# 2026 MP Profile — Barbara Kuriger (National) **File created:** 8 June 2026 **Source of data:** Publicly available information from Parliament.nz, Wikipedia, NZ Herald, Stuff, RNZ, Waikato Times, National Party website, Register of Pecuniary Interests 2025, Newsroom, social media, parliamentary records. **Caveat:** This profile is compiled from public sources only. It does not include private personal information. Distinguish sourced facts from campaign rhetoric where noted. --- ## CURRENT ROLES | Role | Detail | Source | | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Electorate** | Taranaki-King Country (since 20 Sep 2014) | [Parliament.nz](https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/kuriger-barbara/) | | **Party** | New Zealand National Party | [Parliament.nz](https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/kuriger-barbara/) | | **Parliamentary Role** | Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (since 6 Dec 2023) | [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) | | **Committee** | Parliamentary Service Commission (National Party representative) | [Parliament.nz](https://www3.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/office-of-the-speaker/parliamentary-service-commission/parliamentary-service-commission-annual-report-for-the-year-ended-30-june-2024/) | | **Portfolio/Spokesperson** | None (Deputy Speaker is a presiding officer, not a portfolio holder) | [National Party Team](https://www.national.org.nz/team) | **Previous roles held:** - Senior Whip, National Party (21 Mar 2018 – 10 Nov 2020) — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - Agriculture Spokesperson (2021–Oct 2022) — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - Conservation Spokesperson (Jan–Nov 2023) — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - Deputy Chair, Health Committee (2014–2017) — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - Member, Primary Production Committee (2014–2017) — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - Chair, Governance and Administration Committee (2020–2021) — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) --- ## RELEVANCE SCORE: 🟡 MEDIUM **Explanation:** Barbara Kuriger is the Deputy Speaker of the House, a presiding officer role that does not carry portfolio or policy responsibilities. She is not a Minister, Associate Minister, or opposition spokesperson in any portfolio touching seniors, health, housing, or social development. However, her **rural electorate (Taranaki-King Country)** has a median age of **46.1 years** (vs national median 38.1), indicating a significantly higher proportion of older residents — many of whom are farmers or rural retirees. She previously served as Deputy Chair of the Health Committee (2014–2017), which heard submissions on medically-assisted dying and the pension age increase debate. She has presented petitions on rural healthcare funding, which indirectly affects older rural residents. Her declared interests include significant dairy farming operations and multiple properties. | Factor | Assessment | | -------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Ministerial portfolio touching seniors | ❌ None | | Opposition spokesperson relevant to seniors | ❌ None | | Committee chair (Health/Social/Finance etc.) | ❌ Was Deputy Chair of Health (2014–2017) | | Committee member on relevant committee | ❌ Currently none (Deputy Speaker) | | Electorate with high 65+ / rural ageing | ✅ Taranaki-King Country median age 46.1 | | Previous portfolio relevance | ⚠️ Agriculture (rural ageing context) | --- ## PUBLIC BACKGROUND ### Professional - **Dairy farmer:** Operates a dairy farming business with husband Louis in Ōpunake. Won **Taranaki Sharemilker of the Year** (1978) and **Dairy Woman of the Year** (2012). — [Infonews](https://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=87047) - **Governance roles:** Former board member of DairyNZ, Primary ITO, NZ Young Farmers, Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, Venture Taranaki Trust, Dairy Women's Network, NZ Rural Games Trust. — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) ### Policy Experience - Elected 2014 for Taranaki-King Country (replacing retiring Shane Ardern). Won by 16,773 votes in 2014; re-elected in 2023 by 14,355 votes. — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - Served as Deputy Chair of Health Committee in first term — heard evidence on petitions about medically-assisted dying and engagement with the pension age debate. — [RNZ / The House](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thehouse/555149/death-and-pensions) - Member's Bill: **New Zealand Bill of Rights (Right to Lawfully Acquired Property) Amendment Bill** — aimed to add a property right to the Bill of Rights Act. — [Legislation.govt.nz](https://legislation.govt.nz/bill/member/2023/0271/latest/d6869652e2.html) - Presented a petition (with Christopher Luxon) against the Labour Government's fluoridation directive in 2021. — [Facebook / King Country News](https://www.facebook.com/kingcountrynews/posts/new-roles-for-mptaranaki-king-country-mp-barbara-kuriger-has-emerged-from-the-na/804457373413778/) ### Notable - **Oct 2022:** Resigned as Agriculture Spokesperson after being found to have mismanaged a conflict of interest involving MPI's prosecution of her husband and son for animal