Rt Hon Jenny Shipley

• Prime Minister
• Minister in Charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service
• MP, Rakaia

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Biography Rt Rt Hon Jenny Shipley MP

Jenny Shipley, sworn in as New Zealand's Prime Minister on 8 December 1997, brings to the leadership ten years of Parliamentary experience. Her ambition is that every New Zealander shall have the opportunity to lead successful, satisfying and rewarding lives.

Jenny Shipley is an ardent believer in the freedom of choice.

She wants the hallmarks of her leadership to be:

• the protection and enhancement of New Zealand's strong economic position

• the encouragement and rewarding of Kiwi effort and ingenuity

• the promotion and restoration of traditional New Zealand values

• and the preservation and enhancement of New Zealand's natural environment

Jenny Shipley was born in Gore, New Zealand in 1952. The second of four daughters, she grew up in Wellington and Blenheim. She graduated from Christchurch Teachers College in 1971 and worked as a primary school teacher for a number of years. She farmed in partnership with her husband Burton Shipley.

She became actively involved in politics after the birth of her children Anna and Ben, when she held a variety of positions on community organisations and in local government.

In 1987 she entered national politics by contesting the Ashburton electorate seat for the New Zealand National Party. She has held this constituency since then.

Jenny Shipley, in a recent speech, reiterated her compelling commitment to represent three constituencies:

• "those who passionately believe in private enterprise and who create wealth so we can have jobs and social services

• those whose interests are not easily heard in the corridors of power and in particular women

• and those who cherish freedom and believe in taking personal responsibility for themselves and their own before looking to others."

[Superannuation and Compulsion Speech - 10/5/97]

Jenny Shipley was appointed to Cabinet in 1990 as Minister of Social Welfare and Minister of Women's Affairs. In her role as Minister of Social Welfare she oversaw major organisational and policy reforms.

In 1993 she was appointed Minister of Health and sought to secure public health services that kept pace with the changing face of modern medicine and people's rising expectations balanced against what New Zealand could realistically afford.

She is a strong supporter of the economic and social reforms which have taken place in New Zealand over the last ten years.

Between 1990 and 1996 Jenny Shipley was the Minister of Women's Affairs and she actively promoted legislative change that advanced the status of New Zealand women.

In 1996 she was appointed to the portfolios of State Services, Transport, State Owned Enterprises, Accident Rehabilitation Compensation Insurance and Radio New Zealand. In these roles she has pursued policies which are consistent with her belief we must promote an economic programme that repays debt, lowers taxes, reduces trade barriers and sells assets where appropriate to secure ongoing economic growth and maintain New Zealand's positive outlook.

In September 1997 Jenny Shipley was reappointed Minister of Women's Affairs and she relinquished the State Services portfolio.

Jenny is married to Burton Shipley who is a business development manager for a major bank. They have two children, Anna (22) and Ben (20) and her personal interests include gardening, walking, music and water sports.