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Toni Gae Severin is a New Zealand politician. She was a Member of Parliament for ACT New Zealand from 2020 until 2023.

Early life and career

Severin grew up in Invercargill. After moving to Christchurch, she worked as a laboratory technician for Canterbury District Health Board for 14 years. At the age of 21, she was diagnosed with dyslexia. Later, she completed a diploma in marketing at Christchurch Polytechnic.

Severin is a business owner with her husband, Richard. The Companies Register shows her as director and shareholder of Vess 2013, a residential rental company, and Jet-X Wellington, which steam-cleans building exteriors. Severin continued to be involved with these companies through her political career, as shown by a June 2023 report on MPs' financial interest disclosures. A third company, Unique Links NZ, a jewellery wholesaling company, was removed from the Companies Register in 2021 for failing to file an annual return.

Political career

Severin unsuccessfully contested four elections for ACT before finally being elected a member of Parliament in 2020.

In the 2008, 2011 and 2014 elections, she was selected for Christchurch Central. Her party list placement in 2008 was 54th and she finished sixth of nine candidates in the electorate. In 2011, she was ranked 17th on the party list and finished last of six electorate candidates. In 2014, she was placed 11th on the party list and came sixth of eight candidates.

Severin transferred to Christchurch East for the 2017 general election and was placed 10th on the ACT party list. She was last out of the seven candidates.

Member of Parliament

In the 2020 general election, Severin contested Christchurch East for a second time, and was ninth on the party list. She finished fourth of nine candidates in Christchurch East, but ACT won 7.6% of the party vote. This entitled it to ten MPs, including Severin.

Severin was a member of the Health and the Regulations Review select committees. She was ACT's spokesperson on ACC, corrections, and disability issues.

Severin outlined her political philosophy and priorities in her maiden statement. She championed free marketing and deregulation, and stated her intention to advocate on behalf of small business in Parliament.

For the 2023 general election, ACT moved Severin down its party list from 9th to 14th, which was not a high enough ranking for her to be re-elected. She also unsuccessfully contested Christchurch East, coming fifth place with 1,679 votes.

Political views

Severin is a licensed gun owner and believes the gun control laws passed after the Christchurch mosque attack was rushed and would not have prevented the attack. Severin delayed receiving her COVID-19 vaccination after seeking medical advice due to a pre-existing condition.

References

1. ^ "'Don't give up': Act MP on her dyslexia and being a politician". NZ Herald. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
2. ^ "Election 2020: Nine new ACT members are about to enter Parliament". Stuff. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
3. ^ Severin, Toni (9 February 2021). "Address in Reply Debate". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
4. "Election 2020: The 40 diverse new MPs entering Parliament". Newstalk ZB. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020 – via The New Zealand Herald.
5. "ACT Announces First 49 Candidates From Small Business, Farming, Law And Engineering". Scoop (Press release). ACT Party. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
6. Sowman-Lund, Stewart (23 September 2020). "With Act polling at 7%, who is on course to join David Seymour in parliament?". The Spinoff. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
7. "Search the register". app.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
8. Milne, Jonathan (22 June 2023). "MPs agree they'll sell off shares – if that's the price of power". Newsroom. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
9. "View All Details". app.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
10. "Official Count Results – Christchurch Central". Electoral Commission. 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
11. "Christchurch Central Judicial Recount Official Results | Elections New Zealand". 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
12. "Official Count Results – Christchurch Central". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
13. "Christchurch East Official Result". Electoral Commission. 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
14. "Christchurch East – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
15. "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
16. "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
17. ^ "Severin, Toni - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
18. Whyte, Anna (16 July 2023). "ACT releases candidate list, MP James McDowall to retire". Stuff. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
19. "2023 General Election - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
20. Electoral Commission (3 November 2023). "Christchurch East - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023.
21. "Who are they? Introducing the new ACT MPs". Newsroom. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
22. "Most partially vaccinated MPs staying home as Parliament resumes". RNZ. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
23. "MPs returning from level 3 Auckland to Parliament after rule change". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2022.

• Living people
• ACT New Zealand MPs
• Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
• New Zealand list MPs
• Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
• 21st-century New Zealand politicians
• 21st-century New Zealand women politicians
• Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election
• Unsuccessful candidates in the 2011 New Zealand general election
• Unsuccessful candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election
• Unsuccessful candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election
• Candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election
• Unsuccessful candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election