cruelty. — [Newsroom](https://newsroom.co.nz/2022/10/19/the-urgent-need-to-update-the-rules-on-political-conflicts-of-interests/) - **Jan 2023:** Moved to Conservation portfolio outside Cabinet following Luxon reshuffle. — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - **Dec 2023:** Appointed Deputy Speaker after National-led coalition government formed. — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - **2025:** Represented NZ Parliament at 54th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference in Nauru. — [Parliament.nz](https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/parliamentary-relations/inter-parliamentary-visits/) --- ## PUBLIC POSITIONS RELEVANT TO OLDER NEW ZEALANDERS | Issue | Position | Source | Date | | -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | | **Rural healthcare access** | Presented petition to Health Select Committee calling for better measurement of rural health needs and adequate funding; criticised Ministry of Health for lacking proper population data for rural NZ; cited defunding of Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa NZ as a specific concern | [NZ Herald](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/mp-barbara-kuriger-presents-petition-calling-for-better-rural-healthcare/LH5ZNNSEJO7N4QRLKQQ5KI2YO4/) | ~2020 (during Labour Govt) | | **Medically-assisted dying** | Served on Health Committee that heard submissions from 1,000+ New Zealanders on the topic; was photographed listening to a submission as a committee member | [RNZ / The House](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thehouse/555149/death-and-pensions) | Mar 2017 | | **NZ Superannuation age** | The Health Committee heard submissions on the Government's plan to increase pension eligibility age to 67 from 2037; Kuriger was a committee member during these hearings | [RNZ / The House](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thehouse/555149/death-and-pensions) | Mar 2017 | | **Medicinal cannabis** | Supports medicinal cannabis "with the right regulation around it"; opposes recreational cannabis use | [NZ Herald — Meet the Backbenchers](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/meet-the-backbenchers-barbara-kuriger/53TTOSQYMLIAKYFRZX2NA7UFJE/) | ~2019 | | **Dementia care access** | Local King Country residents seeking dementia care approached her office but reported no response (per local news report — note: this is an accusation, not confirmed by Kuriger) | [Facebook / King Country News](https://www.facebook.com/kingcountrynews/posts/almost-ready-to-push-the-go-button-on-unittheyre-almost-ready-to-push-the-go-but/719624835230366/) | ~2023 | | **Property rights** | Introduced member's bill to add right to lawfully acquired property to NZ Bill of Rights Act — could affect land-use policies impacting older farmers and retirement village residents | [Legislation.govt.nz](https://legislation.govt.nz/bill/member/2023/0271/latest/d6869652e2.html) | 2023 | | **Rural infrastructure (roads)** | Active advocate for State Highway 3 improvements; described it as her "road of national significance" — road access is a key issue for older rural residents | [Instagram via Carl Bates](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZEfYT4FfDD/) | Jun 2026 | **Overall assessment:** No clear public position found on seniors-specific issues such as NZ Super rates, retirement village regulation, elder abuse, dementia strategy, aged care funding, disability support, palliative care, or carers. Her relevance to older NZers arises primarily through her rural electorate's demographics and her previous Health Committee service. --- ## PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY ### Bills Sponsored | Bill | Type | Status | Source | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | New Zealand Bill of Rights (Right to Lawfully Acquired Property) Amendment Bill | Member's Bill | Drawn from ballot 22 Sep 2022; lapsed at 2023 election | [Legislation.govt.nz](https://legislation.govt.nz/bill/member/2023/0271/latest/d6869652e2.html) | | Oranga Tamariki (Parents' Responsibility) Amendment Bill | Member's Bill | Debated and lost 2018 | [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) | ### Oral Questions (selected — as opposition MP pre-2023) - Multiple questions to Minister of Energy & Resources (2021) — [Parliament.nz](https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/list-of-oral-questions-archive/oral-questions-15-april-2021/) - Question to Minister for Women (2020) — [Parliament.nz](https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/list-of-oral-questions-archive/oral-questions-6-august-2020/) **Note:** As Deputy Speaker (since Dec 2023), Kuriger does not ask oral questions or sponsor bills. Her role is to chair proceedings in the House when the Speaker is absent. ### Petitions Presented | Petition | Date | Source | | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Petition for better rural healthcare measurement and funding | ~2020 | [NZ Herald](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/mp-barbara-kuriger-presents-petition-calling-for-better-rural-healthcare/LH5ZNNSEJO7N4QRLKQQ5KI2YO4/) | | Petition to open Ruffell Road in Te Kowhai | 28 Apr 2026 | [Parliament.nz petition list](https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/scl/petitions/tab/report) | | Petition against fluoridation directive (with