Chris Penk
Chris Penk MP | |
---|---|
Senior Whip of the National Party | |
Assumed office 7 December 2021 | |
Deputy | Maureen Pugh |
Leader | Christopher Luxon |
Preceded by | Matt Doocey |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Kaipara ki Mahurangi Helensville (2017–2020) | |
Assumed office 23 September 2017 | |
Preceded by | John Key |
Majority | 4,435 |
Personal details | |
Born | Christopher Aidan Penk 1980 (age 41–42) Auckland, New Zealand |
Political party | National |
Alma mater | University of Auckland |
Christopher Aidan Penk (born 1980)[1] is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party.
Personal life[]
Penk was born in West Auckland. He attended Kelston Boys' High School and graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts in 1999.[2] He joined the Royal New Zealand Navy, serving as an officer on HMNZS Te Kaha. He was an aide-de-camp for Governor-General Silvia Cartwright, before joining the Australian Defence Force for four years.[3]
After his military career, Penk became a property lawyer.[3] His father, Stephen, is an Associate Dean at the University of Auckland's Law School and his brother Alex is also a lawyer.[4]
Political career[]
In August 2014, Penk was selected to contest the Kelston electorate in the general election after the resignation of Claudette Hauiti.[2] He placed second behind Carmel Sepuloni.[5] Penk was ranked 68th on the National Party's party list and was not elected to parliament.
Member of parliament[]
Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017–2020 | 52nd | Helensville | 64 | National | |
2020–present | 53rd | Kaipara ki Mahurangi | 41 | National |
Penk won selection as National's Helensville candidate for the 2017 election, replacing former prime minister John Key.[3] He won Helensville, defeating Labour's candidate Kurt Taogaga by margin of 14,608 votes.[6]
During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Penk contested the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate, defeating Labour's candidate Marja Lubeck by a margin of 4,435 votes.[7]
In June 2021, in response to Winston Peters describing National Party members as "sex maniacs", Penk made a tweet saying Peters "is the real sex maniac because he can fuck [...] a whole country at once". Judith Collins said her office asked Penk to take down the tweet. Collins said "It's just simply inappropriate, we don't use that sort of language."[8][9][10]
On 7 December 2021, the National caucus elected him as its Senior Whip.[11]
References[]
- ^ "Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ a b "National selects Christopher Penk as Kelston candidate". 2 August 2014.
- ^ a b c "Former Navy officer Chris Penk chosen as National candidate to replace John Key in Helensville". Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019.
- ^ "Third law graduate in family". University of Auckland Law School. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020.
- ^ "Official Count Results – Kelston". Electoral Commission. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- ^ "Helensville – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Kaipara ki Mahurangi – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Manch, Thomas (22 June 2021). "National MP Chris Penk told to delete tweet attacking Winston Peters by office of party leader Judith Collins". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ Satherley, Dan (22 June 2021). "National MP Chris Penk admits tweet calling Winston Peters a 's*x maniac' who 'can f**k a whole country at once' was 'a bit out there'". Newshub. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ Cheng, Derek (22 June 2021). "Judith Collins responds to Winston Peters' 'sex maniacs' barb". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ Cooke, Henry (7 December 2021). "National elects Chris Penk senior whip, Maureen Pugh to keep junior role". Stuff. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
External links[]
- Media related to Chris Penk at Wikimedia Commons
- 1980 births
- Living people
- New Zealand National Party MPs
- Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- People educated at Kelston Boys' High School
- University of Auckland alumni
- New Zealand lawyers
- Royal New Zealand Navy personnel
- Royal Australian Navy personnel
- New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates
- Unsuccessful candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election
- Candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election
- Candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election