Glen Bennett
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for New Plymouth
In office
17 October 2020 – 14 October 2023
Preceded byJonathan Young
Succeeded byDavid MacLeod
Majority2,555
Personal details
Born
Glen Thomas Bennett

1975 or 1976 (age 48–49)[1]
Dunedin, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
Spouse
Jon O'Neill
​
(m. 2021)​

Glen Thomas Bennett[2] (born 1975 or 1976) is a former New Zealand politician and a member of the Labour Party. He was elected the Member of the Parliament for New Plymouth at the 2020 New Zealand general election, defeating the National candidate and incumbent Jonathan Young.[3] He lost his seat to David MacLeod in the 2023 general election. Prior to entering politics, Bennett worked in the community sector for more than 20 years.[4]

Early life

Bennett was born in Dunedin. His parents were officers in The Salvation Army and frequently moved around the country. He attended Dominion Road School in Auckland, Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch, and Rongotai College in Wellington. He spent two years working in television production, including such shows as Showcase, Fair Go, and McPhail and Gadsby. After witnessing poverty in Donetsk, Ukraine, on a trip with the Salvation Army in 2002, Bennett decided to foster troubled teen boys.[5]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–2023 53rd New Plymouth 72 Labour

Bennett was a member of the New Plymouth branch of the Labour Party branch for over five years prior to his selection.[citation needed] In late 2019, Bennett ran unopposed for the Labour nomination for the New Plymouth seat,[6]after serving on the local electorate executive for the previous two years.[citation needed]

At the 2020 New Zealand general election, New Plymouth was not tipped as a seat to flip to Labour, with the party not having held the seat since 2008. However, Bennett defeated the incumbent National Party MP Jonathan Young by a margin of 2,555 votes.[7]

During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Bennett was unseated by National Party candidate David MacLeod, who won by a margin of 6,991 votes.[8]

On 20 February 2024, Grant Robertson announced that he would be retiring from Parliament in March 2024 to assume the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago. Since Robertson was a list candidate, Bennett reentered Parliament on the Labour Party list. Due to a cabinet reshuffle in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins, Bennett will assume the economic development and associate energy portfolios after entering Parliament.[9][10]

Personal life

Bennett is openly gay, and became engaged to fiancé Jon O'Neill after a proposal on stage at a Troy Kingi concert in New Plymouth.[11] During the 2020 general election campaign, Bennett was accosted by a member of the public about his sexuality, which led to Andrew Little's stepping in to stop the abuse.[12] After being delayed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bennett and O'Neill were married at Parliament on 8 February 2021, the day before Bennett's maiden speech.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Bennett, Glen – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz.
  2. ^ "Event – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz.
  3. ^ "Election 2020: Labour supporters dance the conga after dramatic takeover of New Plymouth seat". 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Glen Bennett". Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Living the gospel". Taranaki Daily News. 6 August 2008 – via PressReader.
  6. ^ Ockhuysen, Stephanie (21 December 2019). "Labour Party announces new candidate for New Plymouth electorate". Stuff. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  7. ^ "New Plymouth – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  8. ^ "New Plymouth - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Grant Robertson retires from politics, appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago". The New Zealand Herald. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Labour reshuffle: Edmonds moves up as Finance spokesperson". Radio New Zealand. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Labour Party announces new candidate for New Plymouth electorate". Stuff. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Election 2020: Andrew Little steps in to stop abuse of gay Labour candidate". Stuff. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  13. ^ Keith, Leighton (8 February 2021). "New Plymouth Labour MP Glen Bennett ties the knot in Parliament". Stuff.
New Zealand Parliament Preceded byJonathan Young Member of Parliament for New Plymouth 2020–2023 Succeeded byDavid MacLeod
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