Judy Turner
MP
Judy Turner came to Parliament in 2002, was elected deputy leader in 2005 and Whip in 2007.
Her major portfolios include Social Services, Education, Health & Disabilities. Judy sits on the Social Services select committee.
Judy travels to Wellington each week from Ohope Beach near Whakatäne. She is married to Graham and they have three adult children.
Judy has a Whakatäne out-of-parliament office that reflects Judy's desire to serve her home town of 30 years, and the town that she has stood for election in for the last three campaigns.
Prior to becoming an M.P. Judy taught as a specialist Arts teacher at Whakatäne Intermediate, and also as a new entrants teacher at a bi-lingual primary school at Kutarere School and has always spent a considerable amount of time doing work in the community. For the last 26 years she has also hosted a weekly radio programme on a local Bay of Plenty station.
Judy's interest in politics stem from a real concern for helping parents and strengthening the family context in which New Zealanders live. She believes that as a nation we are the poorer for having successive government policies that are short-term, three-year election driven rather than policies that are the result of long-term planning for our nation.
Judy has a particular interest helping improve areas such as Child, Youth and Family (CYF), a better Family Court system, support for those with disabilities, supporting community organisations and NGOs like Plunket, and is pushing for more help and recognition for issues where males are disadvantaged, like education and health.
Working on the development stages of the Families Commission, proposing the 'dual-intake' model that has been adopted by CYF, as well as suggesting and working on an independent complaints authority for CYF, are among the highlights for Judy's parliamentary service to date.
Her interests reflect her grass-roots, community based interests and experience. When able to have some rare down-time, Judy enjoys reading, theatre, music, socialising and public speaking.
judy.turner@parliament.govt.nz
ph. 04 470 6988
or freephone 0800 836 947