Christopher Luxon) | ~2021 | [Facebook / King Country News](https://www.facebook.com/kingcountrynews/posts/new-roles-for-mptaranaki-king-country-mp-barbara-kuriger-has-emerged-from-the-na/804457373413778/) | ### Select Committee Service | Committee | Period | Role | | --------------------------------------- | ------------ | --------------------------- | | Health Committee | 2014–2017 | Deputy Chair | | Primary Production Committee | 2014–2017 | Member | | Governance and Administration Committee | 2020–2021 | Chair | | Parliamentary Service Commission | 2024–present | Member (National Party rep) | --- ## DECLARED INTERESTS (Register of Pecuniary Interests 2025) **Source:** [Register of Pecuniary Interests 2025 (PDF)](https://www3.parliament.nz/media/11939/register-of-pecuniary-and-other-specified-interests-of-members-of-parliament-summary-of-annual-returns-as-at-31-january-2025.pdf); [Waikato Times](https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/350286023/waikato-mps-assets-revealed); [Newsroom](https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/06/21/mps-agree-theyll-sell-off-shares-if-thats-the-price-of-power/) ### Category 1: Company Directorships & Controlling Interests - **Taranaki Growth Spurt Limited** (not trading; previously operated gym franchise) - **Shortland Farm Management Limited** — general partner for dairy farming limited partnerships - **Monster Ernie Farm Management** - **Kuriger Trustees Limited** — trustee company ### Category 2: Interests in Companies & Business Entities - Greenplan (Wild Boar) 1999 Forestry Partnership - Fonterra (co-operative shares) - LIC (Livestock Improvement Corporation) - Shortland Farm Limited Partnerships - Oxbow Dairies Limited (ceased directorship 2014) - Ravensdown (co-operative shares) ### Category 3: Employment - MP salary (as Deputy Speaker) ### Category 4: Trusts - BJ Kuriger Family Trust (trustee/beneficiary) - LS Kuriger Family Trust (trustee/beneficiary) - LS&BJ Kuriger Family Trust (trustee/beneficiary) ### Category 6: Real Property (6 properties) - 2 family homes — New Plymouth & Te Awamutu (held by LS&BJ Kuriger Trusts Partnership) - 2 dairy farms — Ōpunake (held by Shortland Farm LPs) - Dairy farm grazing unit — Ōpunake (joint leasehold) - Apartment — Wellington (held by LS&BJ Kuriger Trusts Partnership) ### Category 7: Retirement Schemes - Kiwi Wealth KiwiSaver Scheme ### Category 9: Debts Owed to Member - Loan accounts from LS&BJ Kuriger Trusts Partnership - Loan accounts from Taranaki Growth Spurt Limited ### Category 10: Debts Owed by Member - ANZ Bank — mortgage ### Interests relevant to seniors/health/aged care/housing: - **Property holdings (6):** Significant residential and farming property portfolio. This suggests a material interest in housing policy, land use regulation, and property rights. - **Dairy farming operations:** Direct involvement in agriculture, relevant to rural economic policy affecting older farmers. - **Trust structures:** Multiple family trusts — relevant to estate planning, trust law, and intergenerational wealth transfer policies affecting older New Zealanders. --- ## BUSINESS-DECISION IMPLICATIONS | Factor | Implication | | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Deputy Speaker role** | Presiding officer — recused from partisan debate; limited ability to advocate on policy but influences House procedure. Not a decision-maker on policy. | | **Rural constituency** | Older rural population means she has a constituency interest in health services, transport (SH3), and rural aged care access. | | **Property portfolio** | Her significant property holdings may influence her perspective on housing policy, RMA reform, and land use regulation. | | **No ministerial portfolio** | Not a decision-maker on health, aged care, housing, or social development policy at the executive level. | | **Pre-2022 agriculture portfolio** | Previous engagement with farming policy — could re-enter this space in future reshuffles. | | **Member's Bill on property rights** | Indicates an interest in property rights that could extend to retirement village and land tenure issues. | **Bottom line for seniors-sector stakeholders:** Barbara Kuriger is not a direct policy influencer in seniors portfolios at present. Her utility is as a constituency MP for a rural electorate with a high proportion of older residents. Engagement should focus on rural health access, transport infrastructure, and general constituency services. --- ## CAMPAIGN RELEVANCE - **Safe National seat:** Taranaki-King Country has been held by National since electorate creation in 2014. Kuriger won 2023 by 14,355 votes against Labour's Angela Roberts. — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger) - **Re-selected:** National re-selected Kuriger as candidate for 2026 election despite controversy. — [RNZ](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/488376/national-re-selects-embattled-mp-barbara-kuriger-for-taranaki-king-country-electorate) - **Electorate demographics:** Median age 46.1 — older than national average. National's traditional base includes older rural voters. The party's commitments on NZ Super, law and order, and rural services will resonate here. - **Deputy Speaker prestige:** Being a presiding officer adds to her local standing but does not deliver policy wins. - **2026 election outlook:** Very safe seat. Kuriger's personal