# MP Profile: Shane Jones (NZ First) **Party:** New Zealand First **Electorate:** List MP **Parliament URL:** https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/jones-shane/ _(Radware-blocked — inaccessible via automated scraping)_ **Current Roles:** - Minister for Regional Development - Minister for Oceans and Fisheries - Minister of Resources **Relevance to Seniors:** 🟡 **MEDIUM** — _Regional Development portfolio affects infrastructure, services, and economic development in provincial areas with high senior populations. NZ First's core voter base is older and regional._ --- ## Public Background Shane Jones (Te Aupōuri) is a senior New Zealand First MP who has served multiple terms in Parliament (2005–2014, 2020–present). He has held a range of senior ministerial roles including Minister of Forestry, Minister for Regional Economic Development, and Ambassador to the United States. Before returning to Parliament in 2020, he served as a diplomat and held roles in Māori economic development. His portfolios include Regional Development (which covers provincial infrastructure, economic development, and community investment), Oceans/Fisheries, and Resources. While these portfolios are not directly seniors-focused, Regional Development significantly affects the services and infrastructure that support older people in provincial and regional New Zealand — areas where NZ First draws much of its support. Jones is a colourful and outspoken political figure, well known nationally, and is a key NZ First campaign asset for the 2026 election. --- ## Public Positions Relevant to Older New Zealanders | Policy Area | Stated Position / Activity | | ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Regional Infrastructure** | Regional development funding for health facilities, transport, and community centres — benefits older residents in provincial towns. | | **Provincial Economic Development** | Job creation and economic activity in regions — benefits older workers and keeps younger people in regions (supporting older parents locally). | | **Health Services in Regions** | Advocacy for health services in provincial areas — hospitals, aged care, primary care. | | **Rural Transport** | Regional transport funding — affecting older non-drivers' access to services. | | **Broadband/Digital in Regions** | Digital connectivity for older people in regional areas — access to online health and government services. | | **Fisheries & Older Workers** | Fisheries portfolio affects coastal communities including older fishing industry workers and retirees. | | **Resource Management & Housing** | Resource Management portfolio — housing supply in regional areas affects seniors wanting to downsize. | | **Māori Economic Development** | Māori portfolio connections — kaumātua wellbeing in regional Māori communities. | | **NZ First Voter Base** | Represents NZ First's core demographic: older, provincial, and National-leaning but alienated voters. | --- ## Voting & Bill Relevance - **Regional Development (Provincial Growth Fund) Bills:** Budget appropriations for regional infrastructure and services. - **Resource Management Amendment Bills:** Housing supply, regional development, and environmental regulation. - **Fisheries Act Amendments:** Fishing industry regulation affecting coastal communities and older fishing families. - **Land Transport (Regional) Bills:** Transport funding for provincial roads, public transport, and community transport. - **Telecommunications (Rural Broadband) Bills:** Digital connectivity for regional older residents. --- ## Business Implications - **Regional Development Projects:** Infrastructure and economic development contracts — health facilities, transport, digital connectivity. - **Resource Sector:** Mining, forestry, and fishing — older workers and retirees in resource-dependent communities. - **Transport Infrastructure:** Roading and public transport in provincial areas serving older residents. - **Fishing Industry:** Quota management, fishing permits — affects older fishing families. - **Broadband Providers:** Rural connectivity infrastructure. - **Housing Developers:** Regional housing supply for seniors. --- ## Campaign Relevance - **List MP (NZ First):** Jones is a critical NZ First campaign asset — high name recognition, strong speaker, connects with older provincial voters. - **NZ First's Heartland Strategy:** NZ First targets provincial and regional voters — older voters in towns, farming communities, and coastal settlements. - **Māori and Regional Voters:** Jones connects NZ First to Māori voters and regional economic nationalism. - **Senior National Figure:** Jones is one of the better-known NZ First MPs — his campaign presence matters for party vote. - **2026 Election:** Regional development, resource management, and infrastructure spending will be NZ First campaign planks. --- ## Source List - Beehive.govt.nz — Regional Development announcements, Fisheries, Resources - Parliament.nz — MP profile _(Radware-blocked)_ - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment — Regional development, resource policy - Ministry for Primary Industries — Fisheries management - NZ First Party — Regional development policy, resource policy - Official Hansard — Regional development estimates, Question Time - NZ Herald, RNZ, Newsroom — Shane Jones coverage, regional development --- _Profile last updated: June 2026_