# MP Profile: Carl Bates β€” National Party **File created:** 9 June 2026 **Electorate:** Whanganui **Party:** New Zealand National Party **First elected:** 14 October 2023 (54th Parliament) **List rank:** 47 (2023 election) --- ## Current Roles | Role | Details | | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Electorate MP** | Whanganui (includes Whanganui, South Taranaki, Stratford; expanding to include ~5,100 people from RangitΔ«kei in 2026) | | **Select Committee β€” Deputy Chairperson** | Education and Workforce Committee (from 7 December 2023) | | **Select Committee β€” Member** | Justice Committee | _Sources: Parliament.nz committee listings; National Party official bio [national.org.nz](https://www.national.org.nz/team/carlbates) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ **Not a Minister, Associate Minister, or Parliamentary Under-Secretary.** Sits on the Government backbench. --- ## Relevance Score: 🟑 MEDIUM **Rationale:** Carl Bates is a first-term National backbencher with no ministerial portfolios touching seniors issues. He is not a designated opposition spokesperson. However: - **Deputy Chair of Education and Workforce Committee** β€” covers employment, ACC, and workplace relations, which intersect with older workers' issues, retirement, and disability support. - **Member of Justice Committee** β€” relevant to elder abuse legislation and legal protections for seniors. - **Electorate demographics:** Whanganui District has an above-average proportion of older residents. Persons 65+ make up ~22.1% of the district (65–69: 6.4%, 70–74: 5.7%, 75+: 10.0% per 2023 Census), compared to the national average of ~16.5%. This gives him a constituency interest in aged care, health, and superannuation. - **Personal background:** At age 18, appointed as an independent director of an aged care facility (Brightwater Centre, Palmerston North). At 22, served as Acting CEO of Quality Health New Zealand. This gives him direct sector experience. - **Member's Bill (Juries Age of Excusal):** Directly relevant to seniors (raises excusal age from 65 to 72). While not a "seniors policy" bill per se, it engages questions about older people's role in civic life. --- ## Public Background ### Professional Career | Period | Role | Relevance | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | | Age 18 | Independent director, Brightwater Centre (specialised aged-care facility, Palmerston North) | Direct aged-care governance experience | | Age 20 | Board member, Arena ManawatΕ«; Council member, Universal College of Learning (UCOL) | Governance | | Age 22 | Acting CEO, Quality Health New Zealand β€” turned around failing organisation | Health sector leadership | | 2004–2020 | Founded Sirdar Global Group; Director/Chairman of businesses in Africa (primary industries, animal health, food safety, manufacturing, retail, education) | Business, governance | | 2020 | Returned to NZ; sold business interests | β€” | | 2022 | Chartered Fellow, Institute of Directors in NZ (one of youngest recipients) | Governance | | 2025 | Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand | Accounting | _Sources: Wikipedia [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Bates) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Massey University alumni profile [alumnionline.massey.ac.nz](https://alumnionline.massey.ac.nz/alumni-profiles/2024-profile-carl-bates) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Taxpayers' Union podcast [taxpayers.org.nz](https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/tt_carl_bates) accessed 9 Jun 2026; National Party bio [national.org.nz](https://www.national.org.nz/team/carlbates) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ ### Education - **Bachelor of Business Studies (Accountancy)** with Graduate Diploma in Finance β€” Massey University (2004) - Electives in English and drama; active debater (won national cup; debated alongside Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis at university) ### Political Background - Joined National Party at age 12; campaigned for Peter Gresham - Served as Youth MP in 2000 for Annabel Young - Selected as National candidate for Whanganui in February 2023 - Won Whanganui electorate in 2023 with 16,446 votes β€” majority of 5,512 over incumbent Labour MP Steph Lewis - Reselected as National candidate for 2026 general election (first tranche, alongside PM Luxon and Chris Bishop) _Sources: NZ Herald [nzherald.co.nz](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/elections-2026-whanganui-mp-carl-bates-reselected-as-nationals-electoral-candidate/VNIZ6D7SCRDH5LXKHWTAH6BBTI/) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Wikipedia_ --- ## Public Positions Relevant to Older New Zealanders | Issue | Position / Activity | Source | Date | | ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | | **Jury duty age (seniors' civic participation)** | Introduced Juries (Age of Excusal) Amendment Bill β€” raises automatic excusal age from 65 to 72. Argued that "civic duty does not expire at retirement" and seniors "have much to offer." Bill passed first reading 102–21, passed second reading, now at committee stage. | Newsroom [newsroom.co.nz](https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/no-more-age-based-excuses-from-over-65s-to-avoid-jury-duty/) accessed 9 Jun 2026; National Party [national.org.nz](https://www.national.org.nz/news/250417-carlbates) accessed 9 Jun 2026 | Nov 2025–May 2026 | | **Superannuation** | Publicised the 3% increase to NZ Super and Veterans' Pension effective 1 April 2025, attributing it to tax cuts flowing through. No personal policy stance articulated beyond communicating Government decisions. | National Party "Connecting with Carl" April 2025 [national.org.nz](https://www.national.org.nz/news/250417-carlbates) accessed 9 Jun 2026 | Apr 2025 | | **Health (local hospitals)** | Advocated successfully for retention of local Chief Medical Officer role at Whanganui Hospital when Health NZ proposed merging the position. Met with medical professionals, wrote to Minister of Health, met with Dr Shane Reti. Also celebrated $100m nationwide health facilities upgrade including Whanganui Hospital Discharge Lounge relocation. | National Party "Connecting with Carl" Dec 2024 [national.org.nz](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20241219-connect-carl) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Simeon Brown MP Facebook post [facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/SimeonBrownMP/posts/great-to-be-in-whanganui-with-mp-carl-bates-visiting-whanganui-hospital-and-ed-t/1362992458761015/) accessed 9 Jun 2026 | Dec 2024 | | **Aged care (governance experience)** | Served as independent director of Brightwater Centre (aged care facility) at age 18; later Acting CEO of Quality Health NZ. This professional background provides familiarity with aged-care operations and regulation, though no current public policy positions have been expressed in Parliament. | Taxpayers' Union podcast [taxpayers.org.nz](https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/tt_carl_bates) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Massey alumni profile | Apr 2024 | | **Dementia awareness** | Listed as a contact MP in Alzheimer's NZ advocacy toolkit for constituents to lobby on the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan. Indicates willingness to engage on dementia issues as a constituency MP. | Alzheimer's NZ advocacy toolkit [alzheimers.org.nz](https://cdn.alzheimers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Advocacy-toolkit-March-2024.pdf) accessed 9 Jun 2026 | Mar 2024 | | **Health funding (general)** | Promoted the National-led Government's record health investment β€” "largest budget for health in NZ's history." Specifics on aged-care funding not separately articulated. | Instagram [instagram.com/reel/DLZEq1QMNr4](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLZEq1QMNr4/) accessed 9 Jun 2026 | 2025 | | **Mental health** | Visited Emerge Aotearoa community stepped-down care service in Whanganui with Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey. Relevant to older people's mental health support. | Facebook [facebook.com/MattDoocey.Waimakariri](https://www.facebook.com/MattDoocey.Waimakariri/posts/thanks-to-the-team-at-emerge-aotearoa-for-showing-local-mp-carl-bates-and-me-aro/1202855548317994/) accessed 9 Jun 2026 | 2025 | | **Maiden speech β€” elderly struggling** | Stated in maiden speech that "the elderly shouldn't be struggling to pay for basics." No further policy elaboration on how to address this. | Facebook National Whanganui [facebook.com/nationalwhanganui](https://www.facebook.com/nationalwhanganui/posts/694463366197932/) accessed 9 Jun 2026 | Dec 2023 | | **Fireworks petition** | Received and presented a petition with 2,000+ signatures to ban public sale of fireworks β€” relevant to older people's pets, fire risk, and disturbance. | NZ Herald [nzherald.co.nz](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/whanganui-petition-for-the-ban-of-public-sale-fireworks-heads-to-parliament/3LHUL7BPJRFBXMZ5DRO534IHMU/) accessed 9 Jun 2026 | 2025 | **Overall assessment:** No clear public position found on seniors-specific issues such as retirement village regulation, elder abuse, dementia policy, aged-care funding, palliative care, or disability support. His positions on the above are either (a) communicating Government policy, (b) constituency casework, or (c) general statements without substantive policy detail. His most direct engagement with a seniors-relevant issue is his Juries (Age of Excusal) Amendment Bill. --- ## Parliamentary Activity ### Members' Bills | Bill | Status | Summary | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Juries (Age of Excusal) Amendment Bill** | **Second reading passed**; now at committee stage | Raises automatic jury excusal age from 65 to 72. 47% of all jury excusals currently granted on age grounds. Supported by Labour, Greens, NZ First; opposed by Te Pāti Māori. | | **Employment Relations (Mediation Services) Amendment Bill** | Lodged Jan 2026; awaiting ballot | Removes requirement for MBIE mediator sign-off on employment settlements; creates Register of Mediators. Relevant to older workers and employment disputes. | _Sources: Newsroom [newsroom.co.nz](https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/no-more-age-based-excuses-from-over-65s-to-avoid-jury-duty/) accessed 9 Jun 2026; National Party [national.org.nz](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260116-carl-bates-national-mps-bill-would-speed-up-employment-mediation-services) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ ### Oral Questions (selected) | Date | Question to | Topic | | ----------- | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | | 14 Nov 2024 | Minister for Infrastructure | Announcement on infrastructure projects | | 1 Aug 2024 | Minister for Infrastructure | Infrastructure announcements | | 2025 | Minister of Education | National qualifications announcement | | 2025 | Minister for Auckland | Recent announcements | _Sources: Scoop [scoop.co.nz](https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2412/S00281/parliament-questions-and-answers-14-november-2024.htm) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Apple Podcasts; RNZ Parliament programme_ ### Select Committee Activity - **Deputy Chair, Education and Workforce Committee:** Leading inquiry into harms young New Zealanders encounter online. Interim report released. Committee also considers employment, ACC, immigration, and tertiary education matters. - **Member, Justice Committee:** Considers justice legislation including sentencing, courts, and legal matters. - Committee work on education and workforce matters has intersected with ACC, employment dispute resolution, and apprenticeships. ### Petitions Presented | Petition | Topic | Details | | ---------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ | | Ban public sale of fireworks | Animal welfare, fire risk | 2,000+ signatures from Whanganui constituents | | Save the Chateau (Ruapehu) | Tourism / regional development | 15,000+ signatures; presented with Mayor Weston Kirton | | Fireworks ban continued | Public safety | Follow-up petition | _Sources: NZ Herald [nzherald.co.nz](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/whanganui-petition-for-the-ban-of-public-sale-fireworks-heads-to-parliament/3LHUL7BPJRFBXMZ5DRO534IHMU/) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Ruapehu DC [ruapehudc.govt.nz](https://www.ruapehudc.govt.nz/our-council/news?item=id:2vjierd841cxbykpmoqa) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ --- ## Declared Interests (Register of Pecuniary Interests) _Source: PublicData NZ [publicdata.co.nz](https://publicdata.co.nz/public-sector-people/carl-bates) accessed 9 Jun 2026; derived from Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament_ ### 2025 Declared Interests (18 items) **Relevant to health, aged care, housing, property, trusts, legal sector, or disability:** | Category | Details | Relevance | | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Trusts (beneficiary)** | Carpe Diem Trust, Enchanted Trust, Raewyn Bates Family Trust | Trust structures can shield property from disclosure | | **Real property** | Former family home (in trust) – ManawatΕ«; Rental property (in trust) – Whanganui; Rental apartments x2 (in trust) – Wellington; Family home – Whanganui | 4 declared properties (note: as disclosed on register; 25 properties linked to trusts were subject of inquiry β€” see below) | | **Business interests** | Greenplan (Dunmore West 2000) Forest Partnership No. 47 – forestry | Forestry investment | | **Retirement