Penny Simmonds

Simmonds was born in Southland and grew up in Riversdale{{cite web |url=https://southlandapp.nz/news/news/election-2020-national-candidate-penny-simmonds-makes-first-bid-for-invercargill-electorate |title=Election 2020: National candidate Penny Simmonds makes first bid for Invercargill electorate |date=6 August 2020 |first=Marjorie |last=Cook |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009163213/https://southlandapp.nz/news/news/election-2020-national-candidate-penny-simmonds-makes-first-bid-for-invercargill-electorate |url-status=live }} and Te Tipua. She attended Gore High School and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Otago.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/southland-top-stories/123114699/penny-simmonds--a-consequential-career |title=Penny Simmonds – a consequential career |date=11 November 2020 |first=Michael |last=Fallow |access-date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120140958/https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/southland-top-stories/123114699/penny-simmonds--a-consequential-career |url-status=live }} She served in the New Zealand Territorial Force for several years.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124644150/invercargill-mp-penny-simmonds-delivers-maiden-speech |title=Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds delivers maiden speech |date=24 March 2021 |work=Stuff.co.nz}}

Simmonds was the chief executive of the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) from 1997 to October 2020. During this time she implemented SIT's Zero Fees Scheme.{{cite news |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/celebration-service |title= A celebration of service |date= 31 December 2015 |access-date= 8 October 2020 |archive-date= 1 October 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191001190839/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/celebration-service |url-status= live }} She took leave from 29 June 2020 in order to focus on her political campaign, with deputy chief executive Maree Howden acting in her place.{{cite news |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/sit-head-leave-run-national-party-campaign |title=SIT head on leave to run National Party campaign |date=20 June 2020 |first=Luisa |last=Girao |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014090535/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/sit-head-leave-run-national-party-campaign |url-status=live }} Upon her election to parliament she resigned her position with SIT.{{cite news |last1=Steyl |first1=Louisa |title=Penny Simmonds takes Invercargill electorate seat |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123320312/penny-simmonds-takes-invercargill-electorate-seat |access-date=16 November 2020 |work=Stuff |date=6 November 2020 |archive-date=18 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118140150/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123320312/penny-simmonds-takes-invercargill-electorate-seat |url-status=live }}

Simmonds has had a close working relationship with Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, as evidenced by him consulting with her during the 2010 Invercargill mayoral election. Shadbolt attended her 2020 election night party, for which he received criticism from city councillor and former Labour MP Lesley Soper for listing it as an official mayoral engagement.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123216616/councillor-criticises-sir-tim-shadbolt-for-attending-election-night-function-and-declaring-it-as-a-mayoral-duty |title=Councillor criticises Sir Tim Shadbolt for attending election night function and declaring it as a mayoral duty |date=27 October 2020 |first=Logan |last=Savory |access-date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101112422/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123216616/councillor-criticises-sir-tim-shadbolt-for-attending-election-night-function-and-declaring-it-as-a-mayoral-duty |url-status=live }}

She has been a director of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery and a board member of the Southland District Health Board.

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Simmonds was selected as the National Party candidate for Invercargill in May 2020 following Sarah Dowie's decision to retire.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121555775/education-boss-penny-simmonds-to-run-for-invercargill-seat |title=Education boss Penny Simmonds to run for Invercargill seat |date=19 May 2020 |first=Logan |last=Savory |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008203550/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121555775/education-boss-penny-simmonds-to-run-for-invercargill-seat |url-status=live }} Dowie had originally been selected to run again in September 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119419661/invercargill-mp-sarah-dowie-unexpectedly-retires-from-parliament |title=Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie unexpectedly retires from Parliament |date=11 February 2020 |first=Thomas |last=Manch |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717063412/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119419661/invercargill-mp-sarah-dowie-unexpectedly-retires-from-parliament |url-status=live }} Simmonds had been rumoured as a potential candidate for about fifteen years prior.