controversies (conflict of interest resignation, family animal cruelty case) did not significantly affect her majority. --- ## MONITORING TERMS ``` "Barbara Kuriger" "Deputy Speaker" "Barbara Kuriger" rural health "Barbara Kuriger" Taranaki-King Country "Kuriger" "aged care" OR "retirement" OR "seniors" OR "NZ Super" "Kuriger" petition "Kuriger" agriculture portfolio "Taranaki-King Country" aged care ``` **Why monitor:** - As Deputy Speaker, she may play a ceremonial role in seniors-related parliamentary events - A future Cabinet reshuffle could see her return to a portfolio (Agriculture, Rural Communities, Conservation) — none of which directly touch seniors policy - Her electorate advocacy on rural health and roads affects older rural residents - Her member's bill on property rights signals a philosophical position that could influence future housing/land policy debates --- ## SOURCE LIST | # | Source | URL | Date Accessed | | --- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | | 1 | Parliament.nz — MP Profile (blocked by Radware) | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/kuriger-barbara/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 2 | Wikipedia — Barbara Kuriger | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kuriger | 8 Jun 2026 | | 3 | National Party — Our Team | https://www.national.org.nz/team | 8 Jun 2026 | | 4 | NZ Herald — Meet the Backbenchers | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/meet-the-backbenchers-barbara-kuriger/53TTOSQYMLIAKYFRZX2NA7UFJE/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 5 | NZ Herald — Rural Healthcare Petition | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/mp-barbara-kuriger-presents-petition-calling-for-better-rural-healthcare/LH5ZNNSEJO7N4QRLKQQ5KI2YO4/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 6 | RNZ / The House — Death and Pensions (Health Committee) | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thehouse/555149/death-and-pensions | 8 Jun 2026 | | 7 | Register of Pecuniary Interests 2025 (PDF) | https://www3.parliament.nz/media/11939/register-of-pecuniary-and-other-specified-interests-of-members-of-parliament-summary-of-annual-returns-as-at-31-january-2025.pdf | 8 Jun 2026 | | 8 | Waikato Times — Waikato MPs' Assets Revealed | https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/350286023/waikato-mps-assets-revealed | 8 Jun 2026 | | 9 | Stuff — Revealed: How Many Properties Each NZ MP Owns | https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350472656/revealed-how-many-properties-each-new-zealand-mp-owns | 8 Jun 2026 | | 10 | Newsroom — Rules on Political Conflicts of Interest | https://newsroom.co.nz/2022/10/19/the-urgent-need-to-update-the-rules-on-political-conflicts-of-interests/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 11 | Newsroom — MPs Agree to Sell Shares | https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/06/21/mps-agree-theyll-sell-off-shares-if-thats-the-price-of-power/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 12 | Infonews — Dairy Woman of the Year 2012 | https://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=87047 | 8 Jun 2026 | | 13 | Legislation.govt.nz — Bill of Rights (Property) Amendment Bill | https://legislation.govt.nz/bill/member/2023/0271/latest/d6869652e2.html | 8 Jun 2026 | | 14 | Parliament.nz — Inter-Parliamentary Visits | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/parliamentary-relations/inter-parliamentary-visits/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 15 | Parliament.nz — Speaker-led Diplomacy | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/parliamentary-relations/speaker-led-diplomacy/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 16 | Parliament.nz — Parliamentary Service Commission Annual Report | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/office-of-the-speaker/parliamentary-service-commission/parliamentary-service-commission-annual-report-for-the-year-ended-30-june-2024/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 17 | RNZ — National Re-selects Kuriger | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/488376/national-re-selects-embattled-mp-barbara-kuriger-for-taranaki-king-country-electorate | 8 Jun 2026 | | 18 | Facebook / King Country News — Dementia care access | https://www.facebook.com/kingcountrynews/posts/almost-ready-to-push-the-go-button-on-unittheyre-almost-ready-to-push-the-go-but/719624835230366/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 19 | Facebook / King Country News — Fluoridation petition | https://www.facebook.com/kingcountrynews/posts/new-roles-for-mptaranaki-king-country-mp-barbara-kuriger-has-emerged-from-the-na/804457373413778/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | 20 | Parliament.nz — Petitions list (Ruffell Road) | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/scl/petitions/tab/report | 8 Jun 2026 | | 21 | Electoral Commission — Enrolment Statistics | https://elections.nz/stats-and-research/enrolment-statistics/enrolment-by-general-electorate | 8 Jun 2026 | | 22 | Figure.NZ — Taranaki-King Country voter turnout by age | https://figure.nz/chart/Pe9YCmzkFjMZ2981 | 8 Jun 2026 | | 23 | Instagram — Barbara Kuriger MP (@barbarakurigermp) | https://www.instagram.com/barbarakurigermp/ | 8 Jun 2026 | --- _Profile compiled by Hermes Agent cron job. Next run will process the next PENDING MP._