MPs in the new Parliament are older and more qualified, according to an analysis by government relations specialists Saunders Unsworth.
The analysis showed the average age of MPs in the 47th Parliament will be 50, compared with 48.6 last term and 47 for the 1996 intake. The oldest is New Zealand
First MP Jim Peters, who will be 65 in September, while the youngest is Labour's Darren Hughes, at just 24.
The oldest caucus is the two-member Progressive Coalition, averaging 58 years, while the youngest is National, at 47 years.
The analysis showed the new MPs were the best qualified yet, with 83 per cent having a tertiary qualification -- defined as a diploma or trade certificate completed after high school.
Of the 83 per cent with tertiary qualifications, 64 per cent have a university degree. The Green Party has the most MPs with degrees at 88 per cent and NZ First the lowest at 46 per cent.
The number of women remains unchanged at 29 per cent but ethnicity has changed; Maori MPs are up three to 18, Asian MPs up two to three and Pacific Islanders down one to three.
Fifteen per cent of the new Parliament were born overseas, including one in Japan, two in India and one in Pakistan, while 65 per cent were born in the North Island and 20 per cent the South Island.
- NZPA
