Catherine Wedd

New Zealand politician

Catherine Wedd
Wedd in 2023
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Tukituki
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 October 2023
Preceded byAnna Lorck
Personal details
Born
Catherine Jane Loft

1979 or 1980 (age 44–45)
Political partyNational
RelationsBill Tolhurst (grandfather)
Children4

Catherine Jane Wedd (née Loft; born 1979 or 1980)[1] is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament for the National Party. She was a BBC and TVNZ reporter before working as a marketer in the horticulture industry.

Early life

Wedd majored in English and political science at university, and then earned a postgraduate diploma in journalism. In 1997, Wedd represented ACT MP Patricia Schnauer in the New Zealand Youth Parliament.[1] She was a journalist at the BBC and TVNZ, and then worked as a marketing executive for the horticulture industry.[2]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2023–present 54th Tukituki 23 National

On 21 January 2023, Wedd was announced as the National Party candidate for Tukituki in the 2023 New Zealand general election.[3] She defeated the incumbent Anna Lorck, with whom she previously worked at Attn Marketing PR, with a margin of 10,118 votes.[4][5] Lorck and Wedd were joint directors of that company.[6]

During her campaign, Wedd criticized the government's response to Cyclone Gabrielle, saying perceived uncertainty about relief payments negatively impacted growers;[7] she elsewhere supported the deregulation of the horticulture industry. Wedd has expressed support for police crackdown on gang membership in the Hawke's Bay region, and has been critical of the education system.[2][5]

Personal life

Wedd's grandfather was National Party MP Bill Tolhurst, who represented Whanganui from 1969 to 1972.[2] One of her grandmothers also stood for selection.[8] Wedd and her husband Henry have four children.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Austin, Astrid (22 January 2023). "Catherine Wedd selected as National's candidate in Tukituki". Hawkes Bay App.
  2. ^ a b c d Hageman, Mitchell (17 October 2023). "Wedd's thoughts with late grandfather as she writes her own political chapter". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Catherine Wedd selected as National's candidate in Tukituki". The New Zealand Herald. 22 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Tukituki - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b Bidwell, Hamish (22 January 2023). "National candidate Catherine Wedd focused on issues and not Tukituki incumbent Anna Lorck". The New Zealand Herald.
  6. ^ "Attention Communications Limited (1372925)". Companies Office. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. ^ Du Plessis Allan, Heather (6 July 2023). "National's Catherine Wedd: Lack of cyclone relief clarity creates extra stress for growers". Newstalk ZB. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  8. ^ Austin, Andrew (2 May 2023). "Video: Family's political history and desire to service community led Catherine Wedd to stand for election – Full Interview". Hawke's Bay App. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
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