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Wikipedia:WikiProject New Zealand/politics/New MPs/Dale Stephens (New Zealand politician)

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Dale Stephens
MP
Stephens in 2020
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National party list
Assumed office
2023
Personal details
Born1959 or 1960 (age 64–65)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Political partyNational
SpouseTarina
Children6

Dale Aotea Stephens (born 1959 or 1960)[1] is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party.

Early life and career

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Stephens was born and raised in Christchurch, attending St Andrew's College.[2] He got degrees in policing and business from Massey University, a diploma in te reo Māori and a master's degree in public policy from Victoria University, and a master's degree in law from the University of Canterbury.[3] He worked in the police force until 1998 and competed in world championships as a drum major in the New Zealand Police Pipe Band.[1] He presented the television show Crimewatch for ten years.[3]

Political career

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2023–present 54th List National

Stephens contested the newly formed Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate for the National Party at the 1999 election. He received only 2.07% of the vote[4] and was not ranked high enough to enter parliament on the party list.[5]

For the 2002 election he contested Ohariu-Belmont. He placed third with 13.29%[6] and again was not high enough on the list.[7]

Stephens was selected as the National Party candidate for the Christchurch Central electorate in March 2020, following Nicky Wagner's decision to retire.[8] At the 2020 election, he came second behind the incumbent Duncan Webb, and was not high enough on the party list to enter parliament.[9]

In October 2022, Stephens was one of five candidates to contest selection as the National nominee for Ilam in the 2023 New Zealand general election, but ultimately lost out to Hamish Campbell.[10] He was re-selected as the Christchurch Central candidate on 11 December.[2]

Personal life

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Stephens' iwi is Te Rarawa. He is married with six children.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National's Wellington Campaign Kicks Off". 20 July 1999.
  2. ^ a b "Dale Aotea Stephens Selected As National's Christchurch Central Candidate". 11 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "About Dale".
  4. ^ "Candidate vote details – Ikaroa-Rāwhiti". Electoral Commission.
  5. ^ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Official Count Results -- Ohariu-Belmont". Electoral Commission.
  7. ^ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission.
  8. ^ "Dale Stephens to contest Christchurch Central for National at general election". 1 March 2020.
  9. ^ "OChristchurch Central - Official Result". Electoral Commission. n.d. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  10. ^ Neilson, Michael (30 October 2022). "National Party selects Hamish Campbell as its Ilam candidate for 2023 election". New Zealand Herald.