Martin Gallagher

Education

Gallagher was educated at Hamilton Boys" High School, and the University of Waikato where he completed a Bachelor of Social Science degree.

Career

Currently, he is councillor on the Hamilton City Council. He is a qualified teacher. In the 1996 elections, however, he was defeated by National"s Bob Simcock.

At the 2005 elections, he had a slender majority of 825 votes, 2.0% more than his opponent.

In the 2008 general election he was defeated by National"s Tim Macindoe. His list placing of 41 meant that he was not returned to Parliament.

The swing in Hamilton West at the 2008 election against Gallagher was less than half the nationwide swing against his Government. Gallagher was Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee and formerly the Law and Order Select Committee.

Local body politics

Before standing for Parliament, Gallagher was a councillor for the Hamilton City Council from 1985–1994, and served as Deputy Mayor of Hamilton from 1988–1993.

After losing his Parliamentary seat in 2008, Gallagher returned to local body politics. In the 2010 and 2013 local elections, he ran for the Hamilton City Council and the Waikato District Health Board as an independent candidate. He was returned for both positions in each election.

Achievements

• He was first elected to Parliament in the 1993 elections, when he won the Hamilton West electorate. In the 1999 elections, he won back the electorate.

Membership

Member of Parliament.