Kate Wilkinson (politician)

The Honourable Kate Wilkinson
38th Minister of Labour
In office 19 November 2008 – 5 November 2012
Prime Minister	John Key
Preceded by	Trevor Mallard
Succeeded by	Chris Finlayson (acting)
Minister for Food Safety
In office 19 November 2008 – 22 January 2013
Prime Minister	John Key
Preceded by	Lianne Dalziel
Succeeded by	Nikki Kaye
Minister of Conservation
In office 27 January 2010 – 22 January 2013
Prime Minister	John Key
Preceded by	Tim Groser
Succeeded by	Nick Smith
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for National Party List
In office 6 October 2005 – 26 November 2011
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Waimakariri
In office 26 November 2011 – 14 August 2014
Preceded by	Clayton Cosgrove
Succeeded by	Matt Doocey
Majority	642[1]
Personal details
Born	(1957-08-03) 3 August 1957 (age 66) Rakaia, New Zealand
Political party	National Party
Alma mater	University of Canterbury
Occupation	Lawyer, politician

Catherine Joan Wilkinson (born 3 August 1957) is a New Zealand farmer and politician. She was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for the National Party from 2005 until her retirement in 2014. From 2008 until January 2013, she was a member of cabinet, holding the portfolios of Labour (from which she resigned over the Pike River Mine disaster), Conservation, Food Safety, and Associate Immigration, before being removed from cabinet by Prime Minister John Key.