Key points of Simmonds' campaign were opposing the merging of New Zealand's polytechnics and keeping the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter open. During the brief National Party leadership of Todd Muller, Simmonds felt so frustrated at the lack of communication that she began instead talking to Botany candidate Christopher Luxon, seen as a potential future party leader.{{cite news |url=https://www.politik.co.nz/2020/07/14/why-muller-failed/ |title=Why Muller failed |date=14 July 2020 |first=Richard |last=Harman |author-link=Richard Harman (journalist) |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812001744/https://www.politik.co.nz/2020/07/14/why-muller-failed/ |url-status=dead }}

Simmonds defeated Labour list MP Liz Craig in the {{NZ election link|2020}}, retaining the Invercargill seat for National by a margin of 224 votes.{{cite web |title=Invercargill – Official Result |url= https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-16.html |website=Elections |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=16 November 2020}}{{cite news |title=Special delivery: what will those extra votes change for Invercargill? |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/123161005/special-delivery-what-will-those-extra-votes-change-for-invercargill |access-date=22 October 2020 |work=Stuff |date=22 October 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201023111020/https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/123161005/special-delivery-what-will-those-extra-votes-change-for-invercargill|archive-date=23 October 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=6 November 2020|title=2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result|url= https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-status.html|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Electoral Commission}}

In mid-November 2021, Simmonds joined her party in expressing opposition to the Labour Government's COVID-19 Protection Framework ("traffic light system"), which she described as "confusing." She also voted against the Government's COVID-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Act 2021, claiming that the vaccine mandate would hurt businesses and the disabled.{{cite web |title=COVID-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Bill — First Reading |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20211123_20211123_36 |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124140246/https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20211123_20211123_36 |archive-date=24 November 2021 |date=23 November 2021 |url-status=live}}

Simmonds also opposed the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Act 2022, which established "safe zones" around abortion providers. The bill passed its third reading on 16 March 2022.{{cite web |title=Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill — Third Reading |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20220316_20220316_36 |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317001313/https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20220316_20220316_36 |archive-date=17 March 2022 |date=16 March 2022 |url-status=live}}

In response to a leaked report obtained by Radio New Zealand in May 2022 which identified several financial and capacity problems with the merger of the various polytechnics and industrial training organisations into the new mega polytechnic network Te Pūkenga, Simmonds in her capacity as National's tertiary education spokesperson urged the Government to abandon its polytechnic merger plans and instead invest more money into struggling institutions.{{cite news |last1=Gerritsen |first1=John |title=Report shows doubts about national polytechnic, Te Pūkenga |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467869/report-shows-doubts-about-national-polytechnic-te-pukenga |access-date=27 July 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627082431/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467869/report-shows-doubts-about-national-polytechnic-te-pukenga |archive-date=27 June 2022|url-status=live}} Following reports of inadequate leadership, low enrollments, and a NZ$110 million deficit at Te Pūkenga, Simmonds questioned the viability of the new educational provider. She also criticised the creation of 180 administrative jobs at Te Pūkenga's Hamilton headquarters in the light of 600 projected redundancies resulting from the polytechnic merger process. Simmonds also claimed that Te Pūkenga's CEO Stephen Town's departure on "special leave" signaled significant problems with the new education provider.{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Stephen |title=National slams problems at mega polytech Te Pūkenga |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300634430/national-slams-problems-at-mega-polytech-te-pkenga |access-date=27 July 2022 |work=Stuff |date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715195714/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300634430/national-slams-problems-at-mega-polytech-te-pkenga |archive-date=15 July 2022|url-status=live}} In mid-August 2022, Simmonds alleged that Town had been "shoulder-tapped" for the position of CEO of Te Pūkenga and lodged an Official Information Act request to identify the person who recommended Town for the executive job.{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Stephen |title=Embattled Te Pūkenga CEO Stephen Town was shoulder tapped for top job – MP |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/300660267/embattled-te-pkenga-ceo-stephen-town-was-shoulder-tapped-for-top-job--mp |access-date=15 August 2022 |work=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812022111/https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/300660267/embattled-te-pkenga-ceo-stephen-town-was-shoulder-tapped-for-top-job--mp |archive-date=12 August 2022|url-status=live}}

