MPJacqui Dean to retire

National PartyMP Jacqui Dean, theMP forWaitaki, has announced she will retire at the 2023 election. She turned 65 lastweek. Dean entered Parliament in 2005 as MPfor Otago and since 2008 has been the MPforWaitaki, an electorate spanning Central Otago, the Mackenzie district, parts of South Canterbury and Timaru district, andWaimate. ‘‘It is a vast electorate and I have loved representing every inch of it,’’ she said yesterday. ‘‘I have spent the past 25 years in public service – first in local government and then as a member of Parliament. It is a long time by anyone’s standards so nowfeels like the right time to signal my intention to move on.’’ Dean was a Cabinet minister for small business, ACC, and commerce and consumer affairs in Bill English’s National Government from late 2016 until the 2017 election. Prior to this she held responsibilities in the tourism and local government portfolios under the John Key Government. In Opposition, shewas appointed assistant speaker of the House and has been the party’s spokesperson for conservation issues.