Katherine Rich (MP)
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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.
| Parliament | Term | Electorate | List Position | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46th | 1999-2002 | (List) | 23 | National |
| 47th | 2002-2005 | (List) | 14 | National |
| 48th | 2005-present | (List) | 8 | National |
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.
Rich entered Parliament as a list MP in the 1999 elections, 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 has a reputation as one of the more liberal members of the National Party,[1][2] and co-chairs the party's internal Classical Liberal Policy Advisory Group.
Rich and her husband have two children.
Rich announced on February 13, 2008 that she will not stand in the 2008 General Election.[3]
