Jonathan Coleman (politician)

Jonathan David Coleman (born 23 September 1966) is a New Zealand politician.

Early years

After attending Auckland Grammar School where he was Head Prefect in 1984, Coleman trained as a doctor, graduating from University of Auckland's medical school. He worked as a doctor in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia (in the latter case, for the Royal Flying Doctor Service). He later obtained an MBA from London Business School in 2000, and returned to New Zealand the following year.

He worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers as consultant on health sector issues and as a part-time general practitioner in Otara. He entered the selection for the National Party candidacy for Tamaki but was defeated by Allan Peachey before successfully contesting the candidacy for Northcote.

He has a 170-year family connection to his Northcote electorate and “a bit of tangata whenua thrown in” to his bloodline.^[1]

Member of Parliament

In the 2005 election, Coleman stood as the National Party's candidate for the Northcote seat. He was also ranked 35th on the party's list. Coleman was successful, defeating Ann Hartley of the Labour Party. This was the only Auckland seat to change hands between Labour and National in the 2005 election.

In 2006, Coleman (then the National Party's associate health spokesman) caused controversy when he accepted British American Tobacco's - an active lobbier on health sector issues - offer of sitting in their corporate box during a U2 concert.^[2] It was also alleged he blew cigar smoke at a woman during the concert.^[3] Coleman admitted he made a mistake by sitting in British American Tobacco's corporate box and smoking at a U2 concert.^[4]

In the 2008 election Coleman was re-elected in Northcote with a majority of 9,360 votes.^[5] He was again successful in the 2011 election, winning by a majority of 9,379 votes.^[6] He had a slightly increased majority in the 2014 election.^[7]

2011–14

After being re-elected for a third term for the Northcote seat in November 2011, Coleman was promoted in Cabinet to Minister of Defence, Minister of State Services and Associate Minister of Finance.

In 2012, Coleman made a secret visit to Afghanistan to visit New Zealand troops.^[8] Coleman said the visit was a "chance for him to offer his support to the troops for the important work they were doing providing security in the province".^[9] As Minister of Defence, Coleman led the implementation of the 2010 Defence White Paper.^[10] He commissioned the Defence Mid-Point Rebalancing Review which set out the long term approach, balancing funding, capabilities and policy.^[11] Coleman also oversaw the NZDF’s successful withdrawal from its three largest missions in Afghanistan, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.^[12]

Coleman voted against Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013.^[13]

2014–16

In 2014 Coleman became the first doctor in 70 years to take the health portfolio.^[14]

In May 2015, Coleman described the Labour Party's proposal for free gender reassignment surgery for transgender people in New Zealand as a "nutty idea".^[15]

On the 20 May, a meeting in Alexandra organised by Central Otago Health Services Ltd supported a vote of no confidence in Health Minister Jonathan Coleman.^[16] When Russell Garbutt moved a motion of no confidence in he did not expect the minister to pick up the phone and call. They spoke for more than 10 minutes, Dr Coleman telling Mr Garbutt the SDHB was his ''number 1'' priority in respect of its budget woes.^[17] More money is being pumped into Southern DHB. Budget 2016 is investing an extra $32 million in new money this year, taking the DHB’s total funding to $884 million for 2016/17, an extra $194 million in funding over the last eight years.^[18] Vote Health will reach a record $16.1 billion in 2016/17. An extra $568 million will be invested for 2016/17.^[19]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jonathan Coleman.

• Official website
• Profile at National Party website
• Profile at New Zealand Parliament
• Releases and speeches at Beehive.govt.nz