Barry announces retirement, leaving North Shore vacancy
WELLINGTON: National MP Maggie Barry has announced she will not be seeking reelection and will retire from Parliament in 2020.
The former TV presenter has had held the North Shore seat for three terms.
Ms Barry has also been at the forefront of opposition to the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill, which is expected to have its third reading next week. The Bill is expected to pass, which would send the issue to a referendum at the 2020 election.
Her departure means National will need to find a new candidate for the North Shore electorate — one of the safest National seats in the country.
Barry (60), with her husband Grant Kerr by her side, told reporters it had been a tough decision to step down.
‘‘Now it’s time to do some other things. My husband and I are looking forward to spending a few months of the year overseas.
‘‘We have a bucket list as long as your arm.’’
She said her National colleagues were surprised yesterday morning when she told them she was leaving.
She wasn’t a career politician and knew from the beginning she was in Parliament for ‘‘a good time, not a long time’’.
Barry was Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Minister of Conservation, and Minister for Senior Citizens.
She cited the campaign to be predatorfree by 2050 as one of the things she was most proud of, as well as raising awareness of elder abuse.
Another personal highlight was being responsible for the World War 1 commemorations as Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister.
Ms Barry has had a relatively turbulent term with former staffers accusing her of bullying and intimidating behaviour and of being asked to do National Party work — which would be illegal.
Barry denied any wrongdoing and said she was involved in two employment matters, which were settled confidentially.
A Parliamentary Service investigation largely cleared Ms Barry, saying that her support staff had worked briefly on party or political matters, but these were ‘‘extremely immaterial’’.
National leader Simon Bridges thanked Barry for her service and said National was ‘‘brimming with talent and I have no doubt that we will see a vigorous contest for the North Shore seat.’’
Ms Barry is the 10th National MP to announce leaving the party since it came into Opposition in 2017.
The others are Jonathan Coleman, Steven Joyce, Bill English, Chris Finlayson, JamiLee Ross, Nuk Korako, Amy Adams, Alastair Scott and Nathan Guy. — The New Zealand Herald