Louise Upston is a New Zealand National Party politician [35] and Member of Parliament for Taupō, a seat she has held since 2008 [18].
Upston studied at Waikato University [11] and, according to a secondary source, may hold an MBA [34]. Prior to entering Parliament, she worked as a self-employed project management consultant [2][3] and, according to a secondary source, held directorships in a number of trusts and companies involved in property, tourism, project management, and consulting [9].
She entered Parliament in 2008 as the MP for Taupō [18]. During her early parliamentary career, according to a secondary source, she served as a Junior Whip [16] and sat on the Education and Science, Government Administration, Local Government and Environment, and Māori Affairs select committees [4][5][6][7], as well as the Parliamentary Service Commission [8].
Upston went on to serve as Government Chief Whip [15] and, according to a secondary source, as Deputy Leader of the House [14] and Leader of the House [17]. Sources differ on when she was first appointed Minister for Women — some place this from 20 September 2014, while others record it from October 2014 [29]; she is also confirmed to have held the role during the Fifth National Government [30]. From October 2014, according to a secondary source, she also served as Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment [12], Associate Minister of Local Government [13], and Minister of Land Information [32].
During the Fifth National Government, Upston held a range of confirmed ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Education [23], Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment [27], Minister for Local Government [25], Minister for Land Information [24], Minister for Women [30], Minister for Corrections [21], Minister for Tourism and Hospitality [28], and Minister for Disability Issues [22]. She has also held the offices of Minister for Social Development and Employment [26], Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector [31], Minister for Child Poverty Reduction [20], and Tourism and Hospitality Minister, the latter noted by a secondary source [33].