# MP Profile: Maureen Pugh (National) **File created:** 8 June 2026 **Source data refreshed:** 8 June 2026 **Status:** βœ… DONE --- ## CURRENT ROLES | Role | Detail | | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Electorate** | West Coast-Tasman (won 2023, majority 1,017) | | **Party** | National | | **Parliamentary role** | **First Assistant Speaker of the House** (since 6 Dec 2023) | | **Select Committee** | Social Services and Community (Member, since 6 Dec 2023) | | **Former portfolios (Opposition)** | Disability Issues and Carers (2023); Community and Voluntary Sector (2020–2023) | | **Retirement** | Announced 23 Jan 2026 β€” will retire at 2026 general election | _Sources: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Pugh); Parliament.nz (https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/pugh-maureen/); National Party (https://www.national.org.nz/team/maureenpugh)_ --- ## RELEVANCE SCORE: 🟑 MEDIUM **Explanation:** As First Assistant Speaker, Pugh does not hold ministerial portfolios or opposition spokesperson roles directly touching seniors policy, but she **sits on the Social Services and Community Committee**, which handles legislation on social development, social housing, income support, seniors, disability, and community services. Her former opposition portfolios (Disability Issues and Carers, Community and Voluntary Sector) give her relevant background. Her electorate (West Coast-Tasman) has an older demographic profile with rural ageing challenges β€” limited health services, aged-care provision, and transport access are ongoing local issues. However, she is retiring at the 2026 election, limiting future relevance. --- ## PUBLIC BACKGROUND ### Professional & Political Career - **Mayor of Westland** (2004–2013) β€” first woman mayor on the West Coast; served nine years. - **Westland District Councillor** (1998–2004). - **Entered Parliament** 2016 as list MP after Tim Groser's resignation; known as the "yo-yo MP" after losing and regaining her seat multiple times via special votes. - **Won West Coast-Tasman electorate** in 2023, unseating long-serving Labour MP Damien O'Connor. - **Awarded ONZM** (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit) in 2014 New Year Honours for services to local government. - **Farmer** β€” active farmer with family history in farming; lives near Kumara on the West Coast. ### Policy Experience - Former Opposition Spokesperson for **Disability Issues and Carers** (portfolio created Jan 2023). - Former Opposition Spokesperson for **Community and Voluntary Sector** (2020–2023). - Strong advocate for West Coast regional economic development, mining consents reform, renewable energy, and reducing bureaucratic burden on businesses and farmers. _Sources: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Pugh); NZDSA interview (https://nzdsa.org.nz/maureen-pugh-spokesperson-for-disability-issues-national-party-by-sarah-paterson-hamlin/); RNZ (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/election-2023/500272/maureen-pugh-on-plans-as-west-coast-tasman-mp-a-reset-in-mindset)_ --- ## PUBLIC POSITIONS RELEVANT TO OLDER NEW ZEALANDERS | Issue | Position | Source | Date | | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- | -------- | | **Disability support & carers** | As National's disability and carers spokesperson (2023), described the portfolio as covering >20% of NZ's population including carers/family. Emphasised non-financial barriers and committed to no reduction in disability funding under a National-led government. Supported early intervention/social investment but acknowledged it is "an expensive first hit." | NZDSA interview | Oct 2023 | | **Disability Allowance red tape** | While serving on select committee for the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill, cited the example of an amputee needing a doctor's note every year for Disability Allowance ("My leg isn't going to grow!") as illustrating unnecessary bureaucracy. | NZDSA interview | Oct 2023 | | **Minimum wage exemptions for disabled workers** | Expressed disappointment at the Government's removal of minimum wage exemptions for disabled workers. Praised social enterprises like Kilmarnock Enterprises and argued exemptions enable social interaction and fair reward. | NZDSA interview | Oct 2023 | | **Welfare sanctions for disabled people** | When asked about National's "Welfare that Works" policy and potential sanctions on disabled jobseekers, said "It would defy common sense for disabled people to experience these sanctions, and I doubt very much whether we're going to do away with common sense." | NZDSA interview | Oct 2023 | | **Health services (West Coast)** | Participated in Rural Health Roadshow with Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey in Greymouth (2024) β€” public meeting on rural and mental health services. Advocated for improved frontline health services on the West Coast. | Facebook (Matt Doocey MP) | 2024 | | **Aged care** | No specific public position statements found on aged care, retirement villages, NZ Super, or dementia policy. Her Facebook page shared government announcements on health investment where constituents raised aged-care concerns in comments. | Facebook | β€” | | **Pharmaceuticals / natural health** | 2016 controversy: said she "doesn't believe in pharmaceutical drugs" and "nature delivers whatever people need." Later clarified she supports Panadol and anaesthetic. One of the last MPs to receive COVID-19 vaccination. This could have implications for older constituents' access to medicines. | Stuff/RNZ (2016) | 2016 | | **Electricity costs (seniors impact)** | Advocates for reducing West Coast electricity prices (~25% higher than other regions), which disproportionately affects older people on fixed incomes. | RNZ | Oct 2023 | | **COVID-19 mandates** | Described mandates as "heart-breaking" and "ruling by fear is a cruel way to manage anything." Stated this as reason for initially not vaccinating; later reversed to "do my job." | NZDSA interview | Oct 2023 | **Assessment:** No clear public position found on NZ Super, retirement villages, dementia, palliative care, elder abuse, or seniors-specific housing policy. Her relevant contributions come mainly through her Disability and Carers spokesperson role (2023) and committee work on the Social Services and Community Committee. --- ## PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY ### Bills Sponsored (Members' Bills) | Bill | Status | Description | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Freedom Camping (Infringement Offences and Other Matters) Amendment Bill** | Defeated (Mar 2023) | Sought to make freedom camping restrictions more consistent and strengthen enforcement | | **Adverse Weather-affected Timber Recovery on Conservation Lands Bill** | Defeated (Mar 2023) | Would have allowed DOC to grant access for timber removal after adverse weather events | | **Crimes (Coward Punch Causing Injury or Death) Amendment Bill** | Ballot entry (Sep 2022) | Entered member's bill ballot but not drawn | _Source: WhereTheyStand (https://wheretheystand.nz/people/maureen-pugh/bills); Parliament.nz (https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/members-bills-ballots-archive/member-s-bill-ballot-for-thursday-22-september-2022/)_ ### Oral Questions (Selected β€” relevant to seniors/health/social) | Date | Question to | Topic | | ----------- | --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2 Apr 2026 | Hon Penny Simmonds (Social Development) | Asked what a government announcement meant for the West Coast (Tairawhiti/NZ Super-related changes) | | 15 Oct 2025 | Minister for Tourism and Hospitality | Tourism in New Zealand | | 29 Aug 2019 | Minister for the Environment | Westpower's hydro scheme application | | Various | Multiple portfolios | As an opposition MP (2018–2023), Pugh asked 79+ written questions covering rural communities, health, transport, energy, conservation, education, regional development, and agriculture | _Sources: Scoop (https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2604/S00034/oral-questions-to-ministers-sitting-date-2-april-2026.htm); Stuff (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107935249/the-woman-behind-the-headlines-who-is-national-mp-maureen-pugh); Podtail (https://podtail.se/podcast/rnz-parliament-live-stream-and-question-time/oral-questions-for-15-october-2025/)_ ### Select Committee Work - **Social Services and Community Committee (Member, Dec 2023–present):** Scrutinises legislation on social development, social housing, income support, seniors, children, young people, disability, community and voluntary sector, arts, culture, sport. - Previously served on the same committee during her earlier terms in Opposition (2018). --- ## DECLARED INTERESTS (Register of Pecuniary Interests) _As at 31 January 2025 (54th Parliament, second summary)_ | Category | Detail | | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Directorships** | Pugh Contracting Limited β€” beef and sheep farm | | **Business entities** | JMS Partnership β€” beef and sheep farming (historical; may have been restructured) | | **Real property** | Family home on farm at Kumara, West Coast | | **Timeshare** | Timeshare in New South Wales, Australia (declared in earlier registers) | | **Retirement scheme** | KiwiSaver (type not specified in public summary) | **Relevant interests for seniors/health/housing:** Pugh's farming interests (sheep and beef) are in the rural sector. No declared interests in health, aged care, retirement villages, pharmacy, or disability service providers. _Sources: Parliament.nz (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); Stuff (https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300881760/propertyowning-mps-will-be-feeling-mortgage-pain-too); NZ Herald (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/mps-property-portfolios-christopher-luxon-sells-investment-houses-politicians-with-overseas-interests/KXBDH4LYB5AKJGEEBPTKFYHL4E/)_ --- ## BUSINESS-DECISION IMPLICATIONS - **Low direct relevance** to seniors-sector businesses (retirement villages, aged care, home support). Pugh does not hold ministerial portfolios or opposition spokesperson roles that directly shape health, housing, or seniors policy. - **Indirect relevance via committee:** Her seat on Social Services and Community means she participates in scrutiny of bills affecting social housing, income support (NZ Super), and disability support. However, as Assistant Speaker she must act impartially in the chair and is unlikely to use this role to advance particular policy positions. - **Regional health advocacy:** May engage on West Coast health service delivery issues (hospital services, rural health, aged-care access in smaller towns), which could be relevant for providers operating in that region. - **Retiring:** Her influence is time-limited β€” she will leave Parliament at the 2026 election (7 November 2026). --- ## CAMPAIGN RELEVANCE - **Retiring β€” not standing for re-election.