schemes** | Craigs KiwiSaver; Ninety-One Retirement Annuity Fund (South Africa) | Standard KiwiSaver + foreign retirement savings | | **Debts owed to member** | Sirdar South Africa (Pty) Ltd – business loan; Protea Kowhai Holdings (Pty) Ltd – business loan | South African business loans | | **Debts (mortgages/loans)** | Investec SA (mortgage on former family home); Westpac (mortgage on former family home); Carpe Diem Trust (personal loan); BNZ (mortgage on family home) | Multiple property-related debts | ### Pecuniary Interest Controversy (Sept 2025) - **NZ Herald investigation** (September 2025) revealed trusts linked to Bates and his family owned 25 properties, primarily rentals in Whanganui, making his family one of the electorate's largest private landlords. - **Structure:** Bates held shares in two family-owned real estate investment companies. Shortly after election, he transferred shareholdings to Seize the Day Trustee Company Limited (directed by his mother and her lawyer), making him a discretionary beneficiary of the Carpe Diem Trust. The trusts' ownership structure meant properties held via companyβ†’trust did not require declaration under Registrar's advice. - **Inquiry:** Registrar Sir Maarten Wevers investigated and concluded Bates **followed Parliament's rules** β€” no failure to disclose required interests. Wevers noted Standing Orders may need review regarding trusts and subsidiary company interests. - **Wider context:** Follows Michael Wood case (2023); review of Standing Orders 2026 likely to address trust disclosure rules. _Sources: RNZ [rnz.co.nz](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/577933/inquiry-finds-national-s-carl-bates-followed-parliament-s-rules-in-declaring-property-interests) accessed 9 Jun 2026; NZ Herald [nzherald.co.nz](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mp-put-25-properties-in-family-trust-before-facing-financial-declaration-rules/5SNYJCC3LZB4LHPHLLLHBA7EZA/) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ --- ## Business-Decision Implications 1. **Property/landlord interests:** Bates' family trust connections to 25 rental properties (and declared real property interests) mean he has a personal financial stake in the residential rental market. Any Government policy affecting rental property β€” including Healthy Homes standards, tenancy law, interest deductibility, or housing supply β€” touches his interests. 2. **Aged-care sector link:** His early career governance role at Brightwater Centre (aged care) and Acting CEO role at Quality Health NZ gives him direct industry familiarity, though no current declared interests in aged-care companies. 3. **Employment/ACC policy:** Through the Education and Workforce Committee, he shapes employment mediation and ACC policy. His own Employment Relations (Mediation Services) Amendment Bill would directly affect workplace dispute resolution. 4. **South African business ties:** Outstanding loans to and from South African entities (Sirdar SA, Protea Kowhai) indicate ongoing financial links. --- ## Campaign Relevance - **Relevance to seniors advocacy:** Low-medium. Bates is a first-term backbencher with no portfolio responsibility. His most significant engagement with seniors issues is the Juries (Age of Excusal) Bill, which affects 65–72 year olds. His personal aged-care governance background gives him latent expertise that is not currently being deployed in parliamentary work. - **Electorate demographics:** Whanganui has a high proportion of older residents (~22.1% aged 65+). The electorate will expand to include Ruapehu District (also high proportion of older rural residents) in 2026. Constituency pressures on health, aged care, and superannuation will be significant. - **Re-election:** Selected as National candidate for 2026; will face a re-match against Labour candidate (likely Steph Lewis again). His majority of 5,512 in 2023 is significant but worth monitoring. - **Party alignment:** A loyal Government backbench MP β€” his public communications consistently advocate Government policy rather than expressing personal positions. Unlikely to cross the floor or advocate independently on seniors issues. --- ## Monitoring Terms - Carl Bates AND (seniors OR aged care OR superannuation OR retirement OR pension) - "Carl Bates" AND ("Juries" OR "Age of Excusal") β€” for bill progress - "Carl Bates" AND ("health" OR "hospital" OR "aged") β€” for health/service positions - Whanganui electorate AND ("aged care" OR "retirement village" OR "elder care") - Parliament.nz β€” Carl Bates committee activity (Education and