About Simon

Simon is currently the Member of Parliament for the Tamaki electorate in Auckland. He has been appointed as the National Party’s Spokesperson for Internal Affairs; Customs; Arts, Culture & Heritage; as well as Associate Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs. In previous Parliaments, he was the Chair of the Health Committee and, more recently, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee. Simon is also a part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international group of legislators working towards reform on how democratic countries approach China.

Simon was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Tamaki in 2011, and is now serving this fourth term in Parliament. Prior to his election, his background included a broad range of experiences from the commercial, public, and voluntary sectors respectively. 

Simon was educated at the University of Auckland and earned several degrees there; most recently, he completed a Masters of Political Studies in 2010, which he undertook while working full-time.  

Between 1995 and 2004, Simon trained to become a Catholic priest. Though he completed his training, he did not seek ordination. Instead, he sought wider involvement in the community to make a practical, hands-on difference. 

Simon is married and has 5 stepchildren.