# MP Profile: Hon Rachel Brooking — Labour Party **Electorate:** Dunedin **Party:** New Zealand Labour Party **Member since:** 2020 (list MP 53rd Parliament); Dunedin electorate MP since 2023 (54th Parliament) **2026 Election List Rank:** #11 (up from #17) **Status:** Current Opposition MP --- ## Current Roles | Role | Detail | Date | | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | | MP for Dunedin | Dunedin electorate | Since 14 Oct 2023 | | Labour Spokesperson for Environment | Shadow Cabinet | Since 30 Nov 2023 | | Labour Spokesperson for RMA Reform | Shadow Cabinet | Since 7 Mar 2025 | | Labour Spokesperson for Food Safety | Shadow Cabinet | Since 30 Nov 2023 | | Labour Spokesperson for Space | Shadow Cabinet | Since 30 Nov 2023 | | Member — Environment Committee | Select committee | Current | | Member — Regulations Review Committee | (Previous) | 2020–2023 | | Member — Finance and Expenditure Committee | (Previous) | 2020–2023 | _Sources: Parliament.nz (https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/brooking-rachel/) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Labour Party (https://www.labour.org.nz/our-team/hon-rachel-brooking/) accessed 9 Jun 2026; RNZ (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/597538/who-s-in-who-s-out-labour-unveils-list-for-november-election) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ ### Previous Ministerial Roles (Sixth Labour Government) | Portfolio | Term | | ---------------------------------- | ------------ | | Minister for Oceans and Fisheries | Apr–Nov 2023 | | Minister for Food Safety | May–Nov 2023 | | Associate Minister for Environment | Apr–Nov 2023 | | Associate Minister for Immigration | Apr–Nov 2023 | _Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Brooking) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ --- ## Relevance Score: 🟢 LOW **Explanation:** Rachel Brooking's portfolios (Environment, RMA Reform, Food Safety, Space) do not directly touch seniors issues. She is not a minister or associate minister and is not on the Health, Social Services, Finance, or other committees that handle seniors-related legislation. Her relevance comes only through her Dunedin electorate, which has an older population per capita — she has engaged on local health infrastructure and retirement village issues in a constituency capacity, not as a policy lead. **Scoring rationale:** - ❌ Not a minister or associate minister in a seniors-touching portfolio - ❌ Not an opposition spokesperson for seniors, health, housing, or social development - ❌ Not on Health, Social Services, Finance, Petitions, or Governance committees - ✅ Electorate (Dunedin) has proportionally older population - ✅ Has visited retirement villages and discussed Retirement Villages Act reform locally --- ## Public Background ### Professional Career - Lawyer specialising in environmental, resource management, and local government law - Worked for the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in Wellington - Practiced at Anderson Lloyd in Dunedin - Appointed to government panel reviewing the Resource Management Act 1991 (2019) - Chair of Otago/Southland branch of Resource Management Law Association - Board appointments: University Book Shop (Otago) Ltd (2010), Dunedin International Airport (2019) ### Education & Early Life - Attended Otago Girls' High School, Dunedin - University of Otago — double degree in ecology and law - President of Otago University Students' Association (1997) - Student activist (protested education cuts in 1994) ### Political Background - Joined Labour around 1999 - Elected as list MP in 2020 (#46) - Sought but lost Labour selection for Dunedin South (Taieri) to Ingrid Leary (2020) - Selected for Dunedin electorate after David Clark's retirement (Dec 2022) - Won Dunedin in 2023 by 7,980 votes over National's Michael Woodhouse - Appointed Minister (outside Cabinet) Apr 2023 - Shadow spokesperson roles since Nov 2023 - Elevated to #11 on 2026 Labour list (up from #17) _Sources: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Brooking) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Labour Party (https://www.labour.org.nz/our-team/hon-rachel-brooking/) accessed 9 Jun 2026; RNZ (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/597538/who-s-in-who-s-out-labour-unveils-list-for-november-election) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Beehive.govt.nz (https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/biography/rachel-brooking) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ --- ## Public Positions Relevant to Older New Zealanders | Issue | Position | Source | Date | | ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- | | Dunedin Hospital bed cuts for seniors | Supported Ingrid Leary's call to reverse cuts to