Jamie Arbuckle
MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for New Zealand First party list
Assumed office
14 October 2023
Member of the Marlborough District Council
Assumed office
2010
ConstituencyBlenheim Ward
Personal details
Born1978 or 1979 (age 44–45)
Political partyNew Zealand First
SpouseSally
Children4
ProfessionOrchardist

Jamie Arthur Arbuckle[1] (born 1978 or 1979) is a New Zealand politician. He has represented the New Zealand First party as a Member of Parliament since the 2023 New Zealand general election, and has been an elected member of the Marlborough District Council since 2010.

Early life and career

Born in 1978 or 1979,[2] Arbuckle grew up in Rapaura on an apple and cherry orchard.[3] Despite "not [being] academic" at school, Arbuckle went on to earn a diploma in management from Nelson Polytechnic (now the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology).[2] Arbuckle applied to the Marlborough Farmers' Market to set up a stall selling asparagus, but questions were raised about whether he grew it himself, and his application was subsequently turned down. Arbuckle then led a group of stallholders to set up a competing market in Redwoodtown.[2]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2023–present 54th List 6 NZ First

At the 2010 local elections Arbuckle was elected to the Marlborough District Council. He was re-elected in 2013 and again in 2016 where he won the highest number of votes in the Blenheim Ward each time.[4] At the 2010, 2013 and 2019 elections he also ran for mayor as well as the council but was defeated, placing second on each occasion.[5] He served as chair of the economic, finance and community committee at the council.[6]

Arbuckle entered national politics when he was selected by the New Zealand First party to contest the Kaikōura electorate at the 2017 election where he finished third.[7] He stood again in the seat at the 2020 election finishing fourth.[8] After this loss he joined the New Zealand First board.[9] Selected to run a third time in Kaikōura at the 2023 general election, he was ranked 6th on the party list.[10]

Preliminary results showed Arbuckle received 3,875 votes, placing third overall. However his position on the party list allowed him to enter Parliament as one of eight New Zealand First MPs. He has said he intends to retain his position as councillor in order to avoid causing a by-election.[11][12] Final election results released on 3 November confirmed Arbuckle's third place in the Kaikōura electorate, with 4,347 votes.[13] He was re-elected as a list Member of Parliament.[14] NZ First won 6.08% of the popular vote and eight seats.[15]

Personal life

Arbuckle and his wife Sally have four children.[3] He trains racehorses as a hobby.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Members Sworn". New Zealand Parliament. 5 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Heide, Maike van der (11 October 2010). "Stallholder 'the voice of the people'". Stuff. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Jamie Arbuckle". Stuff. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  4. ↑ McPhee, Elena (8 October 2016). "Jamie Arbuckle the top pick in Marlborough's Blenheim Ward - again". Stuff. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Ranford, Chloe (28 October 2019). "'Always the bridesmaid' Jamie Arbuckle makes general election vow". Stuff. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  6. ↑ Allen, Ian (22 August 2023). "Jamie Arbuckle not fifth on NZ First list. His picture is just fifth down". Stuff. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Official Count Results – Kaikōura (2017)". Electoral Commission. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Official Count Results – Kaikōura (2020)". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Reporter, Maia Hart Local Democracy (28 May 2023). "Councillor Jamie Arbuckle throws hat back in the ring for New Zealand First". Stuff. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "Election 2023: New Zealand First releases party list". Radio New Zealand. 16 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Reporter, Maia Hart Local Democracy (14 October 2023). "Stuart Smith to represent Kaikōura electorate for a fourth term". Stuff. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Kirkby-McLeod, Libby (27 October 2023). "Councillors elected as MPs looking for ways to avoid by-elections". RNZ. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Kaikōura - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "2023 General Election: Successful candidates". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Official count - Overall Results". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
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