Member of Parliament
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | Dunedin South | 54 | Labour |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | Dunedin South | 36 | Labour |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | Dunedin South | 23 | Labour |
In October 1986 Benson-Pope successfully stood for election to the Dunedin City Council. He entered national politics during the 1999 elections, successfully contesting the Dunedin South electorate for the Labour Party.
In 2002, Benson-Pope became his party's Senior Whip. In 2004, in the wake of a reshuffle, he entered Cabinet, becoming Minister of Fisheries, Minister Responsible for the Law Commission, Associate Minister of Justice, Associate Minister for Education (schools) and Associate Minister for the Environment. He oversaw the drafting of the legislation for civil unions in New Zealand.
After the 2005 General Election Helen Clark appointed Benson-Pope as Minister of Social Development and Employment and Minister for the Environment. In 2007 he resigned the Ministerial posts and resumed the role of a backbencher representing the Dunedin South electorate. In 2008 he sought to recontest the Dunedin South seat on behalf of the Labour Party but was not chosen as the Labour Party representative for the seat.
Read more about this topic: David Benson-Pope
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