Maggie Barry is a New Zealand radio and television presenter and politician. Affiliated with the National Party, Barry secured a seat in the House of Representatives during the 2011 general election, representing the electorate of North Shore.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 64 years
Full name- Margaret Mary Barry
Height-5 feet 3 inches
Weight-65kg
Born- 5 October 1959
Birthplace- Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand
Spouse-Grant Kerr
Profession- Broadcaster Politician
Nationality- New Zealand
Party-New Zealand National Party
Previous offices-Minister of Conservation of New Zealand (2014–2017), MORE
Family
In her family, the names of her parents are not known. Barry’s father worked as an accountant for the railways, and her mother was a florist. Both of them adhered to a strict Catholic upbringing.
Husband
Barry is married to Grant Kerr. Her husband is a lawyer.
Children
Maggie Barry has a son.
Education
Barry was born in Wellington and attended Erskine College, a Roman Catholic school in Wellington.
Career
Media Career
Barry enjoyed a distinguished broadcasting career spanning over 30 years. Beginning in 1986 on National Radio’s Morning Report, she transitioned to Nine to Noon in 1990. Her roles included news interviewer for TV2’s Counterpoint in 1992 and news presenter for Primetime in 1993. Notably, Barry co-produced and hosted the garden show “Maggie’s Garden Show” (originally Palmers Garden Show) on TV ONE from 1991 to 2003. In the 1996 Queen’s Birthday Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her contributions to broadcasting. Barry also contributed to the New Zealand Listener since 2007, writing a fortnightly gardening column and occasional interviews. Additionally, she hosted Radio Live Drive from March 2009 to December 2010.
Political Career
Member of Parliament
Barry initially considered standing for the National Party in the 2011 Botany by-election but did not pursue candidacy. Upon entering parliament, she joined the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, later becoming its Deputy Chairperson in 2013. In 2014, Barry assumed the role of Chairperson of the Local Government and Environment Select Committee, transitioning from Finance and Expenditure to the Education and Science Select Committee.
During the 2011 election campaign, Barry faced an incident where she was spat at in Devonport. In July 2012, she attracted social media mockery for remarks about Jacinda Ardern’s authority on paid parental leave due to Ardern’s then childless status.
On October 6, 2014, Prime Minister John Key appointed Barry as Minister for Arts, Culture & Heritage, Minister of Conservation, and Minister for Senior Citizens. As Minister, she oversaw the World War I 100th anniversary celebrations and launched the Predator Free 2050 program as Minister of Conservation.
Following the 2017 general election, Barry retained her cabinet portfolios as Caretaker Minister. However, when National returned to opposition after Winston Peters formed a coalition with the Labour Party, Barry lost her government roles but retained her position as Spokesperson for Conservation within the Party.
In September 2019, Barry faced accusations of bullying behavior from a fellow MP. Despite retaining her position within the Party, she announced in early November 2019 that she would not seek re-election in the 2020 general election.
Net Worth 2024
As of 2024, Maggie Barry’s net worth is estimated to be $20 million.
Latest News about Maggie Barry
Ex-MP Maggie Barry, Involved in Flight Incident, Denies Abusive Behavior
In a recent incident aboard an Air New Zealand flight from Queenstown to Auckland, former Member of Parliament and broadcaster, Maggie Barry, found herself in a disputed situation resulting in a significant delay. The airline has characterized the incident as involving ‘abusive’ behavior towards the cabin crew, while Barry contends it was a ‘minor misunderstanding,’ denying any abusive conduct. The dispute, causing a 40-minute delay, reportedly stemmed from Barry’s mobile phone being mistaken for a bag that needed to be stored. Barry, who left Parliament in 2020, refuted claims of abusive behavior and stated her limited interaction with fellow passengers.
Police were present at the scene but deemed no further action necessary. Despite the initial delay, subsequent arrival delays were incurred due to weather conditions. Air New Zealand is providing support to the affected cabin crew member, and a formal incident report, mandated by civil aviation rules, is expected to be filed within the next 14 days.
Barry maintains that the incident was a minor misunderstanding, emphasizing compliance with instructions and expressing respect for flight crews. The unfolding of the incident awaits the completion of the airline’s formal report and any potential subsequent investigations.