On 19 January 2023, Simmonds became the National Party's Workforce Planning spokesperson during a reshuffle of Party leader Christopher Luxon's shadow cabinet.{{Cite news |title=National reshuffle: Luxon promotes former leaders Judith Collins, Todd Muller |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-bishop-judith-collins-and-todd-muller-winners-in-national-reshuffle/GSJOIE4DVNDA5CSUFBUZI6RK6U/ |date=19 January 2023 |access-date=19 January 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119081812/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-bishop-judith-collins-and-todd-muller-winners-in-national-reshuffle/GSJOIE4DVNDA5CSUFBUZI6RK6U/|archive-date=19 January 2023|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |author=New Zealand National Party |date=19 January 2023 |title=Luxon Sets Out Team To Contest The 2023 Election |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2301/S00035/luxon-sets-out-team-to-contest-the-2023-election.htm |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=Scoop|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119020112/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2301/S00035/luxon-sets-out-team-to-contest-the-2023-election.htm|archive-date=19 January 2023|url-status=live}}

During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Simmonds retained the Invercargill seat by a margin of 10,945 votes, defeating Labour's candidate Liz Craig.{{cite web |title=Invercargill - Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-16.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123104118/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-16.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, Simmonds was appointed as Minister for Disability Issues, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, and Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment.

In early December 2023 Simmonds, in her capacity as Tertiary Education Minister, confirmed that the Government would be dissolving the mega polytechnic Te Pūkenga and replacing it with eight to ten institutions. she stated that the Government would no longer centralise vocational training and education and that the polytechnics would regain their autonomy. Simmonds also said that the Government would introduce legislation entrenching the dissolution of Te Pūkenga into law over the next six to eight months.{{cite news |title=Te Pūkenga to be replaced with 8-10 institutions - minister |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/504215/te-pukenga-to-be-replaced-with-8-10-institutions-minister |access-date=20 December 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=8 December 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Tupou |first1=Laura |title=Council chair at Te Pūkenga mega polytech Murray Strong resigns |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/12/council-chair-at-te-p-kenga-mega-polytech-murray-strong-resigns.html |access-date=20 December 2023 |work=Newshub |date=8 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210060715/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/12/council-chair-at-te-p-kenga-mega-polytech-murray-strong-resigns.html |archive-date=10 December 2023}} Simmonds has aimed for this revamp of the tertiary and vocational sector to be completed by 1 January 2025. While the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) national secretary Sandra Grey expressed concern that the dissolution of Te Pūkenga would undermine staff morale and foster unnecessary competition within the polytechnic sector, former Otago Polytechnic CEO Phil Kerr welcomed the re-establishment of autonomous polytechnics.

On 19 March the Ministry for Disabled People abruptly announced that it would remove respite care funding in families with disabled children. As Disability Issues Minister, Simmonds announced the funding would run out within days. According to Stuff, Simmonds was first aware of funding issues back in December 2023. She said the Government was not going to increase funding to maintain support for disabled people and their families "because the Government's coffers are not an endless open pit".{{Cite news |last1=McConnell |first1=Glen |last2=Bhatia |first2=Ripu |title=Parents worried their children will suffer after disability services suddenly cut |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350218178/parents-worried-their-children-will-suffer-disability-services-suddenly-cut |access-date=20 March 2024 |date=19 March 2024|work=Stuff}} On 20 March, Simmonds said the Ministry had done an inadequate job in conveying changes to disabled people's funding. She also questioned how the money has been spent, and suggested some families were wasting their funding on “massages, overseas travel and pedicures”. The changes have caused widespread anguish within the disabled community and a petition opposing the changes has attracted more than 10,000 signatures in 24 hours. {{Cite news |title=We got it wrong on disability announcement - Minister Penny Simmonds |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/512172/we-got-it-wrong-on-disability-announcement-minister-penny-simmonds |access-date=20 March 2024 |date=20 March 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |language=en-nz}} That same day, Finance Minister Nicola Willis called Disabilities officials and Simmonds in for an urgent briefing, after families were blindsided by news of cuts to respite care. Willis advised that news came as a surprise, and that she was unaware about how dire the situation was before news broke.{{Cite news |last=McConnell |first=Glen |title=Finance Minister Nicola Willis calls in officials after cuts to disability services |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350219245/finance-minister-nicola-willis-calls-officials-after-cuts-disability-services |access-date=2024-03-20 |date=19 March 2024 |work=Stuff}}

