Tom Rutherford

Tom Rutherford (born 1996 or 1997) is a communications executive and New Zealand politician, representing the New Zealand National Party as a Member of Parliament since the 2023 New Zealand general election.

Tom Rutherford
MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Bay of Plenty
Assumed office
14 October 2023
Preceded byTodd Muller
Personal details
Born1996 or 1997 (age 26–27)
Political partyNational

Early life

Rutherford was born in 1996 or 1997,[1] and brought up in Bay of Plenty.[2] Before entering politics, Rutherford was a communications executive, and had worked for mayor and former National Party candidate Tania Tapsell.[1] Rutherford is also a Hockey New Zealand umpire, having officiated in 14 nationally tracked tournaments since 2017.[3]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2023–present 54th Bay of Plenty 70th National

Rutherford was selected by the National Party to contest the Bay of Plenty electorate at the 2023 election. He was 70th on the party list.[4] Rutherford was the youngest National Party candidate in 2023, but said he was mentored by Tony Ryall, who was also 26 when he was elected to represent Bay of Plenty.[1] On election night, Rutherford received 19,651 votes, comfortably beating the Labour Party's Pare Taikato on 6469.[5] Rutherford has said the biggest issues to be dealt with by government are "cost of living, transport and crime".[6] He is keen to get a 24-hour medical centre for Pāpāmoa, and to reduce congestion in Bay of Plenty.[7] Rutherford also says that police should be given more powers.[7] Rutherford also said he is keen to see democracy returned to Tauranga City Council (the council has been run by four commissioners since early 2021), and would work with the MP for Tauranga, Sam Uffindell, to ensure that happened.[7]

Personal life

Rutherford's mother Sharon Nightingale is the National Party event manager in Bay of Plenty.[1] Rutherford is a volunteer firefighter, a hockey umpire and a rugby referee.[8]

References
  1. Hall, Carmen (14 October 2023). "Bay of Plenty election result: National's Tom Rutherford claims victory". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  2. "I'll be working hard over the coming months to meet as many people across Bay of Plenty as I can to hear about their issues and share how National will get New Zealand back on track". New Zealand National Party. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. "Rutherford Tom". Hockey New Zealand. 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  4. "Local Focus: National's Tom Rutherford on Candidate Camera". NZ Herald. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  5. "Electorate results: Bay of Plenty - Preliminary Count". Electoral Commission. 15 October 2023.
  6. Gavin Ogden (17 October 2023). "Local Focus: National's Tom Rutherford on Candidate Camera". NZ Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  7. Sandra Conchie (17 October 2023). "'Strongest advocate': New MP's vow to the Bay of Plenty". NZ Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  8. "SunLive - Candidate spotlight: Tom Rutherford - The Bay's News First". sunlive.co.nz. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
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