33 Facts About Kieran McAnulty

Kieran McAnulty was first elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives in 2017, representing the New Zealand Labour Party.

Kieran McAnulty was the Member of Parliament for Wairarapa between 2020 and 2023, and is currently a list MP.

Kieran McAnulty later served as that government's Minister of Local Government, Minister for Emergency Management, Minister for Racing and Deputy Leader of the House.

Kieran McAnulty was born in Eketahuna in 1985, and was adopted by Marie and Mike Kieran McAnulty.

The Kieran McAnulty family is a historically "staunch" family of Labour Party supporters, although his mother's family included some National Party supporters.

Kieran McAnulty attended St Mary's School in Carterton, St Patrick's School in Masterton, and Chanel College, where he was head boy in 2002.

Kieran McAnulty went on to the University of Otago where he completed a Bachelor of Arts, Postgraduate Diploma in Arts and Master of Arts in politics.

Kieran McAnulty met his first wife, Suzanne McNally, while traveling in her home country of Ireland on an overseas experience.

Kieran McAnulty married his second wife, the former prime minister's press secretary Gia Garrick, in January 2024.

Kieran McAnulty stood in the North Island electorate of Wairarapa at the 2014 election, but was defeated by National's Alastair Scott.

Kieran McAnulty had previously been offered the Wairarapa candidacy in 2011, but declined.

Kieran McAnulty stood for Labour in Wairarapa again in the 2017 election.

Kieran McAnulty instead entered Parliament via the party list, where he had been ranked 38.

On 25 September 2019, Kieran McAnulty was ejected from Parliament by the Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard for making disparaging remarks about National Party leader Simon Bridges during a Parliamentary debate about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Kieran McAnulty became well known for his distinctive, run-down red 1997 Mazda Bounty ute.

In September 2016, Kieran McAnulty wrestled to the ground a car thief who was trying to steal the ute in Masterton.

Kieran McAnulty attracted media attention when he chauffeured Ardern in the ute during the 2020 election campaign and, after the election, when he sold it for charity and replaced it with a 2021 Mitsubishi hybrid electric Outlander.

Kieran McAnulty joined the executive at a "uniquely challenging time" for local government, according to prime minister Jacinda Ardern, due to tensions and challenges related to the government's reforms in the portfolio on top of localised emergencies.

Kieran McAnulty completed a tour of visits to New Zealand's to 54 rural and provincial councils in his first five months.

Kieran McAnulty led the passage of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2022 on behalf of the Minister of Local Government, Nanaia Mahuta.

Sharma accused Kieran McAnulty of "gaslighting me, shouting at me, degrading me in front of caucus members and other attendees at events and telling me that I was a terrible MP".

In January 2023, Kieran McAnulty claimed he was advised by parliamentary security to stop advertising the availability of his mobile office in his electorate because of death threats against him.

Kieran McAnulty continued as Minister for Racing and was appointed Minister for Rural Communities and Deputy Leader of the House.

Kieran McAnulty picked up the Minister for Regional Development role after Kiri Allan resigned from Cabinet in July 2023.

Kieran McAnulty returned to Parliament on the Labour Party list.

On 5 December 2023, Kieran McAnulty was granted retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of his term as a member of the Executive Council.

In June 2024, The Post reported that Kieran McAnulty was claiming a NZ$36,400 annual housing allowance to rent a Lower Hutt flat from his wife.

Kieran McAnulty resided at the flat while Parliament is in session.

Kieran McAnulty lost the local government and regional development portfolios.

Kieran McAnulty identifies as a socialist and supports a New Zealand republic, with a local head of state.

Kieran McAnulty was previously treasurer of the New Zealand Republic campaign before entering parliament.

Kieran McAnulty is in favour of decriminalising cannabis, and has admitted to smoking cannabis twice.

Kieran McAnulty voted "yes" in both the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum and the 2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum.