Barbara Edmonds

{{about |the New Zealand politician|the Australian magistrate |Barbara Holborow}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Barbara Edmonds

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100%}}

| image = Profile--barbaraedmonds-2-390x2-UNC.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Edmonds in 2023

| order =

| term_start =

| term_end =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| primeminister =

| office1 = 37th Minister of Internal Affairs

| term_start1 = 1 February 2023

| term_end1 = 27 November 2023

| primeminister1 = Chris Hipkins

| predecessor1 = Jan Tinetti

| successor1 = Brooke van Velden

| office2 = 14th Minister for Pacific Peoples

| term_start2 = 1 February 2023

| term_end2 = 27 November 2023

| primeminister2 = Chris Hipkins

| predecessor2 = William Sio

| successor2 = Shane Reti

| office3 = 10th Minister for Economic Development

| term_start3 = 12 April 2023

| term_end3 = 27 November 2023

| primeminister3 = Chris Hipkins

| predecessor3 = Megan Woods (acting)

| successor3 = Melissa Lee

| constituency_MP4 = {{NZ electorate link|Mana}}

| term_start4 = 17 October 2020

| parliament4 = New Zealand

| predecessor4 = Kris Faafoi

| office5 =

| term_start5 =

| term_end5 =

| predecessor5 =

| successor5 =

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1981}}Luke Malpass in ‘’The Post’’ 1 March 2024 pages 14,15

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| birth_name = Rachael Fati Poe

| residence = Porirua, New Zealand

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Labour

| religion =

| relations =

| profession =

| spouse = Chris Edmonds

| children = 8

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Barbara Rachael Fati Palepa Edmonds, (born 1981) is a New Zealand politician.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20201125_039660000/event|title = Speech – New Zealand Parliament| date=28 May 2024 }} She was elected as the Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mana, representing the Labour Party, in 2020. She served as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister of Revenue and Minister for Economic Development in the final year of the Sixth Labour Government.

Early life and career

Edmonds was born Rachael Fati Poe, in North Shore, Auckland, to parents Selani (Fale’ula, Faleatiu) and Palepa (Safotu, Fasito’o){{Cite web |title=Samoan woman lawyer eyes seat in Beehive |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/64636 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Samoa Observer}} who had immigrated from Western Samoa in 1978. Her mother died from cancer when she was four years old and Edmonds inherited her name Palepa (Barbara) on her fifth birthday.{{Cite web |last=Husb |first=Dale |date=2020-11-28 |title=Barbara Edmonds: Sacrifice and success |url=https://e-tangata.co.nz/korero/barbara-edmonds-sacrifice-and-success/ |access-date=2021-06-24 |website=E-Tangata |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Katarina |date=2020-10-30 |title=Tackling poverty in Mana: New MP Barbara Edmonds brings her lived experience to bear |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123247707/tackling-poverty-in-mana-new-mp-barbara-edmonds-brings-her-lived-experience-to-bear |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Barbara Edmonds on swatting away National Party recruit attempts |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/first-term-labour-mp-barbara-edmonds-on-summer-plans-and-swatting-away-national-party-recruit-attempts/BLVMD73G5XQP47TCOK23POXX5Q/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} Her father, previously a naval administrator, left his job to care for his children.{{Cite web |last=Walters |first=Laura |date=2024-02-28 |title=Labour's golden girl slated as future prime minister |url=http://newsroom.co.nz/2024/02/29/labours-golden-girl-slated-as-future-prime-minister/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Newsroom |language=en-US}} Edmonds' first language is Samoan and she did not speak English fluently until she began primary school.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Barbara Edmonds: Reclaiming my Gagana Samoa is one step in a lifelong journey |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/talanoa/samoa-language-week-barbara-edmonds-on-navigating-her-own-language-journey/QYHC5WB6EBAJ7B4R3NLXQVGBNQ/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}

Edmonds was educated at Carmel College, where she was head girl in 1998. Her school was next door to North Shore Hospital where members of her family were working in the kitchen, laundry and as cleaners.{{cite web |author=Raela, Johnson |title=Samoan mother of eight has Parliament in her sights |work=Tagata Pasifika |url=https://tpplus.co.nz/news-politics/samoan-mother-of-eight-has-parliament-in-her-sights/ |access-date=6 August 2020 |date=8 June 2020 }} After a period studying physiotherapy and working for a private insurance company, she graduated with a conjoint degree of a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland in 2008.{{cite web |url=https://graduatesearch.auckland.ac.nz/home |title=Graduate Search |publisher=University of Auckland |accessdate= 28 February 2024}} She married Chris Edmonds, whom she met at age 16 and with whom she shares eight children.{{cite web |title=Labour picks lawyers for Manurewa and Mana – National picks farmer in Wairarapa |work=The New Zealand Herald |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12336029 |access-date=6 August 2020}} Edmonds was a parent elected member of the Board of Trustees of Mana College.{{cite web |title=Board of Trustees |work=Mana College |url=http://www.mana.school.nz/Board-of-Trustees |access-date=6 August 2020 }}

