Chris Penk

Christopher Aidan Penk (born 1980)[1] is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party.

Chris Penk

MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Kaipara ki Mahurangi
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded byNew constituency
Majority4,435
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Helensville
In office
23 September 2017 – 17 October 2020
Preceded byJohn Key
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Majority14,608
Personal details
Born
Christopher Aidan Penk

1980 (age 40–41)
Political partyNational

Personal life

Penk graduated from the University of Auckland in 1999 and 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.[2]

After his military career, Penk became a property lawyer.[2] His father, Stephen, is an Associate Dean at the University of Auckland's Law School and his brother Alex is also a lawyer.[3]

Political career

At the 2014 election, Penk stood in the Kelston electorate, placing second behind Carmel Sepuloni.[4] Penk was ranked 68th on the National Party's party list and was not elected to parliament.

Member of parliament
New Zealand 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.[2] He won Helensville, defeating Labour's candidate Kurt Taogaga by margin of 14,608 votes.[5]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Penk contested the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate, defeating Labour's candidates Marja Lubeck by a margin of 4,435 votes.[6]

References
  1. "Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. "Former Navy officer Chris Penk chosen as National candidate to replace John Key in Helensville". Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019.
  3. "Third law graduate in family". University of Auckland Law School. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020.
  4. "Official Count Results – Kelston". Electoral Commission. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  5. "Helensville - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  6. "Kaipara ki Mahurangi - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
John Key		 Member of Parliament for Helensville
2017–2020		 Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Kaipara ki Mahurangi
2020–present		 Incumbent


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