Matt Doocey
{{short description|New Zealand politician (born 1972)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Matt Doocey
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100%}}
| image = DOOCEY, Matt - Waimakariri (cropped).png
| imagesize =
| caption = Doocey in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1972}}
| birth_place = Canterbury, New Zealand
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = 1st Minister for Mental Health
| term_start = 27 November 2023
| term_end =
| primeminister = Christopher Luxon
| predecessor = Office established
| successor =
| office1 = 17th Minister for ACC
| term_start1 = 27 November 2023
| term_end1 = 24 January 2025
| primeminister1 = Christopher Luxon
| predecessor1 = Peeni Henare
| successor1 = Andrew Bayly
| office2 = 39th Minister of Tourism and Hospitality
| term_start2 = 27 November 2023
| term_end2 = 24 January 2025
| primeminister2 = Christopher Luxon
| predecessor2 = Peeni Henare
| successor2 = Louise Upston
| office3 = 17th Minister for Youth
| term_start3 = 27 November 2023
| term_end3 = 24 January 2025
| primeminister3 = Christopher Luxon
| predecessor3 = Willow-Jean Prime
| successor3 = James Meager
| office4 = Senior Whip of the National Party
| term_start4 = 10 November 2020
| term_end4 = 7 December 2021
| leader4 = Judith Collins
Christopher Luxon
| deputy4 = Maureen Pugh
| predecessor5 = Barbara Kuriger
| successor5 = Chris Penk
| constituency_MP6 = {{NZ electorate link|Waimakariri}}
| term_start6 = 20 September 2014
| parliament6 = New Zealand
| predecessor6 = Kate Wilkinson
| majority =
| profession =
| spouse =
| children = 2
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Matthew Maurice Doocey (born 1972)[https://www.mynational.org.nz/Article?Action=View&Article_id=84 "Waimakariri Newsletter, Winter 2015" 15 June 2015] (Retrieved 18 February 2018) is a New Zealand politician who was elected to the New Zealand Parliament at the 2014 general election as a representative of the New Zealand National Party. He was re-elected in 2017 with a majority increase of over 10,000 which was a significant increase from a majority of 2,500 in 2014. It was reported that this was the largest personal vote increase in the country.{{Cite web|url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-57.html|title=E9 Statistics – Electorate Status|last=Commission|first=New Zealand Electoral|website=www.electionresults.govt.nz|access-date=4 April 2018}}
Political career
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{{NZ parlbox
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|start={{NZ election link year|2014}}
|end=2017
|list=56
|party=New Zealand National Party
|electorate={{NZ electorate link|Waimakariri}}
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|term=52nd
|start={{NZ election link year|2017}}
|end=2020
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|electorate=Waimakariri
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{{NZ parlbox
|term=53rd
|start={{NZ election link year|2020}}
|end=2023
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|party=New Zealand National Party
|electorate=Waimakariri
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{{NZ parlbox
|term=54th
|start={{NZ election link year|2023}}
|end=present
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|party=New Zealand National Party
|electorate=Waimakariri
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=Early political career=
Doocey stood in the 2013 Christchurch East by-election placing second behind Poto Williams. At the time, Doocey was a manager for the Canterbury District Health Board.{{cite news|title=National's Christchurch East candidate named |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9159592/Nationals-Christchurch-East-candidate-named |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060952/http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9159592/Nationals-Christchurch-East-candidate-named |archive-date=23 October 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=13 September 2013 |work=The Press |date=12 September 2013 |page=A3 }} The party's Canterbury Westland Regional Chair, Roger Bridge, noted that a sitting government has never won a by-election in an electorate that it did not already hold.{{cite web |title=National opens nominations for Christchurch East By-election |url=http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=41795 |publisher=New Zealand National Party |access-date=13 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023055206/http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=41795 |archive-date=23 October 2013 }} Bridge later conceded that it would be "very, very hard for us to win".{{cite news |title='Realistic' Nats reject by-election hopes |page=A9 |work=The Press |date=23 October 2013}} When Kate Wilkinson, National MP for the {{NZ electorate link|Waimakariri}} electorate, announced in early November 2013 that she would retire at the end of the term of the 50th Parliament, rumours immediately surfaced that Doocey is going to replace her as the candidate in the Waimakariri electorate, and the Christchurch East by-election was for him to gain experience in contesting an election.{{cite news |first=Glenn |last=Conway |work=The Press |date=8 November 2013 |page=A7 |title=Wilkinson to fall on her sword}}{{cite news |first=Glenn |last=Conway |work=The Press |date=8 November 2013 |access-date=9 November 2013 |title=Canterbury MP Kate Wilkinson quits |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/north-canterbury/9372548/Canterbury-MP-Kate-Wilkinson-quits }}
=In government, 2014–2017=
