United Future MPs

Gordon Copeland

List MP

Responsibilities

Economics & Business
Finance; Revenue; Customs; Public Trust; Economic Development; Industry & Regional Development; Small Business; Commerce; State Owned Enterprises; Labour & Immigration;

Primary Industry
Agriculture; Forestry; Fisheries; Horticulture

Infrastructure
Energy; Transport[1]; Transport Safety; Land Information; Statistics; Communications;

Outdoors
Tourism; Conservation; Sport & Recreation;

Born in Mahana, Tasman Bay, Gordon has five adult children and eight grandchildren together with his wife of over 40 years Anne. They reside in Miramar, Wellington.

Educated at Motueka High School and then Victoria University attaining a B.Com and later an ACA. Gordon has since worked in the Oil Industry, firstly with Europa and then with BP. He held the positions of Finance Manager, BP New Zealand, and directorships with the NZ Refining Company, Whangarei, and Hikurangi Forest Farms Ltd, East Coast, North Island.

From 1980 to 1984 Gordon worked as a self-employed Business Consultant and contributed to a number of major Corporate and Governmental studies. Since 1984 Gordon as been the Financial Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington, and since 1987 the Chairman of the Inter Church Working Party on Taxation which represents the Christian Churches in New Zealand and the Hebrew Congregations.

As an MP Gordon wants to give central focus to the role and importance of the New Zealand family in building a strong nation. Also to assist economic growth so that all New Zealanders have opportunities for educational development, high quality health care and encouragement to achieve their full potential as human beings in all areas of life.

He also wants to develop policy which gives greater encouragement to charities and not-for-profit organisations, a taxation system which minimises distortions thus encouraging optimum investment decisions by New Zealanders and ensuring that through a mix of private savings and government support New Zealanders have adequate retirement incomes.

Gordon also enjoys sport, particularly athletics, rugby, basketball and cricket as well as gardening and spending time with his children and grandchildren.