dementia/psychogeriatric beds; shared the press release stating "National is reducing dementia and psychogeriatric beds capacity at the new Dunedin Hospital by almost half, with no alternative clinical option for older people" | Labour Party release (https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-cuts-to-beds-for-seniors-at-dunedin-hospital/) | 2 May 2025 | | Retirement Villages Act reform | Visited Summerset Dunedin retirement village; discussed Ingrid Leary's draft bill calling for faster repayments to departing residents | Facebook post (https://www.facebook.com/RachelBrookingMP/posts/visited-summerset-dunedin-last-monday-i-was-invited-to-speak-about-ingrid-leary-/1287204116744184/) | 2025 | | New Dunedin Hospital cuts | Participated in protest against National Government cuts to the new Dunedin Hospital; marched with constituents | RNZ (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/533103/money-s-their-priority-nurses-beg-government-to-honour-dunedin-hospital-promise) | 2024 | | Boarding house tenant protection | Sponsored member's bill — Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill — to improve oversight and transparency in boarding houses (housing for vulnerable populations incl. older people) | Labour Party release (https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-member-s-bill-to-hold-boarding-house-landlords-accountable/) | May 2026 | | Fast-Track Approvals Bill | Strongly opposed the Fast-Track Approvals Bill as environment spokesperson; expressed concerns about environmental protections being overridden | RNZ, multiple releases 2024–2026 | 2024–2026 | | Climate change & environment | Professional background in environmental law; opposes weakening of environmental protections; promotes circular economy and waste minimisation | Various parliamentary interventions and media | Ongoing | **No clear public position found** on: NZ Superannuation, retirement age, pension settings, aged care funding models, dementia care funding, elder abuse, disability support reform, palliative care, or seniors-specific tax policy. --- ## Parliamentary Activity ### Select Committees - **Environment Committee** (current member) — scrutinises environmental, conservation, climate legislation - Previously: Regulations Review Committee, Finance and Expenditure Committee ### Bills Sponsored / Supported - **Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill** (Member's Bill, drawn from ballot May 2026) — sponsored in name after Jenny Salesa's similar bill was not drawn. Requires registration of boarding house landlords. Relevant to vulnerable older tenants in boarding houses. ### Oral Questions Rachel Brooking has asked oral questions primarily in her portfolio areas: - Questions to Minister of Conservation on conservation matters - Questions to Minister for RMA Reform / Environment on fast-track approvals, resource management - Question to Chairperson of Environment Committee on committee procedures (Nov 2025) - Previously asked questions as Minister (2022–2023) ### Youth Parliament - Mentored youth MP for Youth Parliament 2025 _Sources: Parliament.nz (https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/brooking-rachel/) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Facebook/NZParliament various posts; Instagram @rachelbrookingmp_ --- ## Declared Interests (Register of Pecuniary Interests) From the Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament, Summary of Annual Returns as at 31 January 2025: | Category | Details | | ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Company directorships** | CGCA Jackson Limited — medical practice (husband's practice) | | **Trusts (trustee and beneficiary)** | Tom and Trish Brooking Family Trust; Brooking Jackson Business Trust; Brooking Jackson Private Trust | | **Real property** | Residential property (in family trust) — Dunedin; Family home (jointly owned) — Dunedin | | **Retirement schemes** | AMP KiwiSaver | | **Debts** | ANZ Bank mortgage | **Relevance to seniors/health/aged care:** The directorship of CGCA Jackson Limited (a medical practice) represents a health-sector interest, though this is her husband's oncology practice. No direct interests in aged care, retirement villages, or disability services companies. _Sources: Parliament.nz, Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament — Summary of Annual Returns as at 31 January 2025 (https://www3.parliament.nz/media/11765/register-of-pecuniary-and-other-specified-interests-of-members-of-parliament-summary-of-annual-returns-as-at-31-january-2025.pdf) accessed 9 Jun 2026; PublicData NZ (https://publicdata.co.nz/public-sector-people/rachel-brooking) accessed 9 Jun 2026; Stuff (https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350472656/revealed-how-many-properties-each-new-zealand-mp-owns) accessed 9 Jun 2026_ --- ## Business-Decision Implications - **Low direct relevance** for aged care, retirement village, or seniors-services businesses - As Environment and RMA Reform spokesperson, she is a key opposition voice on resource management and fast-track consenting — relevant for property developers, infrastructure, retirement village construction - As MP for Dunedin (high proportion of older residents), may advocate on local health infrastructure and aged care bed capacity - Her Boarding House Bill, if passed, would affect operators of boarding houses (some of whom house older tenants) - Husband is a prominent oncologist — may have indirect interest in health policy but no declared health-sector business interests --- ## Campaign Relevance - **Ranked #11** on 2026 Labour list — secure position, likely to return to Parliament - Campaign themes likely to focus on environment, RMA reform, and local Dunedin issues (hospital, jobs) - Labour's ability to hold Dunedin electorate will be a target for National - Not a frontbencher on health, seniors, or social development — unlikely to be a lead voice on seniors policy - Could become a minister in a future Labour government in environment/resource management portfolios, which affect retirement village and aged care facility development through consenting processes --- ## Monitoring Terms For ongoing tracking of this MP's relevance to seniors policy, monitor: - `"Rachel Brooking" AND ("aged care" OR "seniors" OR "retirement" OR "dementia" OR "hospital")` - Labour Party spokespeople reshuffles (could gain seniors/health portfolio in future) - Environment Committee inquiries into retirement village regulation or accessible housing - Dunedin Hospital project developments - Retirement Villages Act reform progress --- ## Source List | Source | URL | Date Accessed | | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | | Parliament.nz — Rachel Brooking page | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/brooking-rachel/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Wikipedia — Rachel Brooking | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Brooking | 9 Jun 2026 | | Labour Party — Hon Rachel Brooking | https://www.labour.org.nz/our-team/hon-rachel-brooking/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Beehive.govt.nz — Ministerial biography | https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/biography/rachel-brooking | 9 Jun 2026 | | RNZ — Labour list for 2026 election | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/597538/who-s-in-who-s-out-labour-unveils-list-for-november-election | 9 Jun 2026 | | Labour release — Cuts to beds for seniors at Dunedin Hospital | https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-cuts-to-beds-for-seniors-at-dunedin-hospital/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Labour release — Boarding House Bill | https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-member-s-bill-to-hold-boarding-house-landlords-accountable/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Register of Pecuniary Interests 2025 (PDF) | https://www3.parliament.nz/media/11765/register-of-pecuniary-and-other-specified-interests-of-members-of-parliament-summary-of-annual-returns-as-at-31-january-2025.pdf | 9 Jun 2026 | | PublicData NZ — Rachel Brooking | https://publicdata.co.nz/public-sector-people/rachel-brooking | 9 Jun 2026 | | Stuff — MPs' property holdings | https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350472656/revealed-how-many-properties-each-new-zealand-mp-owns | 9 Jun 2026 | | RNZ — Dunedin Hospital protest | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/533103/money-s-their-priority-nurses-beg-government-to-honour-dunedin-hospital-promise | 9 Jun 2026 | | RNZ — RMA replacement legislation | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/581993/legislation-to-replace-rma-sent-to-environment-select-committee | 9 Jun 2026 | | Facebook — Rachel Brooking MP (Summerset visit) | https://www.facebook.com/RachelBrookingMP/posts/visited-summerset-dunedin-last-monday-i-was-invited-to-speak-about-ingrid-leary-/1287204116744184/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | Instagram — @rachelbrookingmp | https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrookingmp/ | 9 Jun 2026 | | NZ Herald — MPs' financial interests | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/luxury-gifts-property-and-debt-search-your-mps-financial-and-legal-interests/premium/ZOLM2NZJRNDWBN5SK3ROUPGPSU/ | 9 Jun 2026 | --- _Profile generated: 9 Jun 2026. This profile contains only publicly available information from official parliamentary, government, and media sources. No private or personal information beyond what is already in the public domain is included._