PHOTO: Hamish Walker & Paula Bennett
Ex-National MP Hamish Walker, who quit politics after leaking sensitive COVID-19 data to the media, is joining former deputy leader Paula Bennett in real estate.
Walker announced in July he would not seek re-election as MP for Southland after he confessed to passing on confidential COVID-19 patient data to the press over “pressure of being labelled a racist”.
The findings of a State Services Commission probe confirmed that the breach happened after then-Acting chief executive of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) and ex-National Party president Michelle Boag passed the information, without authorisation, to Walker.
“I sincerely apologise for my actions,” Walker said at his resignation, thanking the people of his electorate Clutha-Southland who he said he had “loved meeting, assisting and representing” over the past two and a half years.
Walker, 35, is now moving on to a career in real estate.
“My late grandfather always taught me to get up when life throws you a curve ball. It may not be easy, but the important thing is to get up and keep moving,” he wrote on social media.
“Today I’m announcing I’ve returned to my roots and what I’m good at. I’m joining the wonderful team at Harcourts in Queenstown as a passionate and hard working salesperson.
“I’ve always cared about our community and this gives me the opportunity to continue to work hard for members of our community helping buyers and sellers reach their goals.”
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