Chris Penk
Christopher Aidan Penk (born 1980)[1] is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party.
Chris Penk | |
|---|---|
 Penk in 2021 | |
| Senior Whip of the National Party | |
| Assumed office 7 December 2021 | |
| Deputy | Maureen Pugh |
| Leader | Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Matt Doocey |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Kaipara ki Mahurangi Helensville (2017–2020) | |
| Assumed office 23 September 2017 | |
| Preceded by | John Key |
| Majority | 4,435 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christopher Aidan Penk 1980 (age 40–41) |
| Political party | National |
Personal life
Penk graduated from the University of Auckland in 1999 and joined the Royal New Zealand Navy, serving as an officer on HMNZS Te Kaha. He was an aide-de-camp for Governor-General Silvia Cartwright, before joining the Australian Defence Force for four years.[2]
After his military career, Penk became a property lawyer.[2] His father, Stephen, is an Associate Dean at the University of Auckland's Law School and his brother Alex is also a lawyer.[3]
Political career
At the 2014 election, Penk stood in the Kelston electorate, placing second behind Carmel Sepuloni.[4] Penk was ranked 68th on the National Party's party list and was not elected to parliament.
Member of parliament
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | Helensville | 64 | National |
| 2020–present | 53rd | Kaipara ki Mahurangi | 41 | National |
Penk won selection as National's Helensville candidate for the 2017 election, replacing former prime minister John Key.[2] He won Helensville, defeating Labour's candidate Kurt Taogaga by margin of 14,608 votes.[5]
During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Penk contested the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate, defeating Labour's candidate Marja Lubeck by a margin of 4,435 votes.[6]
In June 2021, in response to Winston Peters describing National Party members as "sex maniacs", Penk made a tweet saying Peters "is the real sex maniac because he can fuck [...] a whole country at once". Judith Collins said her office asked Penk to take down the tweet. Collins said "It's just simply inappropriate, we don't use that sort of language."[7][8][9]
On 7 December 2021, the National caucus elected him as its Senior Whip.[10]
References
- "Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- "Former Navy officer Chris Penk chosen as National candidate to replace John Key in Helensville". Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019.
- "Third law graduate in family". University of Auckland Law School. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020.
- "Official Count Results – Kelston". Electoral Commission. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- "Helensville – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- "Kaipara ki Mahurangi – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- Manch, Thomas (22 June 2021). "National MP Chris Penk told to delete tweet attacking Winston Peters by office of party leader Judith Collins". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- Satherley, Dan (22 June 2021). "National MP Chris Penk admits tweet calling Winston Peters a 's*x maniac' who 'can f**k a whole country at once' was 'a bit out there'". Newshub. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- Cheng, Derek (22 June 2021). "Judith Collins responds to Winston Peters' 'sex maniacs' barb". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- Cooke, Henry (7 December 2021). "National elects Chris Penk senior whip, Maureen Pugh to keep junior role". Stuff. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
