Sarah Pallett

Sarah Jean Pallett[1] is a New Zealand politician and the current Member of Parliament for Ilam in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party.

Sarah Pallett

MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Ilam
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded byGerry Brownlee
Personal details
BornJersey, Channel Islands
Political partyLabour
Children2
ProfessionMidwife
Websitewww.labour.org.nz/sarahpallett

Early life and career

Pallett was born in Jersey, Channel Islands and spent her early years in the United Kingdom.[2] She came to New Zealand with her husband and two daughters. Since divorced, she was a midwife for 10 years, working as a rural midwife and then at Christchurch Women's Hospital.[3] She became a midwifery lecturer at Ara Institute of Canterbury, and also served as president of the majority union of academic staff at Ara.[4]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–present 53rd Ilam 62 Labour

Pallett founded and now chairs the Canterbury Women’s Branch of the Labour Party.[5]

During the 2020 election, Pallett won the seat of Ilam by a final margin of 3,463 votes, ousting incumbent National Member of Parliament Gerry Brownlee.[6] Dominic Harris of news website Stuff called it "perhaps the most unlikely of election night coups".[3]

Personal life

Aged 36 Pallett was diagnosed with breast cancer, but was diagnosed early and survived it stating she is "one of the lucky ones".[2] Pallett lives in Ilam with her partner Andy.[4] Her future son-in-law, Matthew Grace, was her campaign manager.[3]

References
  1. "Event - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz.
  2. Coughlan, Thomas (9 February 2021). "New Ilam MP Sarah Pallett's long journey to Parliament". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  3. Harris, Dominic (18 October 2020). "Election 2020: Sarah Pallett promises 'more inclusive' style after defeating Gerry Brownlee in Ilam". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  4. "Army officer and midwifery lecturer to contest two Canterbury seats for Labour". The Press. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. "Sarah Pallett". Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  6. "Ilam - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Gerry Brownlee		 Member of Parliament for Ilam
2020–present		 Incumbent


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