Nick Smith (New Zealand politician)

Nick Smith ( born December 24, 1964 in Rangiora ) is a New Zealand politician and the current government under John Key Prime Minister of Environment, Climate Change and the National Health Insurance ACC. He is a member of the New Zealand National Party.

Life and work

Smith was born in North Canterbury. He attended Rangiora High School in 1983 and got an AFS scholarship, at the time called American Field Scholar, and went to Delaware. At the University of Canterbury, he graduated in civil engineering. Smith is married and has four children.

From 1985 to 1986 he worked as an assistant in civil engineering in Rangiora County Council, then took over by selecting the mandate of the Council member in Rangiora County Council and also took over the position of Director of Smith Construction from 1987 to 1990 and taught at the University of Canterbury.

He was joined the National Party in 1984 for one year, the chairman of the Young Nationals and 1986 for one year its vice chairman. From 1988 to 1990 he took over as Deputy Chairman of the National Division of Canterbury - Westland and was the youngest member of the House of Representatives for the National Party in 1990 by winning the direct mandate for the Tasman Electorate ( electoral district ). In 1996, he first appeared in government and held various ministerial posts until deselected by National in 1999. With the renewed government takeover by the National Party in 2008, Smith was Minister for the Environment.