David Wilson (New Zealand First politician)
David Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for New Zealand First party list | |
| Assumed office 30 June 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Tanya Unkovich[n 1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Ashley Wilson Kumeū, New Zealand |
| Political party | New Zealand First |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Auckland University of Technology |
| Thesis | The Metropolitan Auckland Project: A Step-Change in Governance and Regional Economic Development in a City-Region (2016) |
| Doctoral advisor |
|
David Ashley Wilson[1] is a New Zealand politician. A member of New Zealand First since 2015, he contested general elections for the party in 2017, 2020, and 2023. Following the resignation of Tanya Unkovich, Wilson replaced her as a list member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for New Zealand First[2] on 30 June 2025.[3]
Early life and career
Wilson was born in Kumeū.[4] He was the chief executive officer of the economic development agency Northland Inc from 2013 to 2017, when he resigned to become a parliamentary candidate. Simultaneously, he was the chairman of the Economic Development Association of New Zealand.[5] After not being elected in the 2017 general election, he went back to Northland Inc until 2019. He then moved to the Upper Harbour area of Auckland, where he worked as a consultant.[6][2][7]
In 2016, Wilson was awarded a PhD from Auckland University of Technology for his thesis The Metropolitan Auckland Project: A Step-Change in Governance and Regional Economic Development in a City-Region, which was supervised by Marilyn Waring.[8]
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–present | 54th | List | 9th | NZ First | |
Wilson was a candidate for New Zealand First in both the 2017 and 2020 general elections: in 2017, he was number 14 on the list and stood in Te Atatū; and in 2020, he stood in Whangārei and was ranked 9th on the party list.[5][9][10]
Wilson contested Upper Harbour for New Zealand First in the 2023 general election, and was 9th on the party list.[5] While he was not elected at that election, he was declared elected on 30 June 2025 to fill the vacancy left by Tanya Unkovich's resignation.[7][3]
Personal life
Wilson coached netball and basketball. He is also an accessibility and innovation advocate, being a board member of social enterprise The Be.[4] In 2024 he was defrauded, losing $200,000 from his retirement savings in an investment scam. Wilson spoke publicly about the incident to bring awareness of scams as well as the lack of protections for victims.[11]
Notes
- ^ Normally, list MPs do not have individual predecessors or successors, but Unkovich resigned during a sitting parliament and therefore was succeeded by Wilson.
References
- ^ "Return of Electorate Candidate Donations, Expenses" (PDF). 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ a b Whyte, Anna (28 June 2025). "Meet New Zealand First's incoming MP David Wilson". The Post. Archived from the original on 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Declaration by Electoral Commission that David Ashley Wilson is elected a Member of Parliament". New Zealand Gazette. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ a b Czerwonatis, Julia (20 June 2020). "NZ First candidate for Whangārei David Wilson to take on 'tanked economy' in the North". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ a b c Tokalau, Torika (31 August 2017). "NZ First's David Wilson close to being a MP". Western Leader. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ Whyte, Anna (27 June 2025). "NZ First MP Tanya Unkovich resigns". The Post. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via The Press.
- ^ a b "NZ First MP Tanya Unkovich quits Parliament". RNZ News. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ "The Metropolitan Auckland Project: A Step-Change in Governance and Regional Economic Development in a City-Region". Auckland University of Technology. 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "2017 General Election Party Lists". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "New Zealand First Party List" (Press release). New Zealand First. Scoop). 17 September 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ Nichols, Lane (23 March 2024). "NZ First candidate David Wilson loses $200k in scam, bank confirms mule account 'legitimate' in phone recording". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 June 2025.