Hon. Louise Upston

Louise Upston is the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Minister for Disability Issues, Minister for Social Development and Employment, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality and Minister for Child Poverty Reduction. Louise is also Deputy Leader of the House. She has served as the MP for Taupō since the 2008 election.

Louise held a number of Ministerial roles in the Fifth National Government, including the portfolios of Corrections, Education, Land Information, Local Government, Women, and Tertiary Education Skills and Employment.  She also served as Government Chief Whip.

Prior to entering Parliament in 2008, Louise was self-employed as a project management consultant. She also held directorships in a number of trusts and companies involved in property, tourism, management, and consulting. Louise holds an MBA from Waikato University.

Louise lives in Karāpiro, south of Cambridge, with her partner Hamish and her children. She enjoys participating in sporting events and has competed in the Round the Lake Relay, the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge, and the 63.3km challenge—three Taupō-based half marathons in three months.