Doocey left his job in June 2014 to focus on the Waimakariri election campaign.{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Emily |title=Cosgrove fights to win back Waimakariri |url= http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/cosgrove-fights-to-win-back-waimakariri-2014090809 |access-date=20 September 2014 |work=3 News |date=8 September 2014}} He beat the Labour Party's candidate Clayton Cosgrove with an increased majority compared to the {{NZ election link|2011}}.{{cite web |title=Official Count Results – Waimakariri |url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/electorate-55.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=27 September 2014 |date=10 December 2011}}{{cite web |title=Official Count Results – Waimakariri |url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2014/electorate-57.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=27 September 2014 |date=21 September 2014}}
For the 51st New Zealand Parliament Doocey was appointed Deputy Chair of the Social Services Select Committee.{{cite web |title= Matt Doocey|url= https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/doocey-matt/ |publisher= New Zealand Parliament|access-date= 18 July 2020|date= 15 May 2020}} In 2016 he brought a cross-party delegation of the Social Services Select Committee to Canterbury to hear from service providers about their response to communities’ psycho-social recovery needs in post-earthquake Canterbury. Also in his first term, Doocey was appointed the third Whip of the National Government.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
During the 2017 general election, Doocey retained his seat in Waimakariri by a margin of 10,766 votes.{{cite web |title=Waimakariri – Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-57.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117212930/http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-57.html |archive-date=17 January 2020 |url-status=live}}
=In opposition, 2017–2023=
For the 52nd New Zealand Parliament, Doocey served as National's Junior Whip, working closely with the Party's Senior Whip.{{cite web|url=https://www.national.org.nz/new_whips_to_help_keep_national_moving_forward|access-date=15 February 2019|title=New Whips to help keep National moving forward|date=21 March 2018|publisher=National Party – press release}} He was also appointed Spokesperson for Mental Health and is National's Associate Spokesperson for Health, and a member of the Health Select Committee.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/scl/health/tab/mp|title=Health – New Zealand Parliament|website=www.parliament.nz}}
As National's first Spokesperson for Mental Health, in 2018, Doocey wrote to every political party in Parliament to invite them to join a cross-party approach to mental health that would focus on developing solutions and policy over a longer period than the Parliamentary three-year term. Doocey believed that by initiating a bipartisan approach to mental health this would break down some of the barriers to progress to improve mental health outcomes in New Zealand. However, Labour and the Greens rejected National's offer for a cross-party approach to mental health.{{cite news |last1=Doocey |first1=Matt |title=National pushing for faster action on mental health |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1807/S00145/national-pushing-for-faster-action-on-mental-health.htm |access-date=3 November 2020 |work=New Zealand National Party |publisher=Scoop |date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916203419/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1807/S00145/national-pushing-for-faster-action-on-mental-health.htm |archive-date=16 September 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Lucy |title=National disappointed by rejection of cross-party work on mental health |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-disappointed-by-rejection-of-cross-party-work-on-mental-health/7NRFAUFW7AXMMRJY7XSL6K2VUI/ |access-date=3 November 2020 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103113719/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-disappointed-by-rejection-of-cross-party-work-on-mental-health/7NRFAUFW7AXMMRJY7XSL6K2VUI/ |archive-date=3 November 2020|url-status=live}}
On 28 August 2019, John Kirwan launched the Mental Health and Addictions Wellbeing cross-party group, with the executive consisting of Matt Doocey, Louisa Wall (Labour), Chlöe Swarbrick (Green Party), Jenny Marcroft (New Zealand First) and David Seymour (ACT), to work together to improve mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Walters |first1=Laura |title=Cross-party mental health group a reason for hope |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/cross-party-mental-health-group-a-reason-for-hope |access-date=3 November 2020 |work=Newsroom |date=29 August 2019}}
During the 2020 general election, Doocey retained Waimakariri for the National Party by a final margin of 1,507 votes.{{cite web |title=Waimakariri – Official Result |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-57.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=13 November 2020 }} He was named Backbencher of the Year in Stuff's political awards 2020, and following the election, the National caucus elected him as its Senior Whip on 10 November.{{cite news |last1=McCulloch |first1=Craig |last2=Scotcher |first2=Katie |title=Shane Reti becomes new deputy leader of the National Party |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/430255/shane-reti-becomes-new-deputy-leader-of-the-national-party |access-date=10 November 2020 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=10 November 2020}} He served in this role until December 2021, when he joined the National Party front bench under the new leader Christopher Luxon.{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Henry |title=National elects Chris Penk senior whip, Maureen Pugh to keep junior role |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300472085/national-elects-chris-penk-senior-whip-maureen-pugh-to-keep-junior-role |access-date=7 December 2021 |publisher=Stuff |date=7 December 2021}}
=In government, 2023–present=
During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Doocey retained the Waimakariri electorate, winning his greatest majority yet of 13,010 votes.{{cite web |title=Waimakariri - Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-57.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123104126/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-57.html |archive-date=23 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}
