Anne Tolley

Anne Tolley (born 1 March 1953 in Napier, New Zealand) is a New Zealand politician representing the New Zealand National Party.

Tolley is the Member for the East Coast electorate, representing Whakatane, Ohope, Opotiki, Gisborne, and Wairoa districts. She was the first woman National Party Whip from December 2006 till February 2008 when she became the party's Education Spokeswoman after Katherine Rich stood down from the portfolio.

She was first an MP from 1999 to 2002, representing the National Party. She was elected in the 1999 elections as a list MP, having unsuccessfully contested the Napier seat against Labour's Geoff Braybrooke. In the 2002 elections, she unsuccessfully contested Napier against Braybrooke's successor, Russell Fairbrother. Along with many other National MPs, Anne did not escape the collapse of the party's vote that year, and so was not returned to Parliament as a list MP.

In the 2005 General Election she successfully contested the East Coast Electorate, beating Labour Candidate Moana Mackey, daughter of the previous East Coast MP Janet Mackey. Tolley also beat the Deputy Leader of the United Future Party who was standing in the electorate for the fifth time.

Before entering national politics, Tolley was Deputy Mayor of Napier and a City Councillor. Anne and her husband Allan maintain homes in Gisborne and Whakatane.

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External links

* [http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/4/5/2/48MP30671-Tolley-Anne.htm Page on Parliamentary website]