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Simon Watts

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The Honourable
Simon Watts
MP
Watts in 2023
33rd Minister of Revenue
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byBarbara Edmonds
7th Minister of Climate Change
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byJames Shaw
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for North Shore
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded byMaggie Barry
Personal details
Born1978 or 1979 (age 45–46)[1]
Political partyNational
Children2
ProfessionAccountant
Websitesimonwatts.national.org.nz

Simon Glen Watts[2] (born 1971/1972)[1] is a New Zealand politician. He has been the Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for North Shore, representing the National Party, since the 2020 New Zealand general election.

He currently serves as Minister of Climate Change and Minister of Revenue in the Sixth National Government of New Zealand.

Early life and career

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Watts was born in Cambridge, Waikato, where his family were orchardists. He has two younger brothers.[3] He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a toddler.[4]

Watts attended the University 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 intenship at the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department.[4] During the 2007–2008 financial crisis, he was working for the Royal Bank of Scotland in London in various management roles. He is a chartered accountant and was later deputy chief financial officer at the Waitematā District Health Board.[5] He also has a Bachelor of Health Science in paramedicine from the Auckland University of Technology, and at one point worked as a front-line ambulance officer for St John.[3][6]

Political career

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–2023 53rd North Shore 65 National
2023–present 54th North Shore 17 National

Early political career

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In 2018 Watts attempted to gain the National nomination in the Northcote by-election to replace former Cabinet Minister Jonathan Coleman, but lost to Dan Bidois.[7]

Watts was selected as the National candidate for the North 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]

First term, 2020–2023

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During the 2020 New Zealand general election, he was elected to the North Shore seat by a margin of 3,734 votes, defeating Labour'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 the finance and expenditure committee.[10] In the shadow 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's Water 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 the Accident Compensation Corporation but was defeated at its first reading on 7 April 2021.[11]

Second term, 2023–present

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During the 2023 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 as Minister of Climate Change and Minister of Revenue in the National-led coalition government.[13] He attended the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) shortly after he was sworn in, alongside his predecessor James Shaw. Watts stated that the government would "advocate for the global phase-out of fossil fuels" despite reopening the country to oil and gas exploration.[14]

On 24 April 2024, Watts assumed former Minister of Media and Communications Melissa Lee's Cabinet place during a cabinet 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]

Personal life

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Watts is married with two sons. His wife works in marketing.[5][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Candidate for North Shore electorate". Policy.nz. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Members Sworn". www.parliament.nz. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "A chat with Simon Watts". Channel Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b Whyte, Anna (24 March 2024). "How does a paramedic become New Zealand's Climate Change Minister?". The Post. Stuff. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "National selects North Shore candidate". Rangitoto Observer. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b Bhatia, Ripu (30 September 2020). "North Shore candidates for local MP". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Green turned National Vernon Tava knocked out of candidate selection for Northcote". Stuff. 10 April 2018. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  8. ^ "North Shore - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  9. ^ Manch, Thomas (19 October 2020). "New National MPs face 'bittersweet' welcome to Parliament". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Watts, Simon - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Accident Compensation (Notice of Decisions) Amendment Bill". bills.parliament.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  12. ^ "North Shore - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  13. ^ Palmer, Russell (24 November 2023). "Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled - who gets what?". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  14. ^ "New Climate Change Minister Simon Watts not expecting criticism at COP28 over fossil fuels U-turn". RNZ. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Media Minister Melissa Lee demoted from Cabinet, Penny Simmonds stripped of portfolio". Radio New Zealand. 24 April 2024. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Watch: Climate Change Minister Simon Watts gives strategy announcement". RNZ. 10 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  17. ^ "New climate change ambassador appointed". Inside Government. JSL media. 9 October 2024. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
[edit]
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for North Shore
2020–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Revenue
2023–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minister of Climate Change
2023–present
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