14 Facts About Sarah Dowie

Sarah Maree Dowie was born on 1974 and is a New Zealand former politician of the National Party.

Sarah Dowie was the Member of Parliament for Invercargill from 2014 to 2020.

Sarah Dowie attended the University of Otago, studying law and ecology.

Sarah Dowie joined the National Party and was affiliated with their "Blue Greens" environmentalist faction.

Sarah Dowie was selected by the National Party to replace retiring MP Eric Roy as the party's Invercargill for the 2014 election.

Sarah Dowie was returned again in 2017 with a slightly reduced margin over new Labour candidate Liz Craig and sitting New Zealand First list MP Ria Bond.

Sarah Dowie was deputy chairperson of the Government Administration committee, deputy chairperson of the Local Government and Environment committee and chairperson of the Justice and Electoral committee.

Sarah Dowie was appointed to Simon Bridges' shadow cabinet as conservation spokesperson and one of only a few members who had not been a minister in the previous Government.

In 2019 Sarah Dowie was re-selected unopposed as National's Invercargill candidate, but in February 2020 announced her decision not to stand for re-election.

Sarah Dowie's speech was met with a standing ovation by MPs throughout the debating chamber.

Sarah Dowie gave a number of high-profile interviews with news media following the announcement of her retirement from Parliament, including with New Zealand Herald senior writer David Fisher, Stuff's Andrea Vance, and Newsroom's Melanie Reid.

Sarah Dowie wrote an op-ed for Newsroom providing advice to other women caught in abusive relationships including breaking off contact with the abuser and reaching out to and confiding in friends.

In exit interviews, Sarah Dowie stated her intention to work as a consultant championing Southland and shepherding policy through central and local government.

Sarah Dowie is married to Mark Billcliff, a former first class cricketer for Otago, but it is understood they have separated.