Edmonds is a specialist tax lawyer, and before entering Parliament, worked in both the private and public sectors. In 2016, she was seconded from Inland Revenue to work as a private secretary to Michael Woodhouse and Judith Collins, as National Party Ministers of Revenue.{{cite web |title=Barbara Edmonds- Labour Party Candidate for Mana |work=Pacific Media Network |url=https://omny.fm/shows/pacificmedianetwork/barbara-edmonds-labour-party-candidate-for-mana |date=5 June 2020 |access-date=6 August 2020 }} In 2017, she was appointed as a political adviser to Labour's revenue and police minister Stuart Nash. She received praise for her work on the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill, which was passed following the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.{{Cite web |title=Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill — Third Reading - New Zealand Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20190410_20190410_16 |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=www.parliament.nz |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Who is Barbara Edmonds, Labour's hope for future finance minister? |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/who-is-barbara-edmonds-labours-hope-for-future-finance-minister/AR6AYGFHM5D6XPGNBDOCVCFYCM/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}

Member of Parliament

= First term, 2020–2023 =

{{NZ parlbox|term=53rd

|start = 2020

|end=2023

|electorate={{NZ electorate link|Mana}}

|party=New Zealand Labour Party

|list=49

}}

{{NZ parlbox|term=54th

|start = 2023

|end=present

|electorate=Mana

|party=New Zealand Labour Party

|list=18

}}

In May 2020, Edmonds was selected as Labour's candidate in Mana, replacing incumbent Kris Faafoi.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Audrey |date=30 May 2020 |title=Labour selects lawyer to replace Louisa Wall in Manurewa seat |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/labour-picks-lawyers-for-manurewa-and-mana-national-picks-farmer-in-wairarapa/G7CMJJPA3AEXLI7LXKV3GRJM3E/ |access-date=28 February 2024 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} In August 2020, Edmonds was ranked 49th on the Labour Party's list for the 2020 general election.{{cite web |title=Labour announces list for 2020 Election |url=https://www.labour.org.nz/2020-list |access-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017145239/https://www.labour.org.nz/2020-list|archive-date=17 October 2020}}

During the {{NZ election link|2020}}, she won Mana by a large margin of 16,244, defeating National candidate Jo Hayes.{{cite web |title=Mana – Official Results |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-20.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=6 November 2020 }} Following the election, she was appointed as Labour's associate whip on 2 November.{{cite web |title=Barbara Edmonds |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/edmonds-barbara/ |website=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=6 November 2020}} She was deputy chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee from 3 December 2020 to 22 June 2022, when she became chair.{{Cite web |title=Edmonds, Barbara – New Zealand Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/edmonds-barbara/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=www.parliament.nz |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Witton |first=Bridie |date=2022-06-13 |title=PM Jacinda Ardern's Cabinet reshuffle puts focus on combatting crime |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/128950668/pm-jacinda-arderns-cabinet-reshuffle-puts-focus-on-combatting-crime |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Stuff |language=en}} As a first-term member of Parliament, Edmonds attracted praise from National Party leader Christopher Luxon, who complimented her select committee work and described her as "very, very smart [and] very, very considered."{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Christopher Luxon on Three Waters and carbon farming |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/national-party-leader-christopher-luxon-on-three-waters-and-carbon-farming/QR57C5FPNVTVU3ZE3SZO7YTDBI/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} In late 2022, New Zealand Herald journalist Audrey Young ranked her second highest of the 42 new MPs who entered Parliament in 2020.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Audrey Young: Best of the bunch - the top 10 new MPs |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/rookie-mps-the-best-from-the-class-of-2020/HN5LRPHI3VEZNOW5NSXJ73NUT4/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}

