Paul Goldsmith (politician)

Goldsmith was born in 1971 in the Auckland suburb of Mount Eden. He descends from Charles George Goldsmith, a migrant from Liverpool who settled in the East Cape area early in New Zealand's colonial history. Charles Goldsmith had four wives—two Māori (Ngāti Porou), and two pākehā—fathering 16 children. However Goldsmith has clarified that he is not himself of Māori descent.[1]

Goldsmith attended Auckland Grammar School and the University of Auckland.[2] Goldsmith then worked as a press secretary and speech writer for Phil Goff (Labour), Simon Upton (National) and John Banks (then a National MP).[3] In 2000 Goldsmith became a public relations adviser and worked for Tranz Rail and the University of Auckland.[3]

Goldsmith graduated with an MA in history.[2]

He has written the biographies of John Banks, Don Brash, William Gallagher, Alan Gibbs and Te Hemara Tauhia as well as a history of taxes, Puketutu Island and a history of the Fletcher Building construction company.[3]

His Don Brash biography, Brash: A Biography, was a source of controversy. When it was released in 2005 he maintained it was not commissioned by the National Party,[4] but investigative journalist Nicky Hager revealed it was indeed commissioned by the National Party and was in fact the party's first big budget item in the 2005 election campaign.[5]

Goldsmith contested the Maungakiekie electorate in the 2005 general election for the National Party.[3] He was defeated by the incumbent, Labour's Mark Gosche, and due to his low list placing (59 on the National Party list),[3] he did not enter Parliament.[6]

He successfully stood for the Auckland City Council in the 2007 local body elections. He was appointed deputy finance chairman by Mayor John Banks and chaired the community services committee.[3][7]

He stood for Citizens & Ratepayers in the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward at the 2010 Auckland elections but placed third after Christine Fletcher and Cathy Casey in the two-member ward.[7]

Goldsmith stood in the Epsom electorate at the 2011 general election,[8] but lost the electorate vote to John Banks, who earlier in 2011 had joined ACT New Zealand.[9]

Goldsmith was ranked 39th on the National Party list[10] and was elected as a list MP sitting in the 50th Parliament.[11]

Goldsmith was then ranked 30th on the National Party list, and was re-elected as a list MP in the 2014 election to the 51st Parliament. He was a Cabinet Minister in the 5th National Government, holding the portfolios of Science and Innovation, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, and Regulatory Reform.[12]

During the 2017 election, Goldsmith was re-elected as a list MP.[13]

Since 25 March 2020, Goldsmith has been a member of the Epidemic Response Committee, a select committee that considers the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

During the 2020 election, Goldsmith contested the Epsom electorate, coming third place.[15] He was re-elected as a list MP.[16]

Goldsmith is married with four children.[2] He is a 2nd dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do.[3]

• Goldsmith, Paul (2002). John Banks: A Biography. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-301819-1.
• Goldsmith, Paul (2003). The Rise and Fall of Te Hemara Tauhia. Raupo Publishing. ISBN 0-7-90009-056.
• Goldsmith, Paul (2005). Brash: a biography. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-301967-8.
• Goldsmith, Paul and Bassett, Michael, The Myers, David Ling Publishing Ltd, Auckland, 2007.
• Goldsmith, Paul (2008). We Won, You Lost, Eat That!: A Political History of Tax in New Zealand Since 1840. David Ling Publishing. ISBN 978-1-877378-22-5.
• Goldsmith, Paul (2008). Stress & Enterprise: the Career of Richard Izard. David Ling Publishing. ISBN 978-1-87737-821-8.
• Goldsmith, Paul; Bassett, Michael (2008). Puketutu and its People. David Ling Publishing. ISBN 978-1-87737-825-6.
• Goldsmith, Paul (2009). Fletchers: A Centennial History of Fletcher Building. David Ling Publishing. ISBN 978-1-877378-35-5.
• Goldsmith, Paul (2012). Serious Fun: The Life and Times of Alan Gibbs. Penguin Books New Zealand. ISBN 978-1-86979-930-4.
• Goldsmith, Paul (2013). Legend: From Electric Fences to Global Success: The Sir William Gallagher Story. Penguin Books New Zealand. ISBN 978-1-77553-337-5.

• Hager, Nicky (2006). The Hollow Men. Nelson, New Zealand: Craig Potton Publishing. ISBN 1-877333-62-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Goldsmith (politician).

• Paul Goldsmith: National List MP based in Epsom
• Paul Goldsmith - Penguin Books New Zealand