Phil Heatley held the fisheries and housing portfolio until his resignation from Cabinet today.As a minister had a low profile but kept out of any major portfolio problem, but it was his expenses that got him the headlines and ultimately brought him down.
Phil Heatley held the fisheries and housing portfolio until his resignation from Cabinet today.
As a minister had a low profile but kept out of any major portfolio problem, but it was his expenses that got him the headlines and ultimately brought him down.
Mr Heatley came under the public gaze for claiming close to $1000 a week in accommodation costs, despite living with his family in property they owned in the capital.
Racking up personal expenses on his ministerial credit card, means he loses both the card and his job though he will remain the Whangarei MP for now.
He was born in Whangarei in 1967 and raised there.
In 1990 he completed a Masters with honours degree majoring in Horticultural Engineering. After finishing his studies he returned to Whangarei to work.
He is married to Jenny and they have three children
In 1993 both Mr Heatley and his wife, a registered nurse, worked voluntarily with an international relief agency aboard a nine-story, 12,000-ton hospital ship.
When in port, the crew undertake medical, agricultural and construction work in developing countries.
After returning from overseas in 1995, Mr Heatley was employed as a professional engineer for a NZ Dairy Board subsidiary. He became the MP for Whangarei in 1999.
He was on the National Party's board of directors from 2003 in 2005.
