Mike Butterick
Mike Butterick | |
|---|---|
.png) Butterick in 2023 | |
| 19th Minister for Land Information | |
| Assumed office 7 April 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Chris Penk |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wairarapa | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kieran McAnulty |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael David Butterick 1971 or 1972 (age 53–54)[1] |
| Party | National |
| Spouse | Rachel |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Farmer |
Michael David Butterick (born 1971 or 1972) is a New Zealand farmer and politician. He was elected as a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for Wairarapa, representing the National Party, in the 2023 New Zealand general election. In April 2026, Butterick became Minister for Land Information and associate Minister of Agriculture.
Early life and career
[edit]Butterick grew up in mid-Canterbury, and began his agricultural career as a shepherd in Canterbury. He moved to the Wairarapa region in 1990 and bought a property there in 1995, where he farms sheep and beef. He is the Meat and Wool Chair of the Wairarapa branch of Federated Farmers, and is also a director of Wings over Wairarapa.[2] Butterick has been a spokesperson for the rural lobby group Fifty Shades of Green, which campaigns against the conversion of sheep farms to forestry. He says the group are concerned about the social, environmental and economic effects on rural communities of increased forestry.[3][4] Butterick tried to convert a farm he owned in Te Wharau to a national park, but when that failed and it did not sell as a farm, he sold it to a forestry company.[4]
Political career
[edit]| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | Wairarapa | 61 | National | |
Butterick was selected as the National Party candidate for the Wairarapa electorate in May 2020, following incumbent MP Alastair Scott's decision to retire.[3] He got 34.42% of the vote and was defeated by Kieran McAnulty.[5] Ranked 58th on National's list in 2020, he did not enter Parliament.[6]
On 18 March 2023, Butterick was selected to contest Wairarapa again for the 2023 election.[7][8] He was placed in 61st position on the 2023 party list.[9] On election night he defeated incumbent McAnulty by a margin of 2,816 votes.[10][11]
Following a cabinet reshuffle in early April 2026, Butterick became the Minister for Land Information and the associate Minister of Agriculture.[12][13]
In early June 2026, Butterick attracted media attention after he distributed swag bags containing National Party merchandise including stationery, notebooks, lunchboxes and mints at several schools in his Wairarapa electorate. Several parents complained to the Ministry of Education that Butterick was engaged in electoral campaigning on school grounds. The Ministry subsequently clarified that schools could support learning about politics but could not engage in political promotion and electoral campaigning on school grounds. In response, Butterick denied he was campaigning and said he had received approval from the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He said that the merchandise served as a way for providing his contact details to constituents through students and their families.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Butterick is married to Rachel, with whom he has a son and three daughters.[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Mike Butterick - Candidate for Wairarapa electorate (2023)". Policy.nz. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ Staff Reporters (20 March 2023). "Another farmer wins a National ticket". www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- 1 2 3 "Mike Butterick National's New Candidate in Wairarapa". Scoop. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- 1 2 Bilton, Jan (6 August 2019). "Citrus comforts: Recipe for success". Hawkes Bay Today. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ "Wairarapa – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ↑ "National releases 2020 Party List". 8 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ↑ "Mike Butterick Selected As National's Candidate In Wairarapa". Scoop.co.nz. 18 March 2023.
- ↑ Hageman, Mitchell (14 October 2023). "Wairarapa election 2023 results: Mike Butterick well ahead of Kieran McAnulty as Wairarapa vote nears later stage". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ↑ Coughlan, Thomas (19 August 2023). "Election 2023: Christopher Luxon unveils list, senior MP withdraws". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ↑ Mitchell Hageman (20 October 2023). "Wairarapa hospitality: Mike Butterick and Kieran McAnulty share a beer as results come in". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ "Wairarapa - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ↑ "Christopher Luxon reveals Cabinet shake-up". 1News. 2 April 2026. Archived from the original on 2 April 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- ↑ "PM refreshes ministerial team". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 2 April 2026. Archived from the original on 3 April 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- ↑ Cook, Charlotte (6 June 2026). "Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick's National Party swag bags upset parents". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