On 24 April, Simmonds was stripped of her Disability Issues portfolio by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon due to criticism of her handling of changes to Government disability funding policies. She was replaced as Disability Issues Minister by Minister for Social Development Louise Upston, whose Ministry has oversight over the Ministry for Disabled People.{{cite news |title=Media Minister Melissa Lee demoted from Cabinet, Penny Simmonds stripped of portfolio |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/515100/media-minister-melissa-lee-demoted-from-cabinet-penny-simmonds-stripped-of-portfolio |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=24 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424032409/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/515100/media-minister-melissa-lee-demoted-from-cabinet-penny-simmonds-stripped-of-portfolio |archive-date=24 April 2024|url-status=live}}

On 19 December 2024, Simmonds and Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced that the Government would amend the Education and Training Act 2020 to strengthen universities' free speech obligations.{{cite web |last1=Simmonds |first1=Penny |last2=Seymour |first2=David |title=Strengthening Free Speech in Universities |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/strengthening-free-speech-universities |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=4 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226063744/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/strengthening-free-speech-universities |archive-date=26 December 2024 |date=19 December 2024 |url-status=live}}

On 20 December, Simmonds confirmed that the Government would proceed with plans to dismantle Te Pūkenga in 2024 and would decide which polytechnics could be independent by 2026 or would join a national federation of polytechnics.{{cite news |last1=Gerritsen |first1=John |title=Government confirms plan to dismantle Te Pūkenga, re-establish polytechs |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537251/government-confirms-plan-to-dismantle-te-pukenga-re-establish-polytechs |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=RNZ |date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220134449/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537251/government-confirms-plan-to-dismantle-te-pukenga-re-establish-polytechs |archive-date=20 December 2024}} Simmond also indicated that the Government was considering selling some polytechnics. She also confirmed that the Government would replace Workforce Development Councils with government-funded Industry Skills Boards as the regulatory bodies for different industries.In response, TEU national secretary Sandra Grey criticised the lack of detail in the government announcement while Civil Contractors New Zealand chief executive Allan Pollard expressed disappointment at the Government's plans to dissolve the Workforce Development Councils, saying that they allowed the industry to give input into the skills and training of workplace trainees.{{cite news |last1=Gerritsen |first1=John |title=Polytech sales possible but unlikely when Te Pūkenga disestablished - minister |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537286/polytech-sales-possible-but-unlikely-when-te-pukenga-disestablished-minister |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=RNZ |date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221015250/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537286/polytech-sales-possible-but-unlikely-when-te-pukenga-disestablished-minister |archive-date=21 December 2024}}

Simmonds is married with three daughters, the youngest of whom has Down's syndrome.{{cite web |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/new-national-mp-tells-his-rags-riches-tale |title=New National MP tells his rags-to-riches tale |date=3 April 2021 |work=Otago Daily Times |first=Mike |last=Houlahan}} She received a Woolf Fisher Fellowship in 2000, and was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to education, sport and the community, in the 2016 New Year Honours.{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2016 |title=New Year honours list 2016 |date=31 December 2015 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=27 November 2023}}

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Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand National Party MPs

Category:New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates

Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives

Category:Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives

Category:People from the Southland Region

Category:People educated at Gore High School

Category:University of Otago alumni

Category:Candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election

Category:Candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election

Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Category:Southland District Health Board members

Category:21st-century New Zealand women politicians

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