Tom Rutherford is a Member of Parliament [20] affiliated with the National Party [26], representing the Bay of Plenty electorate [21][22].
Rutherford is reported to have been educated at Victoria University of Wellington [17], though this comes from a single secondary source. According to a National Party profile, he was selected as a Youth MP in 2013 [12], providing an early connection to the political process. Prior to entering Parliament, he is reported to have served as a staff member at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council [5] and to have worked alongside Mayor Tania Tapsell at the Rotorua Lakes Council [15][6][9].
Outside of local government work, Rutherford is reported to have been a staff member working for the National Party [7] and to have held a role as an Executive of Communications [2], according to a single reputable secondary source. He is also reported to have been a volunteer firefighter with the Mount Maunganui Fire Station [8][14].
Rutherford stood as the National Party candidate for the Bay of Plenty electorate at the 2023 election, listed at list rank 70 [18], and went on to enter Parliament as a Member of Parliament for Bay of Plenty [21][23]. According to a single secondary source, he is described as the youngest MP in the National Party [25].
In addition to his political and professional roles, Rutherford is reported to have been a Bay of Plenty rugby referee [1][10][4], a New Zealand hockey umpire [3][11], and captain of the Greerton Cricket Club [13], though all of these claims are drawn from single reputable secondary sources. According to a single secondary source, he is also noted as a National Party candidate for the Mt Maunganui electorate at the 2026 election [24].