Katherine Rich (MP)

The New Zealand Member of Parliament Katherine Rich (born 1967) serves as a high-ranking member of the National Party, currently in opposition. On 1 December 2006, the newly-selected National parliamentary leader John Key made her the party's spokesperson on education. This re-elevated Rich in the parliamentary caucus; prior to that she had worked as the party's spokesperson on economic development and on state-owned enterprises.

Career

Rich received her tertiary education at Otago University, gaining a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1990 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993. After leaving university she held a number of management and analytical roles in both the public and private sectors.

Entering Parliament as a list MP in the 1999 elections, Rich then ranked twenty-third on the National Party list. She remains a list MP, though she represents National in the Dunedin North electorate, held by Labour's Pete Hodgson. Once in Parliament, Rich rose quickly through the National Party hierarchy, reached the rank of fourth in the party caucus. At various times she served as her Party's spokesperson for employment, broadcasting, and culture. In January 2005, however, she refused to give full support to a "tough-on-welfare" speech by then party leader Don Brash, who demoted her to tenth place and dismissed her as social-welfare spokesperson. Following the resignation of Don Brash as National Party leader on 27 November 2006, the incoming Leader of the Opposition, John Key, elevated her to eighth place within the National caucus and shadow Cabinet.

Rich and her husband have two children.

On February 13 2008 Rich announced that she will not stand in the 2008 General Election. [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10492185
title="Rich to quit politics for children"
publisher="The New Zealand Herald"|date=February 13 2008]

Political views

Rich, who has described her own position as "centrist" and "centre right" [cite news
url= http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425825/1580689
title=Rich puts parenting before parliament
publisher=Television New Zealand|date=February 13 2008
accessdate = 2008-07-27
quote = " [...] certainly I'm very centrist with my views, centre right," says Rich.] has a reputation as one of the more liberal members of the National Party, [cite news
url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10492278
title=Rich says shock retirement decision due to family
publisher="The New Zealand Herald"|date=February 13 2008
accessdate = 2008-07-27
quote = The 40-year-old list MP first came to Parliament in 1999 and has been on the liberal wing of the National Party.] and co-chairs the party's internal Classical Liberal Policy Advisory Group.Fact|date=July 2008

Notes