Kieran McAnulty

Kieran Michael McAnulty (born 31 January 1985) is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party.

Kieran McAnulty

MP
Chief Government Whip in the House of Representatives
Assumed office
2 November 2020
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
Preceded byMichael Wood
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Wairarapa
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded byAlastair Scott
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Labour party list
In office
23 September 2017 – 17 October 2020
Personal details
Born (1985-01-31) 31 January 1985
Eketahuna, New Zealand
Political partyLabour

Personal life

McAnulty was born in Eketahuna.[1] He has previously worked for the T.A.B. as a bookmaker covering the racing industry and an economic development advisor for the Masterton District Council.[2] He is a volunteer firefighter, board member of both Wings over Wairarapa and Golden Shears, a trustee of the Masterton Community Trust and Chair of Relay For Life.[3] In September 2016 McAnulty wrestled a car thief who was trying to steal his ute to the ground in Masterton.[4]

Political career

McAnulty stood in the North Island electorate of Wairarapa at the 2014 election, but was defeated by National's Alastair Scott.[5] He had previously been offered the Wairarapa candidacy in 2011, but declined.[2]

Member of Parliament
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2017–2020 52nd List 38 Labour
2020–present 53rd Wairarapa 26 Labour

McAnulty stood for Labour in Wairarapa again in the 2017 election and reduced Scott's majority but failed to win the electorate. He instead entered Parliament via the party list, where he was ranked 38.[6][7]

In November 2017 he was appointed Labour's junior whip.[8]

On 25 September 2019, McAnulty was ejected from Parliament by the Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard for making disparaging remarks about National Party leader Simon Bridges during a Parliamentary debate about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's meeting with US President Donald Trump. In addition, Mallard also ejected New Zealand First MP Shane Jones for similar disruptive behaviour.[9]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election, McAnulty contested the Wairarapa electorate for Labour, taking it by a final margin of 6,545 votes.[10] On 2 November 2020, following the election, the Labour caucus elected McAnulty as its chief whip.[11]

Political positions

McAnulty is in favour of decriminalising cannabis in New Zealand and would like New Zealanders to elect their own head of state in the future.[8]

Personal life

McAnulty enjoys sport, particularly rugby, cricket and darts. He also likes socialising, the outdoors and going to the beach.[8]

References
  1. Cooke, Henry (18 September 2020). "Jacinda Ardern makes big push for Labour win in Wairarapa". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  2. Fuller, Piers (10 October 2017). "A young Wairarapa MP shows a natural flair for politics". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  3. "Kieran McAnulty". New Zealand Labour Party. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  4. "Labour young gun tackles thief to the ground in the middle of the Masterton". Stuff.co.nz. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  5. "Official Count Results – Wairarapa". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  6. "Revised Labour Party List for the 2017 Election". Scoop.co.nz. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  7. "Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. 23 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  8. Bennett, Lucy (8 January 2019). "Meet the Backbenchers: Kieran McAnulty". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  9. Small, Zane (25 September 2019). "Labour MP Kieran McAnulty booted from House for mocking Simon Bridges". Newshub. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  10. "Wairarapa - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  11. "Wairarapa MP elected chief government whip". New Zealand Herald. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Alastair Scott		 Member of Parliament for Wairarapa
2020–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Michael Wood		 Senior Whip of the Labour Party
2020–present		 Incumbent
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