James Meager
{{Short description|New Zealand politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = The Honourable
|name = James Meager
|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100%}}
|image = MEAGER, James - Rangitata (cropped).png
|caption = Meager in 2023
| office2 = 18th Minister for Youth
| term_start2 = 24 January 2025
| term_end2 =
| primeminister2 = Christopher Luxon
| predecessor2 = Matt Doocey
| successor2 =
|constituency_MP3 = {{NZ electorate link|Rangitata}}
|term_start3 = 14 October 2023
|term_end3 =
|parliament3 = New Zealand
|predecessor3 = Jo Luxton
|successor3 =
|party = National
|birth_name = James Rawiri Meager
|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|35|2022|9|18}}
|birth_place = Timaru, New Zealand
|death_date =
|death_place =
|spouse =
|relations =
|partner =
|children =
|residence =
|profession =
|alma_mater = University of Otago
|website =
}}
James Rawiri Meager{{cite news |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2023-au5158 |title=2023 General election results of the official count |date=3 November 2023 |work=New Zealand Gazette |access-date=4 November 2023}} (born {{birth based on age as of date|35|2022|9|18|noage=1}}) is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party in the electorate of {{NZ electorate link|Rangitata}}.
Early life and career
Born in Timaru in {{birth based on age as of date|35|2022|9|18|noage=1}}, Meager is of Ngāi Tahu descent. He grew up in Timaru, where he lived in state housing.{{cite web |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-districts/star-mid-canterbury/former-christchurch-lawyer-stand-national |title=Former Christchurch lawyer to stand for National |date=27 September 2022 |work=The Ashburton Courier |publisher=Otago Daily Times }} Meager attended Timaru Boys' High School, where he was head boy and dux. He gained Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Otago, although he had originally intended to become a doctor.{{cite web |url=https://www.national.org.nz/jamesmeager |title=Meet James Meager |publisher=New Zealand National Party}}{{Cite news |last=McNeilly |first=Hamish |date=28 October 2022 |title='Timing is everything': The rise of aspiring politician James Meager |language=en |work=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130268530/timing-is-everything-the-rise-of-aspiring-politician-james-meager |access-date=19 October 2023}} He describes himself as "loud-mouthed, obnoxious and opinionated" while at university, and ascribes his bad behaviour partly to alcohol use. While at university, Meager helped on National Party list MP Michael Woodhouse's 2011 campaign, and went on to run the 2014 campaign. Prior to being elected to Parliament, Meager worked as a senior solicitor for Simpson Grierson,{{Cite web |last=McNeilly |first=Hamish |date=28 October 2022 |title='Timing is everything': The rise of aspiring politician James Meager |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130268530/timing-is-everything-the-rise-of-aspiring-politician-james-meager |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=As a local boy, I will work tirelessly to deliver for our region as part of a Christopher Luxon-led National Government |url=https://www.national.org.nz/jamesmeager |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=New Zealand National Party |language=en}} and ran a consultancy firm. He has also worked as a press secretary to Paula Bennett, as a staffer for Chris Bishop's parliamentary office, and an advisor to Bill English and Simon Bridges.{{cite web |url=https://waateanews.com/2022/09/19/ngai-tahu-meager-nationals-rangitata-pick/ |title=Ngāi Tahu Meager National's Rangitata pick |date=19 September 2022 |work=Waatea News |first=Adam |last=Gifford}}
Political career
{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
|term=54th
|start={{NZ election link year|2023}}
|end=present
|list=19
|party=New Zealand National Party
|electorate={{NZ electorate link|Rangitata}}
}}
{{End}}
Meager was selected as National's candidate for the formerly safe seat of {{NZ electorate link|Rangitata}} on 18 September 2022. It was a close contest with one other competitor vying for the nomination.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/300691125/james-meager-nationals-new-rangitata-candidate |title=James Meager National's new Rangitata candidate |date=18 September 2022 |work=Timaru Herald |first=Rachael |last=Comer |access-date=4 November 2023}}
On election night, Meager received 22,792 votes, beating incumbent Labour Party MP Jo Luxton by 10,846 votes.{{Cite news |last=Comer |first=Rachael |date=14 October 2023 |title=National's James Meager Rangitata's new MP after convincing win |language=en |work=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/133117993/nationals-james-meager-rangitatas-new-mp-after-convincing-win |access-date=19 October 2023}}{{cite web |title=Rangitata - Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-40.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123104118/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-40.html |archive-date=23 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}} Meager said his first priority as a member of parliament would be to ensure the building of a second bridge for Ashburton happened according to the planned timeframes.{{Cite news |last=Sandys |first=Susan |date=19 October 2023 |title=New Rangitata MP settles in after big election win |language=en |work=Otago Daily Times |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-districts/star-mid-canterbury/new-rangitata-mp-settles-after-big-election-win |access-date=19 October 2023}} The bridge was announced by the Labour government in August 2023, with construction due to start in 2024 and take two years. Meager was concerned that timeframes might change, but promised to begin construction in the first parliamentary term.
{{Quote box
| quote = Perhaps to some I am a walking contradiction—you know, a part-Māori boy, raised in a State house by a single parent on the benefit, now a proud National Party MP in a deeply rural farming electorate in the middle of the South Island—but there is no contradiction there. Members opposite do not own Māori. Members opposite do not own the poor. Members opposite do not own the workers. No party and no ideology has a right to claim ownership over anything or anyone.
| source = – Meager's maiden speech, 6 December 2023
| width = 27em
| quoted = yes
}}
Meager was the first new MP to give his maiden speech in the 54th Parliament. His contribution, which discussed his upbringing as a "part Māori boy raised in a state house by a single parent on the benefit" and the "walking contradiction" of that boy becoming a National Party MP was praised by commentators, who described Meager as "assured and confident" and a possible future prime minister.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Sam |date=6 December 2023 |title=New National MP gets standing ovation following maiden speech |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/301022638/new-national-mp-gets-standing-ovation-following-maiden-speech |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=9 December 2023 |title=Audrey Young: Clear MVP after a sensational first week in Parliament |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/james-meager-the-star-of-a-sensational-first-week-in-parliament-audrey-young/FEOGUPNVJ5DX7DNL57X3KHFBGI/ |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |title=Felix Desmarais: Rookie MP impresses Parliament in moving speech |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/06/felix-desmarais-rookie-mp-impresses-parliament-in-moving-speech/ |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=1 News |language=en}}
In the January 2025 Cabinet reshuffle, Meager was promoted to a Minister outside Cabinet as the Minister for Youth, Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for the South Island and an Associate Minister of Transport. He was the first National MP who was elected in 2023 to be appointed a ministerial portfolio.{{Cite news |title=Health Minister Dr Shane Reti loses portfolio in PM Luxon's latest reshuffle |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/cabinet-reshuffle-live-updates-christopher-luxon-to-unveil-changes-health-minister-shane-reti-expected-to-lose-portfolio/LNFYGT46YFG2ZC7NBMRYKJ7PUE/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120044558/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/cabinet-reshuffle-live-updates-christopher-luxon-to-unveil-changes-health-minister-shane-reti-expected-to-lose-portfolio/LNFYGT46YFG2ZC7NBMRYKJ7PUE/|archive-date=20 January 2025|url-status=live}}
References
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External links
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}
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{{s-par|nz}}
{{bef|before=Jo Luxton}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Rangitata|years=2023–present}}
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{{NZ National Party}}
{{Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meager, James}}
Category:New Zealand National Party MPs
Category:New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates
Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Category:University of Otago alumni
Category:People educated at Timaru Boys' High School
Category:Candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election