Iain Lees-Galloway is a politician from New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. He was elected to represent the Labour Party

New Zealand Labour Party

The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....

 in the seat of Palmerston North

Palmerston North (New Zealand electorate)

Palmerston North is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Palmerston North is Iain Lees-Galloway of the Labour Party...

 at the 2008 general election

New Zealand general election, 2008

The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...

. Lees-Galloway replaced Steve Maharey

Steve Maharey

Steven "Steve" Maharey CNZM is a former Member of Parliament for Palmerston North in New Zealand, as a member of the Labour Party...

, who retired from Parliament to become Vice Chancellor of Massey University

Massey University

Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...

.

Early life

Lees-Galloway was born in Auckland where he attended Kings College

King's College, Auckland

King's College is an independent secondary school in New Zealand. It was originally a boys-only school but now also admits girls in the sixth and seventh forms . The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of...

. He moved to Palmerston North to study at Massey University

Massey University

Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...

 where he was president of the Massey University Students' Association in 2005.

Professional life

Following his term as student president, Lees-Galloway worked for the New Zealand Nurses Organisation

New Zealand Nurses Organisation

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is New Zealand's largest trade union and professional organisation that represents the nursing profession, midwives and caregivers....

 as an organiser and subsequently publicity coordinator.

Member of Parliament

Lees-Galloway was selected as successor to sitting MP Steve Maharey in a contested Labour Party selection. He defeated the National Party candidate, Malcolm Plimmer with a majority of 1,117 votes. Lees-Galloway was appointed Labour's spokesperson on Land Information, and associate spokesperson on Defence and Health (Drugs and Alcohol).

In September 2010, his Smoke-free Environments (Removing Tobacco Displays) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill is currently waiting for its first reading.

External links

• Iain Lees-Galloway at the New Zealand Parliament website