Matt King (politician)


Ronald Matthew King is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party.

Personal life

King is a beef farmer from Okaihau. He is a former police officer, retiring in 2007.

Political career

King stood as a candidate for the National Party nomination at the 2015 Northland by-election, but lost to Mark Osborne.

Member of parliament

King was selected to contest the Northland electorate for the National Party and defeated incumbent Winston Peters in the 2017 general election held on 23 September 2017.

Controversies

Climate change

King rejected the scientific consensus on climate change in a controversial August 2019 Facebook post, arguing that the phenomenon is simply "natural". He subsequently described himself as a "climate inquirer". The post borrowed heavily from the far-right US source "Americans for Limited Government", and sparked widespread criticism and ridicule across New Zealand politics. This was particularly relevant as, at the time of the post, the Zero Carbon Bill – backed by both the Labour-led coalition in government and the National Party in opposition – was going through the Select Committee stage of the legislative process.

Covid-19

After posting on social media a picture of himself and his parents at a restaurant in Paihia, King responded to those questioning whether he had displayed proper social distancing with staff by saying "I think the social distancing stuff at the stage we are at now is over the top. We haven't had any new cases in Northland for a month. I'm just using my brain as an adult and he was too. We're not Nazi Germany." In a separate post, King's support for changing funeral rules also drew a sharp response. He told one: "You are blind at the altar of St Jacinda."