Tom Rutherford

Tom Rutherford, representing the National Party, serves as the Member of Parliament for the Bay of Plenty since 2023 and is the National Party candidate for the new Mt Maunganui electorate at the 2026 election (the renamed and reconfigured Bay of Plenty seat, now including Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa, and surrounding communities where he lives and grew up).

Born and raised in the Bay of Plenty, Tom is a lifelong local who proudly calls this region home, the place where he grew up, went to school, and has lived his entire life. Deeply rooted in the community, his political journey is driven by a strong desire to serve the people of the Bay of Plenty and ensure everyone can succeed and thrive in the incredible place he knows so well.

As the youngest MP in the Government, Tom brings fresh energy, a contemporary perspective, and genuine humility to Parliament. He holds a degree in Public Policy and Political Science from Victoria University of Wellington.

Before entering Parliament, he gained hands-on experience in communications, local government, and policy (including in the Policy & Planning Team at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and working alongside Mayor Tania Tapsell at the Rotorua Lakes Council), and with the National Party. Mentored by former Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall, Tom was selected as a Youth MP in 2013, igniting his passion for public service in his home region.

In his maiden speech, Tom pledged to champion the Bay of Plenty's priorities: tackling the cost of living, reducing crime, and delivering better infrastructure, especially upgrading State Highway 29, and completing the Takitimu North Link all the way from Tauranga to Ōmokoroa. He is committed to empowering police, easing congestion, and strengthening the local economy. As a born-and-bred local, Tom emphasises active listening, working closely with the community, and building on what makes the Bay of Plenty special to create a safer, more prosperous future for families here.

When he’s not in Parliament, Tom enjoys time with his wife, Hannah, playing cricket for Greerton Cricket Club, officiating as a New Zealand Hockey Umpire and as a local Bay of Plenty Rugby Referee, and giving back through community service, he recently retired as a volunteer firefighter with the Mount Maunganui Fire Station after nearly 4 years of service.

Tom's goal is simple: to make the Bay of Plenty the best and safest place to live, with resilient infrastructure, affordable housing, strong opportunities, and better outcomes for all who call it home. Proudly representing the community that raised him, and now standing for the Mt Maunganui electorate, he continues to advocate tirelessly for its progress and for future generations.