Paul Hutchison (politician)

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Charles Paul Telford Hutchison, known as Paul Hutchison, (born 1947 in Wellington) is a New Zealand politician and health professional. A member of the National Party, he served as a Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2014. He represented Port Waikato from 1999 to 2008 and Hunua from 2008 to 2014.

Before politics, he trained at the University of Otago and earned MB ChB in 1970. He worked for about 30 years as a doctor, specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology, before entering Parliament. While an MP, he held health-related roles, including opposition Spokesperson for Health and Chair of the Health Committee. He supported the Smokefree Environments Amendment Act 2003 and voted against the Death with Dignity euthanasia bill in 2003.

From 2009 to 2014, he was Chair of the Health Select Committee, leading inquiries on immunisation, prostate cancer, and improving child health and preventing child abuse from before conception to age 3.

In October 2013 he announced his retirement from Parliament, and he left at the 2014 election. He was honoured by the New Zealand Medical Association for his health work and his leadership of the Health Committee. His successor as MP for Hunua was Andrew Bayly of the National Party.

After politics, Hutchison has continued to practice medicine in South Auckland and has held board roles, including Trustee for Entrust and director of Vector. He and his family own a conservation block in Northland with thousands of native trees planted. He is married with four daughters. He has also served as the Honorary Consul of Papua New Guinea in New Zealand.