Hon Phil Twyford was born and raised in Auckland. He is the Labour Member of Parliament for Te Atatū, where he lives. Phil’s vision is for New Zealand to deliver hope and opportunity to all people.

After studying politics at Auckland University, Phil worked as a journalist and union organiser before becoming the founding Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand. Phil’s strong belief in justice led to him becoming Oxfam’s Global Advocacy Director, based in Washington DC.

Upon returning to New Zealand, Phil was elected to Parliament for the Labour Party in 2008. In Opposition, he held the portfolios of Housing, Transport, Auckland Issues, and Disarmament and Arms Control.

Phil has previously held a number of ministerial portfolios, including for Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control.

Latest news and updates:

• Myanmar junta must stop the airstrikes – The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake.
  
  
• Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes – Luxon needs to understand that having an independent foreign policy means we sometimes differ with our friends and trading partners on matters of principle.
  
  
• Labour supports sanctions against Israel’s illegal occupation – The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories.
  
  
• Labour calls for end to police referrals to Destiny programmes - How does the Minister justify referring offenders to an organisation that openly preaches hate against the Rainbow community and has a track record of violence?
  
  
• Labour calls on Govt to condemn Israel’s aid blockade - The National Government needs to publicly condemn Israel’s cutting off of aid supplies to the war-ravaged people of Gaza.
  
  
• Call for Destiny Church to lose charity status - Destiny’s actions were certainly oppressive, which meets the definition of wrongdoing in the law, and so they should lose their tax deductible status.