** High likelihood the West Coast-Tasman electorate will be hotly contested in 2026. Pugh won it from Labour in 2023 by only 1,017 votes. - **National candidate for West Coast-Tasman** in the 2026 election had not been confirmed as of June 2026; speculation includes Katie Milne (former West Coast Regional Council chair) as potential National candidate. - Pugh's retirement gives her limited campaign relevance going forward, though her legacy positions on disability, community sector, and regional development may be referenced. --- ## MONITORING TERMS | Term | Rationale | | ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Maureen Pugh | General monitoring (low priority due to retirement) | | West Coast-Tasman + health | Regional health/aged-care service delivery | | Social Services and Community Committee | Any bills on NZ Super, seniors, or disability passing through committee | | Pugh Contracting Limited | Pecuniary interest β€” farming sector development | | West Coast + aged care + retirement village | Regional aged-care capacity issues | --- ## SOURCE LIST | Source | URL | Date Accessed | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------- | | Wikipedia β€” Maureen Pugh | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Pugh | 8 Jun 2026 | | Parliament.nz β€” Pugh, Maureen (profile page) | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/pugh-maureen/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | National Party β€” Maureen Pugh team page | https://www.national.org.nz/team/maureenpugh | 8 Jun 2026 | | National Party β€” Retirement announcement | https://www.national.org.nz/news/20261123-maureen-pugh-to-retire-at-2026-election | 8 Jun 2026 | | RNZ β€” "Maureen Pugh on plans as West Coast-Tasman MP" (Oct 2023) | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/election-2023/500272/maureen-pugh-on-plans-as-west-coast-tasman-mp-a-reset-in-mindset | 8 Jun 2026 | | RNZ β€” "National MP Maureen Pugh to retire from Parliament" (Jan 2026) | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regions_tasman/584864/national-mp-maureen-pugh-to-retire-from-parliament | 8 Jun 2026 | | RNZ β€” "MP Maureen Pugh pitches one-stop-shop for mining consents" (Jul 2025) | https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/565877/mp-maureen-pugh-pitches-one-stop-shop-for-mining-consents | 8 Jun 2026 | | Stuff β€” "The woman behind the headlines: Who is National MP Maureen Pugh?" (Oct 2018) | https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107935249/the-woman-behind-the-headlines-who-is-national-mp-maureen-pugh | 8 Jun 2026 | | Stuff β€” "Property-owning MPs 'will be feeling mortgage pain too'" | https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300881760/propertyowning-mps-will-be-feeling-mortgage-pain-too | 8 Jun 2026 | | Stuff β€” "Revealed: How many properties each NZ MP owns" (May 2023) | https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350472656/revealed-how-many-properties-each-new-zealand-mp-owns | 8 Jun 2026 | | NZDSA β€” "Maureen Pugh, Spokesperson for Disability Issues, National Party" (Oct 2023) | https://nzdsa.org.nz/maureen-pugh-spokesperson-for-disability-issues-national-party-by-sarah-paterson-hamlin/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | Parliament.nz β€” Register of Pecuniary Interests (PDF, Jan 2025) | 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 | | Scoop β€” Oral Questions 2 Apr 2026 | https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2604/S00034/oral-questions-to-ministers-sitting-date-2-april-2026.htm | 8 Jun 2026 | | WhereTheyStand β€” Maureen Pugh bills | https://wheretheystand.nz/people/maureen-pugh/bills | 8 Jun 2026 | | Parliament.nz β€” Member's bill ballot 22 Sep 2022 | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/members-bills-ballots-archive/member-s-bill-ballot-for-thursday-22-september-2022/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | NZ Herald β€” "MPs' property portfolios" | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/mps-property-portfolios-christopher-luxon-sells-investment-houses-politicians-with-overseas-interests/KXBDH4LYB5AKJGEEBPTKFYHL4E/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | NZ Herald β€” "Assistant Speaker Maureen Pugh faces calls to apologise" | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/assistant-speaker-maureen-pugh-faces-calls-to-apologise/7END4SMN2E33NSXEYMTDIEWNNQ/ | 8 Jun 2026 | | Scoop β€” Offshore Renewable Energy Bill (Pugh as Assistant Speaker) | https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2512/S00207/offshore-renewable-energy-bill-second-reading.htm | 8 Jun 2026 | | Parliament.nz β€” Social Services and Community Committee | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/scl/social-services-and-community/tab/mp | 8 Jun 2026 | --- _Profile compiled from publicly available sources. Every factual claim is sourced. No private personal details included. Distinguishes between established facts, campaign rhetoric, and media commentary._