Chris Bishop standing for Hutt South GARDENING THIS WEEK

High health vegetables: By Wally Richards

By Frank Neill

Locally based list Member of Parliament Chris Bishop will be standing for the National Party in this year’s general election.

Mr Bishop entered Parliament as a list MP in 2014 after standing against Trevor Mallard in the 2014 election. He lost the race to gain the Hutt South seat by just 709 votes.

He then became the first person outside the Labour Party to win the electorate seat when he defeated Ginny Andersen by around 1,500 votes in 2017.

Ms Andersen won the seat back, however, in 2020 and is the current Hutt south MP.

“Getting things done for the Hutt is my top priority,” Mr Bishop says.

“From getting the government to fund the new Melling Interchange, to saving the Airport Flyer, securing fairer fares for students on our buses and trains, and better maternity services, I’m always working to make the Hutt an even better place to work, live and play.

“I love the Hutt and I know our best days as a city lie ahead of us,” he says.

Mr Bishop is National’s Spokesperson for housing, urban development, and infrastructure, and is ranked third in the National line-up.

He is also National’s Chair for the 2023 election campaign.

Born and raised in Lower Hutt, Mr Bishop attended Eastern Hutt School, Hutt Intermediate and Hutt International Boys’ School.

He has a first class Honours degree in Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University, and has been admitted to the Bar as a barrister and solicitor.

Before serving as an MP, he worked in behind-the-scenes roles at Parliament, as a researcher for the National Party in opposition, and an advisor to Ministers in the John Keyled Government.

He was the 2006 Young Wellingtonian of the Year.