Kieran McAnulty is a New Zealand Labour Party politician [43] who has represented the Wairarapa electorate and served in a number of ministerial roles during his time in Parliament.
McAnulty attended St Mary's School in Carterton [17] and St Patrick's School in Masterton [18] before going on to Chanel College, where, according to a single reputable secondary source, he served as head boy in 2002 [15][16]. He subsequently studied at the University of Otago [19].
Prior to entering politics, McAnulty held a range of positions. According to a single reputable secondary source, he worked as a bookmaker at the TAB covering the racing industry [6] and as a sports bookmaker at the TAB [12]. He is also reported to have worked as a radio presenter [10] and as a TV presenter for Trackside TV [4], as well as presenting the Golden Shears competition in Masterton [9] and serving as MC at the Golden Shears [13]. He later worked as an economic development advisor for Masterton District Council [7] and, from 26 April 2016, as economic development manager at Masterton District Council, according to a single reputable secondary source [8].
McAnulty stood as the Labour Party candidate for Wairarapa at the 2014 election [2] and was first elected to Parliament in 2017 [3][31], entering as a List MP in the 52nd Parliament from 6 November 2017, according to a single reputable secondary source [28]. He is affiliated with the New Zealand Labour Party [43][45]. Within the Labour caucus, he held roles as Junior Whip [26] and Senior Whip [41], and served as Chief Whip from 2021, according to a single reputable secondary source [22].
McAnulty became MP for Wairarapa in the 53rd Parliament from 24 November 2020 [30][32]. From 13 June 2022, according to a single reputable secondary source, he took on the roles of Minister for Emergency Management [34], Minister for Racing [36], Associate Minister of Local Government [20], Associate Minister of Transport [21], and Deputy Leader of the House [24][23]. He subsequently became Minister for Rural Communities from 31 January 2023 [38] and Minister of Local Government from the same date [40][39], and Minister for Regional Development from 23 July 2023, according to a single reputable secondary source [37]. Following the 2023 election, he returned to Parliament as a List MP in the 54th Parliament from 4 December 2023 [29] and took on a shadow cabinet role from 30 November 2023, according to a single reputable secondary source [42]. McAnulty has also been noted, according to a single reputable secondary source, as co-captain of the parliamentary cricket team [14].