Barbara Edmonds

Barbara Rachael Fati Palepa Edmonds[2] is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party. She is Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Pacific Peoples and Minister for Economic Development in the Sixth Labour Government.

This article is about the New Zealand politician. For the Australian magistrate, see Barbara Holborow.

The Honourable
Barbara Edmonds
MP
37th Minister of Internal Affairs
Assumed office
1 February 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byJan Tinetti
14th Minister for Pacific Peoples
Assumed office
1 February 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byWilliam Sio
10th Minister for Economic Development
Assumed office
12 April 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byMegan Woods (acting)
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Mana
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded byKris Faafoi
Personal details
Born1980/1981 (age 41–43)[1]
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
SpouseChris
Children8
Residence(s)Porirua, New Zealand

Early life and career

Edmonds was born Rachael Fati Poe, in North Shore, Auckland, to parents Selani (Fale’ula, Faleatiu) and Palepa (Safotu, Fasito’o)[3] who had immigrated from Western Samoa in 1978. Her mother died when she was four years old and Edmonds inherited her name Palepa (Barbara) on her fifth birthday.[4][5]

Edmonds was educated at Carmel College and the University of Auckland. Her school was next door to North Shore Hospital where members of her family were working in the kitchen, laundry and as cleaners.[6] She married Chris Edmonds, who she met at age 16 and with whom she shares eight children.[5][7] Edmonds was a parent elected member of the Board of Trustees of Mana College.[8]

Edmonds is a specialist tax lawyer, and before entering Parliament, worked in both the private and public sectors. In 2016, she was seconded from Inland Revenue to work as a private secretary to Michael Woodhouse and Judith Collins, as Ministers of Revenue.[4][9] In 2017, she was appointed as a political adviser to Stuart Nash.[4]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–present 53rd Mana 49 Labour

In August 2020, Edmonds was ranked 49th on the Labour Party's list.[10]

During the 2020 election, she won Mana by a large margin of 16,244, defeating National candidate Jo Hayes.[11] Following the election, she was appointed as Labour's associate whip on 2 November.[12] She was deputy chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee from 3 December 2020 to 22 June 2022, when she became chair.[13][14]

In a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on 31 January 2023 Edmonds was appointed a minister for Internal Affairs, Pacific Peoples, Associate Health (Pacific Peoples) and Associate Housing.[15]

References
  1. "Compare the candidates for Mana — Barbara Edmonds". NZ Election 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  2. "Speech – New Zealand Parliament".
  3. "Samoan woman lawyer eyes seat in Beehive". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  4. Husb, Dale (28 November 2020). "Barbara Edmonds: Sacrifice and success". E-Tangata. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  5. Williams, Katarina (30 October 2020). "Tackling poverty in Mana: New MP Barbara Edmonds brings her lived experience to bear". Stuff. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  6. Raela, Johnson (8 June 2020). "Samoan mother of eight has Parliament in her sights". Tagata Pasifika. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  7. "Labour picks lawyers for Manurewa and Mana – National picks farmer in Wairarapa". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  8. "Board of Trustees". Mana College. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  9. "Barbara Edmonds- Labour Party Candidate for Mana". Pacific Media Network. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  10. "Labour announces list for 2020 Election". Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  11. "Mana – Official Results". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  12. "Barbara Edmonds". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  13. "Edmonds, Barbara – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  14. Witton, Bridie (13 June 2022). "PM Jacinda Ardern's Cabinet reshuffle puts focus on combatting crime". Stuff. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  15. "Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reveals Cabinet reshuffle". Radio NZ. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
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