Workforce, Justice) - Whanganui Chronicle β€” electorate news --- ## Source List | Source | URL | Accessed | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- | | Wikipedia β€” Carl Bates | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Bates | 9 Jun 2026 | | National Party β€” Carl Bates bio | https://www.national.org.nz/team/carlbates | 9 Jun 2026 | | Parliament.nz β€” Carl Bates committee listings | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/bates-carl/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Stuff β€” "First-term MP living the dream" (Catherine Groenestein) | https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350416699/first-term-mp-whos-living-dream | 9 Jun 2026 | | Massey University β€” 2024 Profile Carl Bates | https://alumnionline.massey.ac.nz/alumni-profiles/2024-profile-carl-bates | 9 Jun 2026 | | Taxpayers' Union β€” MPs in Depth: Carl Bates (podcast) | https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/tt_carl_bates | 9 Jun 2026 | | Newsroom β€” "No more age-based excuses from over-65s" (Alice Peacock) | https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/no-more-age-based-excuses-from-over-65s-to-avoid-jury-duty/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | National Party β€” "Connecting with Carl" 17 Apr 2025 | https://www.national.org.nz/news/250417-carlbates | 9 Jun 2026 | | National Party β€” "Connecting with Carl" 20 Dec 2024 | https://www.national.org.nz/news/20241219-connect-carl | 9 Jun 2026 | | National Party β€” Employment Mediation Bill | https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260116-carl-bates-national-mps-bill-would-speed-up-employment-mediation-services | 9 Jun 2026 | | RNZ β€” Inquiry clears Bates | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/577933/inquiry-finds-national-s-carl-bates-followed-parliament-s-rules-in-declaring-property-interests | 9 Jun 2026 | | NZ Herald β€” "MP put 25 properties in family trust" | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mp-put-25-properties-in-family-trust-before-facing-financial-declaration-rules/5SNYJCC3LZB4LHPHLLLHBA7EZA/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | NZ Herald β€” "Bates reselected as National candidate 2026" (Mike Tweed) | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/elections-2026-whanganui-mp-carl-bates-reselected-as-nationals-electoral-candidate/VNIZ6D7SCRDH5LXKHWTAH6BBTI/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | NZ Herald β€” Fireworks petition | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/whanganui-petition-for-the-ban-of-public-sale-fireworks-heads-to-parliament/3LHUL7BPJRFBXMZ5DRO534IHMU/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | PublicData NZ β€” Carl Bates profile | https://publicdata.co.nz/public-sector-people/carl-bates | 9 Jun 2026 | | Figure.NZ β€” Whanganui District age distribution 2023 Census | https://figure.nz/chart/PeFVyNQskS1Xjlyk | 9 Jun 2026 | | Alzheimer's NZ β€” Advocacy toolkit | https://cdn.alzheimers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Advocacy-toolkit-March-2024.pdf | 9 Jun 2026 | | Scoop β€” Parliament Q&A 14 Nov 2024 | https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2412/S00281/parliament-questions-and-answers-14-november-2024.htm | 9 Jun 2026 | | Facebook β€” National Whanganui (maiden speech reference) | https://www.facebook.com/nationalwhanganui/posts/694463366197932/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Instagram β€” Carl Bates Whanganui (health spending) | https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLZEq1QMNr4/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Facebook β€” Simeon Brown in Whanganui (hospital visit) | https://www.facebook.com/SimeonBrownMP/posts/great-to-be-in-whanganui-with-mp-carl-bates-visiting-whanganui-hospital-and-ed-t/1362992458761015/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Ruapehu DC β€” Chateau petition | https://www.ruapehudc.govt.nz/our-council/news?item=id:2vjierd841cxbykpmoqa | 9 Jun 2026 | | Policy.nz β€” Carl Bates candidate page 2023 | https://policy.nz/2023/whanganui-electorate/candidates/carl-bates | 9 Jun 2026 | | Facebook β€” Emerge Aotearoa visit with Matt Doocey | https://www.facebook.com/MattDoocey.Waimakariri/posts/thanks-to-the-team-at-emerge-aotearoa-for-showing-local-mp-carl-bates-and-me-aro/1202855548317994/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | RNZ β€” Oral Questions 1 Aug 2024 | https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/parliament/story/2018949358/oral-questions-for-thursday-1-august-2024 | 9 Jun 2026 |