Speaker Biography

Hon. Bill English

Member for Clutha-Southland, National Party.

Current parliamentary roles:

• Deputy Leader
• Deputy Prime Minister
• Minister of Finance
• Minister for Infrastructure

Bill English is the Deputy Leader and Finance Spokesman for the National Party of New Zealand.  He entered Parliament in 1990 representing the rural electorate of Clutha-Southland. In 1996 he joined the Cabinet as a junior health and education minister. He became Minister of Health in the first MMP coalition government after the 1996 election. In February 1999 he became Minister of Finance and Minister of Revenue. Bill English held the position of Leader of the New Zealand National Party from October 2001 to October 2003 and Opposition Spokesman for Education from October 2003 to November 2006.