Hamish Walker

Hamish Richard Walker (born 1984 or 1985) is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party.

Hamish Walker

MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Clutha-Southland
Assumed office
23 September 2017
Preceded byTodd Barclay
Majority14,354
Personal details
Born1984/1985 (age 35–36)[1]
Dunedin, New Zealand
Political partyNational

Political career

At the 2014 general election, Walker stood in Dunedin South, placing second in the safe Labour seat. He is an Otago Rugby Football Union board member and serves on the Otago/Southland lottery distribution committee.[2]

Member of parliament
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2017–2020 52nd Clutha-Southland 68 National

At the 2017 general election, Walker stood in the electorate of Clutha-Southland. The Clutha-Southland electorate has been held since its creation in 1996 by the National Party. Walker was selected as a last minute candidate to replace Todd Barclay, who had resigned due to an employment scandal.[3][4][5] Walker won Clutha-Southland, defeating Labour candidate Cherie Joy Chapman by a margin of 14,354 votes.[6]

During his first term, Walker lobbied for the preservation of maternity services in Lumsden and greater support for Queenstown businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.[7][8] Walker was also a member of Parliament's primary production select committee and served as the party's associate agriculture spokesperson between 12 March 2018 and 25 May 2020. Between 25 May and 7 July 2020, Walker served as National's spokesperson on forestry and land information, and associate spokesperson on tourism.[9]

On 2 July 2020, Walker attracted media attention when he issued a press release criticising the Labour-led coalition government for not consulting residents of Dunedin, Queenstown, and Invercargill about hosting quarantine facilities for 11,000 returnees from India, Pakistan and South Korea. Walker's remarks were criticised as racist by Minister of Housing Megan Woods for singling out returnees from those countries. Walker defended his remarks, asserting that charges of racism were an attempt to deflect from the Government's failings.[10][11] Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern criticised Walker's remarks as inappropriate while Mayor of Dunedin Aaron Hawkins described Walker's remarks as "dog whistling."[12] On 3 July 2020, Walker was reprimanded by National Party leader Todd Muller, who expressed disappointment and concern about his press statement. According to Stuff, Walker's statements had not been approved by the National Party's leadership.[11]

On 7 July 2020 Walker admitted leaking sensitive medical information (private patient details) to media outlets about COVID-19 patients and was stripped of his portfolios.[7][13][14] That same day, former National Party president Michelle Boag admitted passing COVID-19 patient details to Walker and resigned from her position as chief executive of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.[15] On 8 July, National leader Todd Muller told the media that he had written to the party board asking them to remove Walker from the party.[16] That same day Walker announced that he would not be standing for re-election in the Southland electorate during the 2020 New Zealand general election.[17]

Personal life

Hamish Walker is of Scottish New Zealander heritage and his family has roots in the South Island town of Balclutha. Walker's wife Penny Tipu is of Māori descent. The couple have a cat named Monty. On 1 January 2019, Walker reportedly saved a distressed man at the Lake Hāwea dam.[18][19]

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References
  1. Jo-Tohill, Mary (21 February 2018). "Wedding bells for Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker". Stuff. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020.
  2. Wright, Michael (29 June 2017). "Contenders emerge to replace embattled Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay". Stuff. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  3. Nicoll, Dave; Mitchell, Charlie (16 August 2017). "Hamish Walker the new National Clutha-Southland candidate replacing Todd Barclay". Stuff. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  4. "National name Hamish Walker as Todd Barclay's Clutha-Southland replacement". 1 News. 16 August 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  5. "Todd Barclay's Clutha-Southland replacement chosen". Newshub. 16 August 2017. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  6. "Clutha-Southland - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  7. Houlahan, Mike (8 July 2020). "Walker's future in doubt". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. McPhee, Elena (26 November 2019). "Maternity hub decision 'alarm bells'". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  9. "Hamish Walker". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. Wade, Amelia (2 July 2020). "National MP slammed for 'racist' statement on returning Kiwis from Asia". Newstalk ZB. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  11. Devlin, Collette (3 July 2020). "National leader Todd Muller reprimands Hamish Walker over 'racist' press statement". Stuff. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  12. "'It was inappropriate' - Ardern responds to National MP Hamish Walker's isolation facility comments". 1 News. 3 July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  13. Cooke, Henry (7 July 2020). "National MP Hamish Walker admits passing on leaked Covid-19 patient info from former party president Michelle Boag". Stuff. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  14. Cheng, Derek (7 July 2020). "National MP Hamish Walker, former party president Michelle Boag admit leaking Covid patients' details". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  15. Small, Zane (7 July 2020). "Former National Party president Michelle Boag admits passing COVID-19 patient details to MP Hamish Walker". Newshub. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  16. "Covid-19 privacy leak: Todd Muller on Hamish Walker - 'There needs to be consequences'". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  17. "Covid-19 privacy leak: MP Hamish Walker announces he won't stand for re-election". Radio New Zealand. 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  18. Cheng, Derek (4 January 2019). "MP Hamish Walker saves distressed man days before wedding". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 20 May 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  19. Kelly, Rachael (4 January 2019). "Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker talks man down from ledge on New Year's Day". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Todd Barclay		 Member of Parliament for Clutha-Southland
2017–2020		 Incumbent
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