Chris Auchinvole

Background

Auchinvole was born in Prestwick, Scotland, and attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in England.

Career

He represented the National Party in the House of Representatives from 2005 to 2014. In New Zealand, he has been involved with the export industry, and operated a company based on the West Coast. He has also been involved in the Uniting Church, becoming a lay preacher.

In the 2005 election, Auchinvole stood as the National Party"s candidate for the West Coast-Tasman electorate.

Despite reducing the incumbent"s majority by 5,568 votes, he was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, he entered Parliament as a list Member of Parliament, having been ranked 34th.

Damien O"Connor regained the electorate in 2011 despite a record defeat for the Labour Party. Auchinvole is a wedding celebrant, and officiated at the wedding in Parliament of fellow Member of Parliament Tau Henare on 7 March 2012.

He was a strong supporter of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill which sought to legalise same-sex marriage in New Zealand.

His speech in support of the bill during its second reading was well received. On 2 October 2013 Auchinvole confirmed that he would be stepping down at the 2014 election.

Achievements

• In the 2008 election, Auchinvole won the electorate with a small majority beating Labour"s Damien O"Connor who had represented the West Coast since 1993. Auchinvole was replaced for the 2014 election by Maureen Pugh, Former Westland District Mayor as the West Coast-Tasman Candidate however she did not win the seat and has yet to enter Parliament on the list.