Simon Watts

Simon Glen Watts (born 1972 (age 50)) is a New Zealand politician. He has been the Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for North Shore, representing the National Party, since the 2020 New Zealand general election.

He currently serves as Minister of Climate Change and Minister of Revenue in the Sixth National Government of New Zealand.

Early life and career
Watts was born in Cambridge, Waikato, where his family were orchardists. He has two younger brothers. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a toddler.

Watts attended the University of Waikato, graduating with a Bachelor of Management Studies in accounting and finance. He has worked in both the private and public sector roles in New Zealand, Asia and the United Kingdom, including a summer intenship at the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department. During the Global Financial Crisis he was working for the Royal Bank of Scotland in London in various management roles. He is a chartered accountant and was later deputy chief financial officer at the Waitematā District Health Board. He also has a Bachelor of Health Science in paramedicine from the Auckland University of Technology, and at one point worked as a front-line ambulance officer for St John.

Early political career
In 2018 Watts attempted to gain the National nomination in the Northcote by-election to replace former Cabinet Minister Jonathan Coleman, but lost to Dan Bidois.

Watts was selected as the National candidate for the North Shore electorate in March 2020, ahead of four other nominees including former Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member Joe Bergin and Kaipātiki Local Board member Danielle Grant. Watts stated his objectives in politics are giving more government support to the health sector and building more roads and new infrastructure. He is also concerned about improving wastewater networks to improve water quality at beaches.

First term, 2020–2023
During the 2020 New Zealand general election, he was elected to the North Shore seat by a margin of 3,734 votes, defeating Labour's candidate Romy Udanga. In his first term in Parliament, he sat on the health committee until December 2021 and thereafter sat on the finance and expenditure committee. In the shadow cabinet of Christopher Luxon, Watts was the party spokesperson for local government, regional development, ACC, climate change, and statistics. In the local government portfolio, he was an outspoken critic of the Labour government's Water Services Reform Programme. His member's bill, the Accident Compensation (Notice of Decisions) Amendment Bill, proposed broadening the rights of employers to appeal decisions of the Accident Compensation Corporation but was defeated at its first reading on 7 April 2021.

Second term, 2023–present
During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Watts retained North Shore by a margin of 16,330 votes, defeating Labour's candidate George Hampton.

Following the election, Watts was appointed as Minister of Climate Change and Minister of Revenue in the National-led coalition government. He attended the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) shortly after he was sworn in, alongside his predecessor James Shaw. Watts stated that the government would "advocate for the global phase-out of fossil fuels" despite reopening the country to oil and gas exploration.

On 24 April 2024, Watts assumed former Minister of Media and Communications Melissa Lee's Cabinet place during a cabinet reshuffle.

As Climate Change Minister, Watts released the Government's climate change strategy on 10 July 2024. He announced that the Government's climate change strategy would be guided by five pillars: ensuring resilient infrastructure and well-prepared communities, credible markets to support climate transition, abundant and affordable clean energy, climate innovation boosting the economy and nature-based climate change solutions. Watts also announced that the Government would begin consultation for its 2024-2030 emissions reduction plan over the next two weeks.

Personal life
Watts is married with two sons. His wife works in marketing.