35 Facts About Michael Woodhouse

Michael Allan Woodhouse was born on 1965 and is a New Zealand healthcare chief executive and former politician.

Michael Woodhouse was a Member of Parliament for the National Party from 2008 to 2023.

Michael Woodhouse attended St Patrick's, St Edmund's and St Paul's High School, which he left at the end of sixth form in 1982.

Michael Woodhouse then returned to Dunedin where he studied commerce and accounting at the University of Otago, graduating in 1993.

Michael Woodhouse worked at Taylor McLachlan Accountants in Dunedin, Dunedin Hospital and ACC.

Michael Woodhouse was chief executive of Mercy Hospital, a private hospital in Dunedin, from 2001 to 2008.

Michael Woodhouse was convicted for drink-driving when he was 21 years old.

Michael Woodhouse was first elected to Parliament in the 2008 general election as a list MP for the National Party.

Michael Woodhouse refused a position on the National Party list for the 2023 general election, ending his parliamentary career.

Michael Woodhouse served senior roles in the John Key and Bill English-led Fifth National Government, including senior whip, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Transport, Minister of Police and Minister of Revenue.

Michael Woodhouse was the National Party health spokesperson, finance spokesperson and Shadow Leader of the House under opposition leaders Simon Bridges, Todd Muller, Judith Collins, and Christopher Luxon between 2017 and 2023.

Michael Woodhouse was selected as National's Dunedin North candidate in 2008, succeeding Katherine Rich who had been a list MP for 9 years but was retiring.

The electorate had been held by the Labour Party for all but six years since 1922, and Michael Woodhouse was defeated by the Labour incumbent Pete Hodgson.

Michael Woodhouse led the passage of the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill, which devolved to local authorities the power to pass bylaws allowing shops to open on Easter Sunday.

Michael Woodhouse became Deputy Shadow Leader of the House and the National Party's spokesperson for health and immigration.

In late August 2018, Michael Woodhouse objected to United States whistleblower Chelsea Manning's proposed tour of New Zealand in early September 2018, arguing that she should be banned due to her lack of remorse over her role in leaking sensitive US military documents to WikiLeaks.

On 17 June 2020, Michael Woodhouse claimed that a source had told him that two travellers, who tested positive for COVID-19, had made physical contact with others while travelling from Auckland to Wellington to attend a funeral.

On 4 July 2020, The Spinoff reported that Michael Woodhouse had posed with a toilet seat with a picture of Labour Dunedin South electorate Clare Curran during the National Party's April 2012 Mainland Regional conference.

Michael Woodhouse confirmed that he had deleted the emails, stating that it was inappropriate to have leaked them.

Michael Woodhouse was criticised by Health Minister Chris Hipkins, who alleged that he had been "sitting on information" related to the recent COVID-19 leak.

The next day, Michael Woodhouse was announced as the party's new finance and transport spokesperson, and deputy shadow leader of the House in Collins' Shadow Cabinet.

Michael Woodhouse was promoted to shadow leader of the House in August 2021.

In December 2021, following the leadership election won by Christopher Luxon, Michael Woodhouse lost the finance portfolio to Simon Bridges and the shadow leadership of the House to Chris Bishop.

Michael Woodhouse was reappointed as shadow leader of the House on 19 January 2023.

Michael Woodhouse was a member of the Governance and Administration committee between 2021 and 2023 and of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation committee in 2023.

Michael Woodhouse said that he withdrew his name after learning his proposed position on the list.

Michael Woodhouse still contested the Dunedin electorate, a safe Labour seat that has been being won by Labour in every election but one since 1928.

Michael Woodhouse was appointed chief executive of Forte Health, which runs a private hospital in Christchurch, in April 2024.

Michael Woodhouse voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill, a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand.

Michael Woodhouse opposed the End of Life Choice Bill and the Abortion Legislation Bill.

Michael Woodhouse was one of only eight MPs to vote against the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022 at its final reading in February 2022.

Michael Woodhouse voted against the bill during its second and third readings.

Michael Woodhouse is married to Amanda; the couple has three children.

Michael Woodhouse is an avid rugby fan, having played for Otago and South Island representative teams in his youth.

Michael Woodhouse has been active in the Parliamentary Sports Trust as a rugby player and referee, having refereed the game before and during his parliamentary career.