Educated at Murchison District High School and Waimea College, Annette King has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Waikato University. Qualifying with a Post Graduate Diploma in Dental Nursing in 1981, she worked as a dental nurse over 1967-81 and as a tutor at the School of Dental Nurses in Wellington over 1982-84. Over 1991-93 she held the position of Chief Executive at the Palmerston North Enterprise Board. Annette King has been a member of the Labour Party since 1972 and has held various offices, notably being an executive member over 1991-92. In 1984 she was elected as the Labour Party MP for Horowhenua, after which she was appointed Under-Secretary to the Ministers of Social Welfare, Tourism, Employment and Youth Affairs. Over 1989-90 she held the portfolios of Employment, Immigration and Youth Affairs, also having a special role as the Minister assisting the Prime Minister to liaise between Cabinet and Caucus.

• Lost seat in 1990.
• Elected MP for Miramar 1993.
• Elected MP for the new MMP electorate of Rongotai, which includes the Chatham Islands, since 1996.
• Became Minister of Health and Minister for Racing in 1999.
• Continued with Health and took up the new Food Safety portfolio following the 2002 election.
• After the 2005 election she became Minister of State Services and Minister of Police, while maintaining the Food Safety portfolio.
• Appointed Minister of Transport in May, 2006.
• Appointed Minister of Justice in October, 2007.
• Her election majority in 2005 was 12,638.

Annette King is married, lives in the Rongotai electorate and has one adult daughter. Her hobbies include cooking for friends.

Contact details:

Parliamentary office
Phone: 04 817 9103
Email: a.king@parliament.govt.nz

Electorate office
Address: PO Box 14533, 25 Kilbirnie Plaza, Wellington
Phone: 04 387 2587
Email: rongotai.mp@parliament.govt.nz