National selects candidate to replace Chris Penk in Auckland seat

Author: Adam Pearse,
Publish Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2026, 10:31am

Defence Minister Chris Penk. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The National Party has selected former journalist and current ministerial adviser Jessica Rowe to contest the Auckland electorate that currently belongs to sacked minister Chris Penk.

Rowe, a former Ministry of Foreign Affairs staffer, will run as National’s candidate in Kaipara ki Mahurangi after the party concluded its formal selection process this weekend.

It followed Penk announcing he was leaving politics and wouldn’t contest the electorate after being sacked as a minister, with National leader Christopher Luxon stating Penk had led a leadership challenge against him.

Rowe is currently a ministerial advisor to Social Development and Tourism Minister Louise Upston. She had also acted as a private secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Climate Change and the Minister of Energy and Resources.

She is engaged to Ben King, who holds one of the most senior roles in the public service as chief executive of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

“I am looking forward to spending the next 61 days running a strong campaign in Kaipara ki Mahurangi, for a National Party that is fixing the basics and building the future,” Rowe said in a statement.

Jessica Rowe is National's candidate for the Auckland electorate of Kaipara ki Mahurangi. Photo / National Party

“With the economic recovery underway, now is not the time to place more costs on Aucklanders. That is why I am proud to support National’s pledge of no new taxes, because Kiwis deserve to keep more of what they earn.

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.