Wikipedia:WikiProject New Zealand/politics/New MPs/Matt Lawrey

Matt Lawrey is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Green Party.

Personal life
Lawrey lives in Nelson. He has written as a columnist for the Nelson Mail. In July 2016, he fractured both arms in a cycling accident.

Political career
Lawrey was elected as a Nelson City Councillor, and again in October 2016. During his second term, he was selected unopposed as the Green Party's candidate for the electorate of Nelson. He competed against incumbent Nick Smith who had held the electorate or its previous form,, since 1990. Despite initial speculation that the Labour Party would support the Greens by not standing a candidate, this did not occur.

Following election to parliament, Lawrey stood down from the Nelson City Council mid-term, which required a by-election costing $80,000. Lawrey commented that the rules around replacing councillors should be revisited.