Reuben Davidson | |
|---|---|
 Davidson in 2020 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Christchurch East | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Poto Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Reuben John Davidson[1] |
| Party | Labour |
| Profession | Television producer |
Reuben John Davidson is a New Zealand television producer and politician. He was on a Christchurch community board from 2019. In the 2023 general election, he was elected to represent the Christchurch East electorate in Parliament.
Early life and career
[edit]Davidson was born in Christchurch.[2] He got his first job aged just 14 at a café.[3] Later he was a television producer working at Whitebait Media for over 15 years.[4] For seven years he produced the children's show What Now and later created the show Fanimals.[3] He lives in North New Brighton.[2] Davidson has a degree from the New Zealand Broadcasting School.[5]
Political career
[edit]| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | Christchurch East | 57 | Labour | |
Local government
[edit]At the 2019 local body elections, he was elected to the Banks Peninsula Community Board. Re-elected in 2022, he became chairman of the community board and was also chairman of the Labour-aligned local political ticket The People's Choice.[4]
2020 general election
[edit]He put himself forward for the Labour nomination in the seat of Port Hills for the 2020 election to replace the retiring Ruth Dyson. He missed out with Labour's vice-president Tracey McLellan winning the selection.[6] He then stood in the seat of Selwyn and was 67th on Labour's 2020 party list. He finished second in Selwyn to National's Nicola Grigg.[7] Despite losing, Davidson polled higher than normal, coming closest to winning the seat for Labour in 27 years.[8]
First term, 2023–present
[edit]After Labour's Poto Williams announced her retirement from the Christchurch East electorate in December 2022,[9] Davidson was selected for the seat ahead of Dan Rosewarne, Colin Meurk, Melissa Lama, and Teresa Butler. After gaining selection he stated he would resign from the Banks Peninsula Community Board and donate his community board salary to the Mayoral Relief Fund.[4] He was 57th on Labour's 2023 party list.[10] He was elected to the Christchurch East seat in October 2023 with a margin of over 2000 votes.[11][12] Davidson was one of just two new MPs elected in Labour's defeat in 2023 along with Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. He stated "It's bittersweet because I'm really aware of the huge shoes I'm stepping into to represent the people of Christchurch East but I had hoped to be doing it as part of a Labour government".[13]
In late November 2023, Davidson was appointed as spokesperson for statistics, digital economy and communications, and associate broadcasting and media in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[14]
Following a cabinet reshuffle in early March 2025, Davidson joined Hipkins' new economics team. He also dropped his previous portfolios and assumed the Science, Technology and Innovation portfolio and the Broadcasting, Media, and Creative Economy portfolio.[15]
In mid January 2026 Davidson, as Labour's broadcasting and media spokesperson, announced that a Labour government would propose a streaming levy on foreign streaming companies like Netflix in order to invest in the New Zealand film industry. This proposal was welcomed by Screen Production and Development Association president Irene Gardiner.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Selwyn – Electorate Profile". New Zealand Parliament. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Reuben Davidson". New Zealand Labour Party. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ a b Bolger, Devon (29 July 2020). "Lyttelton resident vying for Selwyn seat in September election". The Star. Retrieved 12 March 2023 – via Otago Daily Times.
- ^ a b c Law, Tina (12 March 2023). "Labour stalwart wins selection to contest Christchurch East". Stuff. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Election 2020: Selwyn candidates for local MP". Stuff. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Law, Tina (24 November 2019). "Labour selects Tracey McLellan as 2020 Port Hills candidate". Stuff. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Selwyn – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ Bolger, Devon (18 October 2020). "National wins Selwyn; Labour comes closest in nearly three decades". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ Manch, Thomas; Whyte, Anna (13 December 2022). "Cabinet minister Poto Williams, David Clark and Aupito William Sio retiring from Parliament at 2023 election". Stuff. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Labour releases party list for 2023 election". RNZ. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Morton, Nathan (16 October 2023). "Election 2023 results: The South Island's new elected leaders following blue tidal wave". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Electoral Commission (3 November 2023). "Christchurch East – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023.
- ^ Scotcher, Katie (16 October 2023). "Devastated Labour MPs prepare for spell in political wilderness". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet". Radio New Zealand. 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ Palmer, Russell (7 March 2025). "Chris Hipkins announces new Labour 'economic team', Tangi Utikere promoted". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 7 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ "Election 2026: Labour proposes 'game-changing' streaming levy to fund local productions". RNZ. 15 January 2026. Archived from the original on 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
External links
[edit]
- Living people
- New Zealand television producers
- Local politicians in New Zealand
- Unsuccessful candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election
- New Zealand Labour Party MPs
- Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- Politicians from Christchurch
- Candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election
- New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates
