Jacqui Dean is the MP for Waitaki. She is also a member of National’s Bluegreen Team.

Jacqui is committed to protecting our environment while also allowing for sensible development - issues of huge importance to the Waitaki electorate.

After being elected to Parliament in the Otago electorate in 2005, she has proactively supported a range of constituents’ interests from preparing a draft bill to extend Easter Trading Hours to seeking changes in legislation surrounding the sale and marketing of party pills.

Jacqui's commitment continues since being elected the MP for Waitaki in the 2008 Election.  While the Waitaki electorate is geographically large, Jacqui thrives on hitting the road and meeting people in various towns around the province. The flipside to time spent travelling is the chance to enjoy the wide open spaces, spectacular scenery and unique lifestyle for which the province is known.

No stranger to representing community interests, Jacqui spent time as a Waitaki District Councillor and as Deputy Mayor of Waitaki where she was the highest polling councillor for two consecutive elections and had responsibilities for policy development as well as implementing the Local Government Act (2002).

Previous roles include marketing manager and polytechnic tutor, retail manager, professional actor, radio announcer and presenter of the much loved children’s television programme Play School. She has also acted in four Roger Hall world premieres while working as a professional actor at Dunedin’s Fortune Theatre and, studied education at tertiary level.

Her CV features involvement in an exhausting array of community and voluntary roles. Previous hats worn include swim coach, parent help, producer, director, adjudicator, judge and compere for a host of community and school events.

Jacqui is currently the patron of the North Otago SPCA and in the past has produced a Wearable Arts fundraiser for the Waitaki Community Recreation Centre, was a committee member and voluntary organiser for Oamaru’s millennium celebrations in Takaro Park, a committee member of St Kevin’s College Home and School Association and a trustee of the Whitestone Civic Trust.

Jacqui is married to Oamaru lawyer and fellow four-wheel drive enthusiast Bill Dean. They have three children aged 32, 22 and 20. When she is at home Jacqui enjoys walking on their lifestyle block south of Oamaru, swimming and occasionally turning off her cell phone!

Jacqui with Prime Minister John Key