Jo Goodhew

Early years

Goodhew grew up in Timaru, and attended Timaru Girls' High School. She holds a qualification in nursing from Otago Polytechnic. She has been involved in a variety of health organisations in the Otago region.

Member of Parliament

In the 2005 election, Goodhew was a candidate for the National Party, standing in the Aoraki electorate and being ranked 31st on the party list. She won the Aoraki seat and entered Parliament.

In the 2008 election, most of Aoraki was moved to the new Rangitata electorate, which was vulnerable to capture by Labour. This didn't eventuate, and Goodhew won the new electorate with an increased majority.

Goodhew was elected Junior Whip by Caucus following the resignation from Government by Richard Worth. This led to the former Junior Whip Chris Tremain being promoted to Senior Whip and Nathan Guy taking over Worth's portfolios. After the 2011 Election, Goodhew was returned as MP for Rangitata but with a slightly reduced majority. Goodhew was made Minister of Community and Voluntary Sector, succeeding from Tariana Turia when the new Government portfolios were announced; she was replaced as Junior Whip by Louise Upston, MP for Taupo.

In the 2014 election, Goodhew more than doubled her majority over Labour's Steve Gibson.

On 20 December 2016, after Prime Minister John Key resigned, the National party reshuffled some of their party members' roles, and Jo Goodhew lost her Ministerial portfolios.

After the reshuffle, on 25 January 2017, Goodhew announced that she wouldn't be contesting the 2017 election.