Hon Matt Doocey is a New Zealand National Party politician and Minister for Mental Health, representing the Waimakariri electorate [27][28][31].
Before entering politics, Doocey worked in mental health and healthcare roles in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, according to a single reputable secondary source [8]. He is reported to have worked for Youthline NZ and at the Canterbury District Health Board [9][10]. According to the same secondary source, he held a management role in the surgical division at Canterbury District Health Board from 2013, and worked more broadly as a healthcare management professional in community mental health and social care services [5][3]. He is also described as having worked as a counselling psychologist [1].
Doocey attended St Bedes College, according to a single secondary source [19]. He is confirmed to have studied at Kingston University in London [18] and at Birkbeck College, University of London [15]. A single secondary source also references study at Bath University from 2013 [14].
Doocey stood as the National Party candidate for the Christchurch East by-election in September 2013, according to a single reputable secondary source [29]. Sources differ on when he first entered Parliament as the Member for Waimakariri — some place this from 2014 [27], while others record his entry from 2023 [27]. He served as Deputy Chair of the Social Services Select Committee from 2014 and as third Whip of the National Government from 2014, according to single secondary sources [24][30]. He also held the roles of National's Spokesperson for Mental Health and Associate Spokesperson for Health from 2017, according to a single secondary source [12][11]. He was an executive member of the Mental Health and Addictions Wellbeing cross-party group from 28 August 2019, according to a single secondary source [13].
Doocey has held the confirmed office of Associate Minister of Health [22]. Sources differ on the precise scope of his ministerial warrant — one secondary source records him as Associate Minister of Health and Transport from 27 November 2023 [23]. He is confirmed as Minister for Mental Health, with some sources placing this role from 2023 [28].