Catherine Joan "Kate" Wilkinson is a New Zealand farmer and politician. She was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for the National Party from until her retirement in 2014. From 2008 until January 2013, she was a member of cabinet, holding the portfolios of Labour, Conservation, Food Safety, and Associate Immigration, before being removed from cabinet by Prime Minister John Key.
Early life and career before politics
Wilkinson was raised on a Mid Canterbury mixed cropping farm at Chertsey and went to St Margaret's College secondary school in Christchurch. And going on to gained a law degree from the University of Canterbury. She worked as a lawyer for 25 years with a Christchurch firm Harman & co before gaining election to Parliament in 2005.
Political career
In the 2005 election, Wilkinson was a candidate for the National Party, standing in the Waimakariri electorate and ranked 38th on the party list. She entered Parliament as a list MP. She has made a successful start to her career in politics, rising to 28th on the list, and eventually becoming a Cabinet minister. Although unsuccessful in terms of electorate vote again, National won a commanding margin in the party vote. In the 2011 election Wilkinson overturned incumbent Clayton Cosgrove's 390 vote majority to win by 642 votes, as well as winning the party vote in the electorate by more than 12,000 votes. In the 49th and 50th New Zealand Parliaments, Wilkinson served as Associate Minister of Conservation, Minister of Conservation, Minister for Food Safety, Associate Minister of Immigration, and Minister of Labour.
Folic acid criticism
Wilkinson was criticised for her position on the mandatory addition of folic acid to bread sold to the public. Paediatric Society Doctor Andrew Marshall said "making folic acid mandatory would prevent 10 to 20 birth defects, such as spina bifida, a year", as well as strokes and other disease.
Resignation as Minister of Labour
Wilkinson resigned her portfolio as Minister of Labour on 5 November 2012, following the publication of the Royal Commission of Inquiry's report into the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster. It stated that there were major flaws in the Department of Labour, and recommended "sweeping changes" into the department. In a statement, Prime Minister John Key said, "Ms Wilkinson's decision to resign is a personal decision in response to the magnitude of the tragedy. It is the honourable thing to do. I considered it proper for me to accept her resignation from the Labour portfolio." She retained her other portfolios and was succeeded in the Labour portfolio by Chris Finlayson. Wilkinson however was not asked to step down from her other portfolios in Conservation, Food Safety, and Associate Immigration. She was removed from cabinet in the reshuffle of January 2013. On 31 January 2013 Wilkinson was granted the right to retain the title of The Honourable for life in recognition of her term as a Member of the Executive Council of New Zealand.
Retirement from politics
Wilkinson announced in November 2013 that she would retire at the end of the term of the 50th Parliament. At the time, it was rumoured that political newcomer Matthew Doocey, who contested the 2013 Christchurch East by-election, was going to replace her as the candidate in the Waimakariri electorate; this proved to be correct. Doocey was selected to replace Wilkinson and retained the seat with a lightly increased majority at the 2014 election.
Post-political career
Following her departure from politics, Wilkinson returned to Swannanoa in Canterbury to look after her family farming interests. She was appointed Commissioner of the Environment Court in May 2015.