Following the formation of the National-led coalition government in late November 2023, Doocey was named Minister for Mental Health, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Tourism and Hospitality, and Youth, and appointed Associate Minister of Health and Transport. He was also appointed to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's Cabinet.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Russell |title=Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled - who gets what? |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503156/cabinet-lineup-for-new-government-unveiled-who-gets-what |access-date=18 December 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204122806/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503156/cabinet-lineup-for-new-government-unveiled-who-gets-what |archive-date=4 December 2023|url-status=live}}
In late November 2023, Doocey as Minister for Mental Health received a copy of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care's interim report into systemic abuse by the Catholic Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God in Christchurch between the 1950s and 1990s. During a meeting with abuse survivors in May 2024, Doocey admitted not reading the interim report. In response to criticism, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reiterated the Government's commitment to addressing the needs of abuse survivors.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Tim |title=PM on defensive after minister admits not reading interim abuse report |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/521445/pm-on-defensive-after-minister-admits-not-reading-interim-abuse-report |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=RNZ |date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706053043/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/521445/pm-on-defensive-after-minister-admits-not-reading-interim-abuse-report |archive-date=6 July 2024|url-status=live}}
On 3 September 2024, Doocey as Tourism Minister announced that the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) on most international tourists would be raised from NZ$35 to NZ$100 from 1 October 2024. The previous Labour Government had introduced the tourism levy in 2019 to fund public services and tourism sites. While in opposition, National had opposed the policy but had done a policy u-turn after coming into government, with Doocey saying that tourists should "contribute more to New Zealand." The tourism levy hike was opposed by the Tourism Industry Aotearoa representative body, which said that the levy would create a "significant barrier" for tourists.{{cite news |last1=McCulloch |first1=Craig |title=Tourists will have to pay $100 to enter NZ |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526894/tourists-will-have-to-pay-100-to-enter-nz |access-date=5 September 2024 |work=RNZ |date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903153326/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526894/tourists-will-have-to-pay-100-to-enter-nz |archive-date=3 September 2024|url-status=live}}
During a cabinet reshuffle on 19 January 2025, Doocey lost his ACC, Tourism and hospitality, and Youth ministerial portfolios but retained his Mental Health and Associate Health portfolios.{{cite news |title=As it happened: Luxon announces Cabinet reshuffle, Shane Reti loses health portfolio to Simeon Brown |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/539370/as-it-happened-luxon-announces-cabinet-reshuffle-shane-reti-loses-health-portfolio-to-simeon-brown |access-date=21 January 2025 |work=RNZ |date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119031900/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/539370/as-it-happened-luxon-announces-cabinet-reshuffle-shane-reti-loses-health-portfolio-to-simeon-brown |archive-date=19 January 2025}}
Personal life
Doocey is a member of the well-known Carter family. Family patriarch Maurice Carter, a Christchurch City Councillor for over 30 years (1956–1989), was his grandfather, and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, David Carter, is his uncle. Doocey grew up in Christchurch and attended St Bede's College for his secondary schooling. The Dooceys bought their current home in Rangiora, which currently falls into the Waimakariri electorate, in April 2014 after boundary changes put his former Redwood home out of the electorate.{{cite news |work=The Press |date=16 November 2013 |access-date=30 November 2013 |title=Chch East candidate: Matthew Doocey |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/the-east/9407256/Chch-East-candidate-Matthew-Doocey }}
Doocey worked in mental health and healthcare management in both New Zealand and the UK. He studied Counselling Psychology at Weltech, has a BSc (Hons) in Social Policy, an MA in Healthcare Management from Kingston University in London and an MSc in Global Politics from Birkbeck, University of London.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
References
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External links
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{{Sixth National Government of New Zealand}}
{{NZ National Party}}
{{Current members of the New Zealand House of Representatives}}
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Category:New Zealand National Party MPs
Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Category:People educated at St Bede's College, Christchurch
Category:New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates
Category:Candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election
Category:Candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election
Category:Candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election
Category:Candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election