Member of Parliament
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | Rangitikei | 37 | National |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | Rangitikei | 13 | National |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | Rangitikei | 3 | National |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | Rangitīkei | 4 | National |
In the 1999 election, Power won Rangitikei. He defeated his opponent, the Labour Party's Craig Walsham, by slightly under three hundred votes. Once in parliament, Power became his party's spokesman on Labour, Industrial Relations, and Youth Affairs. After he retained his seat in the 2002 elections, these roles were swapped for Justice, Tertiary Education, and Workplace Skills. In 2003, when Don Brash became leader of the National Party, Power's responsibilities were once again reshuffled, giving him the portfolios of Defence, Veterans' Affairs, and Youth Affairs.
In May 2004, Power caused controversy for his statement that (as regards defence and foreign affairs) "where Britain, the United States and Australia go, we go". Power later expressed regret for how the statement was interpreted, and party leader Don Brash said that it did not reflect National Party policy. In August of the same year, Power was moved from the defence position to that of chief whip.
Between 2005 and 2008, Power was Opposition Spokesperson on Law and Order and repeatedly called for an inquiry into the management of the Corrections Department. A few months before the election in 2008, Parliament’s Law & Order Select Committee agreed to hold a wide ranging inquiry. When National won the election in 2008, Power was appointed Minister of Justice and abandoned his plans for an inquiry.
Read more about this topic: Simon Power
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