Paulo Garcia (New Zealand politician)

Paulo Reyes Garcia is a New Zealand politician and former Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the New Zealand National Party.[1]

Paulo Garcia
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National Party party list
In office
16 May 2019 – 17 October 2020
Preceded byNuk Korako
Personal details
Political partyNational

Early life and career

Garcia was born in the city of San Juan, part of the conurbation of Metropolitan Manila, Philippines in 1965.[2][3] He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines, and also attended the Academy of American and International Law in Texas in the United States of America. He was a barrister before entering parliament. In the Philippines, where he practised for ten years, his focus was commercial law, particularly as it applied to foreign and multinational companies operating in that country.[3][4] After moving to New Zealand, he practised immigration law with a focus on investor migration.[4] After initially working for McLeod & Associates and Corban Revell Lawyers, he established his own firm, Garcia Law.[4]

Paulo Garcia was appointed honorary consul of the Philippines in Auckland in 2012, and was also involved in establishing the New Zealand Philippines Business Council.[3][5]

Political career

Member of Parliament
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2019–2020 52nd List 50 National

In the 2017 election Garcia stood for National in the New Lynn electorate and was placed 50 on their party list.[6] He came second to Deborah Russell with 38.55% of the vote and was not ranked high enough on National's party list to be allocated a seat in Parliament.

In February 2018 Garcia and several other "next in line" list candidates attended National's parliamentary caucus meeting to help ease their transition into parliament should they enter during the course of the parliamentary term.[7] Garcia later entered Parliament in 2019 upon the resignation of National MP Nuk Korako.[8] He was declared elected on 16 May 2019.[9] He became New Zealand's first MP of Filipino descent.[3]

In February 2020 the National Party board decided that Garcia would be a list-only candidate in the 2020 general election.[10] During the 2020 election, Garcia lost his seat in Parliament.[11]

References
  1. "Declaration by Electoral Commission That Paulo Reyes Garcia is Elected a Member of Parliament - 2019-au2167 - New Zealand Gazette". gazette.govt.nz.
  2. Alcober, Neil (28 June 2020). "Daily Tribune". Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  3. Libre, Mel. "First Filipino to become member of Parliament in New Zealand". Sun.Star. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  4. "Insights to the Director - Garcia Law (archived)". Garcia Law. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  5. "National's New Lynn candidate selected". New Zealand National Party. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  6. "National releases 2017 party list". New Zealand National Party. 30 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  7. "National caucus presents united front". RNZ. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  8. Kirk, Stacey (15 April 2019). "National MP Nuk Korako announces retirement from Parliament". Stuff. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  9. "New list MP for The New Zealand National Party". Electoral Commission. 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  10. Manch, Thomas (11 February 2020). "MP Sarah Downie to retire etc". Stuff. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  11. Whyte, Anna (18 October 2020). "Analysis: The winners, losers, new faces and goodbyes of election 2020". 1 News. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
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