Penny Simmonds

Penelope Elsie Simmonds CNZM MP is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party. She previously served as the chief executive of the Southern Institute of Technology.[3]

Penny Simmonds

CNZM MP
Simmonds in 2016
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Invercargill
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded bySarah Dowie
Majority224[1]
Personal details
Born1959/1960 (age 60–61)[2]
Southland, New Zealand
Political partyNational
Spouse(s)Marty Irwin
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Otago

Early life and career

Simmonds was born in Southland and grew up in Riversdale[4] and Te Tipua. She attended Gore High School and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Otago.[5]

Simmonds was the chief executive of the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) from 1997 to October 2020.[6] During this time she implemented SIT's Zero Fees Scheme.[7] She took leave from 29 June 2020 in order to focus on her political campaign, with deputy chief executive Maree Howden acting in her place.[8] Upon her election to parliament she resigned her position with SIT.[9]

Simmonds has had a close working relationship with Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, as evidenced by him consulting with her during the 2010 Invercargill mayoral election.[5] Shadbolt attended her 2020 election night party, for which he received criticism from city councillor and former Labour MP Lesley Soper for listing it as an official mayoral engagement.[10]

She has been a director of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery and a board member of the Southland District Health Board.[6]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–present 53rd Invercargill 63 National

Simmonds was selected as the National Party candidate for Invercargill in May 2020 following Sarah Dowie's decision to retire.[6] Dowie had originally been selected to run again in September 2019.[11] Simmonds had been rumoured as a potential candidate for about fifteen years prior.[8]

Key points of Simmonds' campaign were opposing the merging of New Zealand's polytechnics and keeping the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter open. During the brief National Party leadership of Todd Muller, Simmonds felt so frustrated at the lack of communication that she began instead talking to Botany candidate Christopher Luxon, seen as a potential future party leader.[12]

Simmonds defeated Labour list MP Liz Craig in the 2020 election, retaining the Invercargill seat for National by a margin of 224 votes.[1][13][14]

Personal life

Simmonds is married with three daughters. She received a Woolf Fisher Fellowship in 2000 and was made a Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2016 New Year Honours.[6]

References
  1. "Invercargill – Official Result". Elections. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  2. Girao, Luisa (20 May 2020). "SIT chief exec to contest seat". Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  3. "Election 2020: The 40 diverse new MPs entering Parliament". Newstalk ZB. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020 – via The New Zealand Herald.
  4. Cook, Marjorie (6 August 2020). "Election 2020: National candidate Penny Simmonds makes first bid for Invercargill electorate". Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. Fallow, Michael (11 November 2020). "Penny Simmonds – a consequential career". Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. Savory, Logan (19 May 2020). "Education boss Penny Simmonds to run for Invercargill seat". Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. "A celebration of service". 31 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. Girao, Luisa (20 June 2020). "SIT head on leave to run National Party campaign". Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. Steyl, Louisa (6 November 2020). "Penny Simmonds takes Invercargill electorate seat". Stuff. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  10. Savory, Logan (27 October 2020). "Councillor criticises Sir Tim Shadbolt for attending election night function and declaring it as a mayoral duty". Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  11. Manch, Thomas (11 February 2020). "Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie unexpectedly retires from Parliament". Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  12. Harman, Richard (14 July 2020). "Why Muller failed". Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  13. "Special delivery: what will those extra votes change for Invercargill?". Stuff. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  14. "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Sarah Dowie		 Member of Parliament for Invercargill
2020–present		 Incumbent
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