Annette King

Annette Faye King born 13 Sep. 1947 is a New Zealand politician. She was a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand.

King was born in Murchison, a town in the Tasman region of the South Island. After receiving primary and secondary education in Murchison, she attended the University of Waikato and gained a BA degree. She then obtained a post-graduate diploma in dental nursing, and worked as a dental nurse from 1967 to 1981. She was a tutor of dental nursing in Wellington from 1982 to 1984.

King joined the Labour Party in 1972, and has held various offices within the party (including a term on the party's Executive).

In the 1984 elections, she stood as the party's candidate for Horowhenua, and was successful. She was re-elected in the 1987 election.

Following the 1987 election, she was appointed parliamentary undersecretary to the Minister of Employment and of Social Welfare. In 1989, she was elevated to Cabinet, becoming Minister of Employment, Minister of Immigration, and Minister of Youth Affairs. She was also given special responsibility for liaising between Cabinet and the party caucus.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Labour was defeated in the 2008 election by the National Party led by relative newcomer John Key. King retained her seat with a majority of about 7,800. Annette King became the deputy leader of the Labour Party in a special caucus meeting on 11 November 2008 replacing former Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen. Phil Goff, another senior Labour Party member, became the leader of the Labour Party, replacing former Prime Minister Helen Clark