Dana Kirkpatrick is a National Party Member of Parliament representing the East Coast electorate [19][20].
Kirkpatrick attended Patutahi School as part of her early education [15]. Her career background spans several fields, including journalism, local government, and communications [8][9][7]. According to a single reputable secondary source, she worked as an owner of a PR, communications, and fundraising business, and as a small business owner more broadly [10][11].
According to a single reputable secondary source, Kirkpatrick served as General Manager and later CEO of Equestrian Sports New Zealand from 2014 [6][3], with another source referring to the organisation as Equestrian Sport New Zealand [2]. She has also been listed as a Communications and Engagement Executive and as General Manager at Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum of New Zealand [4][5]. As of 2025, she is recorded as a director of Kirkpatrick Consulting and Equestrian Services Limited [14].
In the 2023 general election, Kirkpatrick stood as the National Party candidate for the East Coast electorate, carrying a list rank of 44 [16]. She entered Parliament as the Member of Parliament for East Coast from October 2023 [19][21]. Following her election, she was appointed to the Foreign Affairs and Defence select committee and the Trade select committee, both from October 2023 [12][13].