Ryan Hamilton
MP
Hamilton in 2023
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Hamilton East
Assumed office
14 October 2023
Preceded byJamie Strange
Hamilton City Councillor for the East Ward
In office
22 February 2018 – October 2023
Preceded byPhilip Yeung
Personal details
Born1979 or 1980 (age 43–44)
Political partyNational
SpouseMarie
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Waikato

Ryan Alexander Hamilton[1] (born 1979 or 1980)[2] is a New Zealand politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Hamilton East representing the National Party since the 2023 general election. He was a Hamilton city councillor from 2018 until resigning following his election to Parliament.

Political career

Hamilton City Council

Hamilton unsuccessfully ran for the Hamilton City Council in 2004, 2010, and 2016.[3][4][5] He also unsuccessfully ran for election to the WEL Energy Trust and the Waikato District Health Board.[6] He was finally elected to the council in a February 2018 by-election following the death of councillor Philip Yeung.[7] He was elected to a full term in 2019 and in 2022 was the highest-polling councillor in the East Ward.[8]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the only councillor to vote against requiring My Vaccine Pass to enter council facilities.[9]

He formally resigned from his seat on the Council in October 2023 following his election to Parliament.[10]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2023–present 54th Hamilton East 66 National

Hamilton expressed interest in being the National candidate for Hamilton East in August 2022 following David Bennett's decision to retire.[11] He was selected as the candidate in February 2023[12] and placed 66th on the 2023 party list.[13] During the election campaign there was a media exposé on Hamilton's social media history linking him to conspiracy theories about fluoridation in drinking water and others relating to Covid-19 including calling vaccine mandates illegal. Hamilton did not respond to media interview requests but the National Party released an unsolicited statement in Hamilton's name apologising for his past comments.[14]

On election night, Hamilton won the Hamilton East electorate, defeating Labour's candidate Georgie Dansey by 5,060 votes.[15][16]

Personal life

Hamilton is married with three children. His mother, Mavora Hamilton, also served as a Hamilton City Councillor.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Members Sworn". New Zealand Parliament. 5 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Hamilton City Council by-election candidates". New Zealand Herald. 25 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "Hamilton City Council: Elections 2004 OFFICIAL RESULTS". Hamilton City Council. Archived from the original on 8 December 2004.
  4. ↑ "Progressive election results in Hamilton" (Press release). Hamilton City Council. Scoop. 9 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "Results". Hamilton City Council. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016.
  6. ↑ Wilson, Libby (24 February 2018). "Prostitution bylaw a catalyst for city councillor's interest in politics". Stuff.
  7. ↑ "Ryan Hamilton elected new Hamilton councillor in by-election". Stuff. 18 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Elections". Hamilton City Council.
  9. ↑ Mather, Mike (30 November 2021). "City councillor votes against use of vaccine pass to enter council facilities". Stuff.
  10. ↑ "Hamilton City Council confirms by-election for Hamilton East". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Ward, Stephen (22 August 2022). "Councillors eye National candidacy in Hamilton East for next year". Stuff.
  12. ↑ "Hamilton For Hamilton: Ryan Hamilton Selected As National's Candidate In Hamilton East" (Press release). Scoop. 17 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Coughlan, Thomas (19 August 2023). "Election 2023: Christopher Luxon unveils list, senior MP withdraws". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  14. ↑ Bradley, Anusha; Ferguson, Susie (18 September 2023). "Ryan Hamilton: National's anti-fluoride, anti-mandate MP-in-waiting". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "Waikato election 2023 results: reaction from around the region". The New Zealand Herald. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "Hamilton East - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  17. ↑ Rowland, Tom (23 February 2018). "New Hamilton city councillor Ryan Hamilton sworn in". The New Zealand Herald.
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