Simon Power

The Honourable Simon Power QSO
46th Minister of Justice
In office 19 November 2008 – 12 December 2011
Prime Minister	John Key
Preceded by	Annette King
Succeeded by	Judith Collins
Minister for State-Owned Enterprises
In office 19 November 2008 – April 2011
Prime Minister	John Key
Preceded by	Trevor Mallard
Succeeded by	Tony Ryall
Minister of Commerce
In office 19 November 2008 – 12 December 2011
Prime Minister	John Key
Preceded by	Lianne Dalziel
Succeeded by	Craig Foss
Deputy Leader of the House
In office 19 November 2008 – December 2011
Prime Minister	John Key
Preceded by	Darren Hughes
Succeeded by	Anne Tolley
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Rangitikei
In office 1999 – December 2011
Preceded by	Denis Marshall
Succeeded by	Ian McKelvie
Personal details
Born	(1969-12-05) 5 December 1969  New Zealand
Political party	National
Profession	Lawyer

Simon James Power QSO (born 5 December 1969) is a former New Zealand politician. He was a member of the National Party and became Minister of Justice in the 2008-2011 National-led Government. He had previously served as the National Party's chief whip, and as its justice and corrections spokesman.

Early years

Power was educated in Palmerston North, attending St. Peter's College. He was prominent in the life of St. Peter's, captaining two senior sports teams and chairing the School Council. He later studied at Victoria University in Wellington, gaining first a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and then a Bachelor of Laws degree. For two years, he was President of the Victoria University Law Students' Society. He completed his university study in 1993.

After leaving university, Power worked as a lawyer in Palmerston North. For a brief period, he also worked in Auckland. In 1998, he decided to enter national politics. Having been a member of the National Party since the year he left university, he secured the party's nomination for Rangitikei, a predominantly rural area just outside Palmerston North. The incumbent, National MP Denis Marshall, retired from Parliament in 1999.

Member of Parliament

In the 1999 election, Power won Rangitikei. He defeated his opponent, the Labour Party's Craig Walsham, by slightly under three hundred votes. Once in parliament, Power became his party's spokesman on Labour, Industrial Relations, and Youth Affairs. After he retained his seat in the 2002 elections, these roles were swapped for Justice, Tertiary Education, and Workplace Skills. In 2003, when Don Brash became leader of the National Party, Power's responsibilities were once again reshuffled, giving him the portfolios of Defence, Veterans' Affairs, and Youth Affairs.

In May 2004, Power caused controversy for his statement that (as regards defence and foreign affairs) "where Britain, the United States and Australia go, we go". Power later expressed regret for how the statement was interpreted, and party leader Don Brash said that it did not reflect National Party policy. In August of the same year, Power was moved from the defence position to that of chief whip.^[1]

Between 2005 and 2008, Power was Opposition Spokesperson on Law and Order^[1] and repeatedly called for an inquiry into the management of the Corrections Department.^[2][3] A few months before the election in 2008, Parliament’s Law & Order Select Committee agreed to hold a wide ranging inquiry.^[4] When National won the election in 2008, Power was appointed Minister of Justice and abandoned his plans for an inquiry.

Life after Parliament

On 2 March 2011 Mr Power announced he would step at the end of the term in late 2011.^[5] In April 2011, Power's ministerial portfolio for State-Owned Enterprises was transferred to Tony Ryall in preparation for Power's transition into business; he wanted to avoid potential conflicts of interest.^[6]

In December 2011 Power was granted the right to retain the title of The Honourable^[7] in recognition of his term as a Member of the Executive Council of New Zealand and became The Hon. Simon Power QSO. In January 2012 he became the head of Westpac Private Bank.^[8] In the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours Power was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services as a Member of Parliament.^[9]

References

External links

• Profile at National party
• Profile at New Zealand Parliament
• Releases and speeches at Beehive.govt.nz
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.co.nz