Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean is the quintessential people person. Elected as the Member of Parliament for Otago in 2005 after winning the seat from Labour, Jacqui successfully campaigned on her innate knowledge of Otago and the people who call it home.
At the 2008 General Election, following boundary changes, she was elected as MP for Waitaki with a 10,176 majority.
Born in 1957 in Palmerston North in a family of 6, Jacqui was raised to set goals and encouraged to reach them. A can do attitude, enviable energy levels and genuine desire to ensure people get a fair deal sparked her interest in national politics.
Prior to that, Jacqui gained experience in governance at the Waitaki District Council where she was elected as district councillor in 1996 and, then deputy mayor of the Waitaki District in 1999. Her work with the Council provided the springboard to a career in national politics and, allowed Jacqui to develop her now well honed skills in getting to the heart of an issue and understanding how it will affect people.
Jacqui is has recently been appointed as Chairperson of the Law and Order Select Committee which considers matters relating to corrections, courts, criminal law, police, and serious fraud. Jacqui is enthusiastic that this role gives her the opportunity to support the creation of legislation that will maintain effective law enforcement and create safer communities for all New Zealanders.
Jacqui is also a member of the Local Government and Environment Select Committee and is excited about both adding further value to, and also being involved with such a big scope of areas through both of these Select Committees.
Jacqui is also a member of National’s BlueGreen Team. While reveling in the challenge of being a Member of Parliament, Jacqui remains committed to being an effective electorate MP. Never still for long, she regularly attends events and meets with constituents throughout the enormous expanse of the Waitaki electorate.
Determined to effectively represent her communities’ concerns, Jacqui has presented two members’ bills to parliament during her first term as a Member of Parliament – one seeking changes in Easter Trading hours and the second seeking a ban on the sale of party pills. During her second term Jacqui plans readdress the Easter Trading situation.
Equally at home in Parliament's debating chamber or catching up with parents at local playcentres, Jacqui has a rare ability to get to the heart of an issue and ensure that the people she represents are heard by the nation's decison makers.