In a cabinet reshuffle by new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on 31 January 2023 Edmonds was promoted into Cabinet and appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister for Pacific Peoples, as well as Associate Minister of Health (Pacific Peoples) and Associate Minister of Housing.{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/483394/prime-minister-chris-hipkins-reveals-cabinet-reshuffle |title=Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reveals Cabinet reshuffle |date=31 January 2023 | work=Radio New Zealand | access-date=31 January 2023 }} She additionally became Associate Minister for Cyclone Recovery on 24 February 2023, Minister for Economic Development on 12 April 2023 after the dismissal of Stuart Nash, Minister of Revenue on 24 July 2023 after the resignation of David Parker, and Associate Minister of Finance after the resignation of Kiri Allan.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-20 |title=Government announces cyclone recovery taskforce, $50m support package, new ministerial role |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/484530/government-announces-cyclone-recovery-taskforce-50m-support-package-new-ministerial-role |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=PM's Cabinet reshuffle; new roles added to Green List; Covid settings to stay |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-hipkins-to-announce-cabinet-reshuffle-after-stuart-nash-sacking/JOTDCV7TQBFUPA3RAPKQP7G4AE/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |last=Coughlan |first=Thomas |date=25 July 2023 |title=Election 2023: David Parker thinks he still has a revenue responsibility, Grant Robertson and Chris Hipkins less sure |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-david-parker-thinks-he-still-has-a-revenue-responsibility-grant-robertson-and-chris-hipkins-less-sure/QS2UCKQ5XVEERKN66RBFAOFS7M/ |access-date=26 July 2023 |website=The New Zealand Herald }}{{Cite web |title=Hipkins reveals who gets Kiri Allan's ministerial posts |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/07/24/hipkins-reveals-who-gets-kiri-allans-ministerial-posts/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=1 News |language=en}}

In the internal affairs portfolio, Edmonds oversaw the completion of upgrades at 26 fire stations.{{Cite web |title=Multi-million dollar fire station upgrades now complete |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/07/29/multi-million-dollar-fire-station-upgrades-now-complete/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=1 News |language=en}} As economic development minister, Edmonds led the first all-female trade delegation to Australia in Australia 2023, featuring 26 female business leaders.{{Cite news |last=New Zealand Trade and Enterprise |date=14 August 2023 |title=New Zealand's first all-female trade delegation |url=https://www.nzte.govt.nz/blog/new-zealands-first-all-female-trade-delegation |access-date=18 October 2023}} Also in August 2023, as associate housing minister, she launched consultation on retirement village policies.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=Government proposes changes to law governing retirement villages |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495009/government-proposes-changes-to-law-governing-retirement-villages |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} With finance minister Grant Robertson, Edmonds announced a new tax on multinational companies that provide digital services in New Zealand.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-29 |title=Government unveils digital services tax aimed at multinationals |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/496826/government-unveils-digital-services-tax-aimed-at-multinationals |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}

=Second term, 2023–present=

After being re-selected as Labour's Mana candidate for the 2023 general election,{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Justin |date=2022-12-18 |title=Barbara Edmonds to stand for re-election as Mana MP |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130803138/barbara-edmonds-to-stand-for-reelection-as-mana-mp |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Stuff |language=en}} she won an election night majority of 7,324 votes over the National Party candidate Frances Hughes.{{cite web |title=Mana - Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-20.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123104121/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-20.html |archive-date=23 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}

On 30 November, she became spokesperson for economic development, infrastructure and associate finance in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.{{cite news |title=Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503581/labour-party-leader-chris-hipkins-reveals-new-shadow-cabinet |access-date=11 December 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204120147/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503581/labour-party-leader-chris-hipkins-reveals-new-shadow-cabinet |archive-date=4 December 2023}} On 5 December 2023, Edmonds was granted retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council.{{cite news |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2023-vr5732 |title=Retention of the title "The Honourable" |date=8 December 2023 |work=New Zealand Gazette |access-date=8 December 2023}}

Following the resignation of Grant Robertson in mid February 2024, Edmonds assumed the finance portfolio during a shadow cabinet reshuffle.{{cite news |title=Labour reshuffle: Edmonds moves up as Finance spokesperson |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/509662/labour-reshuffle-edmonds-moves-up-as-finance-spokesperson |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220002535/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/509662/labour-reshuffle-edmonds-moves-up-as-finance-spokesperson |archive-date=20 February 2024}}{{cite news |title=Grant Robertson retires from politics, appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-hipkins-signals-reshuffle-this-week-wont-say-whether-grant-robertson-will-quit-this-week/YKDMX4VC25BBPNI3JHM5XVTO5I/ |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219235729/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-hipkins-signals-reshuffle-this-week-wont-say-whether-grant-robertson-will-quit-this-week/YKDMX4VC25BBPNI3JHM5XVTO5I/ |archive-date=19 February 2024}}

Following a cabinet reshuffle in early March 2025, Edmonds became part of a new leadership team focusing on the economy. She retain the finance and economy portfolio and gained the savings and investment portfolio but lost the infrastructure portfolio.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Russell |title=Chris Hipkins announces new Labour 'economic team', Tangi Utikere promoted |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/544048/chris-hipkins-announces-new-labour-economic-team-tangi-utikere-promoted |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=7 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307011659/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/544048/chris-hipkins-announces-new-labour-economic-team-tangi-utikere-promoted |archive-date=7 March 2025}}