Charles Paul Telford Hutchison, known as Paul Hutchison (born 1947) is a New Zealand politician and former health professional. He is a member of the National Party, which he represented in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2014.
Early years
Hutchison was born in Wellington, and attended Khandallah School and Onslow College. He is a graduate of the University of Otago with an MB ChB in 1970, and was a consulting specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology with his medical career spanning almost 30 years. Hutchison is married with four daughters.
Member of Parliament
Hutchison was first elected to Parliament as the MP for Port Waikato in the 1999 election, and was re-elected in the 2002 election and 2005 election, and for in the 2008 and 2011 elections.
As an MP he has held a number of health-related roles, including opposition Spokesperson for Health, and Chairperson of the Health Committee. He was one of only two National Party MPs to support the successful Smokefree Environments Amendment Act 2003,. He voted against the Death with Dignity euthanasia bill, also in 2003.
Hutchison was spotted reading while driving by a motorist in September 2009, prompting Acting Prime Minister Bill English to warn MPs to adhere to driving regulations.
Hutchison announced in October 2013 that he was going to retire from Parliament at the 2014 general election. Following his retirement Hutchison was honoured by the New Zealand Medical Association with the Chairman's Award for his services as Chair of the Health Select Committee Hutchison was replaced as the MP for by Andrew Bayly also of the New Zealand National Party.