12 Facts About Vanessa Weenink

Vanessa Joan Weenink was born on 8 November 1978 and is a New Zealand politician.

Vanessa Weenink was elected as a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for Banks Peninsula, representing the National Party, in the 2023 New Zealand general election.

Vanessa Weenink is married to oncologist Matthew Strother; the couple share a blended family of five children.

Vanessa Weenink trained as a doctor and worked as a general practitioner for 20 years.

Vanessa Weenink served nearly 22 years in the New Zealand Army and the New Zealand Territorials.

Vanessa Weenink became involved in medical advocacy in 2019, and was the deputy chair of the New Zealand Medical Association and chair of the NZMA's General Practitioners Council.

Vanessa Weenink had previously been a member of the Labour Party and had campaigned alongside Duncan Webb in Christchurch Central in 2017, but resigned in order to be more involved with the NZMA.

Vanessa Weenink had previously been a member of the Labour Party and had campaigned alongside Duncan Webb in Christchurch Central in 2017, but resigned in order to be more involved with the NZMA.

Vanessa Weenink sought the National Party nomination for Ilam for the 2023 general election, but was unsuccessful.

Vanessa Weenink was announced as National's candidate for Banks Peninsula in March 2023 and was ranked 40th on the National Party.

In December 2023, it was revealed that Vanessa Weenink disagreed with her party's position on smoke-free legislation.

Vanessa Weenink went on to refuse to provide comment on this stating that she now had a role as a backbench MP and it was not appropriate for her to comment.