Martin Gallagher

Martin has wide experience in business, education and local and central government. He was elected to the Hamilton City Council and the Waikato District Health Board in 2011. He previously served on Council from 1985 to 1994, during which time he was Deputy Mayor. He served for 12 years as a Member of Parliament representing Hamilton West, including as former Chair of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade, and Chair of the Law and Order Committee, and has also been Deputy Chair of the Local Government and Environment Select Committee. Martin also serves as a Justice of the Peace and has a number of community roles, including serving as a Trustee on the board of community radio station Free FM. He is also the national Vice President of Parent to Parent, an organisation that advocates and provides for families with disabilities.

Martin has lived in Hamilton all his life and is married with four children. The Waikato has been his family home for the past century. He stood for Council because he is committed to Hamilton and believes the city is a great place to live, work and raise a family.
As a new member of the Waikato District Health Board, Martin has always been a strong advocate for maintaining health services for both urban and rural communities. He was also one of a number of activists who successfully lobbied for the neurosurgery unit at Waikato Hospital, as well as the expansion and upgrade of both the Waikato and Thames hospitals. Martin is also passionate about the right of people in the region to be able to access good health care when they need it.