Botany 54 National

On 27 January 2011, the National Party selected Ross as their candidate for the Botany by-election, which was held following the resignation of Pansy Wong.[2] On 5 March 2011, he won the by-election with 54.66% of the vote and a majority of 3,996. Upon his swearing into Parliament Ross became the youngest Member of Parliament, taking the title of Baby of the House from Gareth Hughes, a Green Party List MP.

References