Melanie Mark-Shadbolt

Melanie Jane Mark-Shadbolt (née Mark; born ) is a New Zealand environmental sociologist, and works at the science and public policy interface, specialising in environmental policy. She was the winner of the Public Policy award in the 2021 New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.

Early life and family Mark-Shadbolt is Māori, and affiliates to Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Te Arawa (Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara), Te Atiawa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. The daughter of Ron Mark, she was born in Waiouru, and grew up in an army family, so moved around, including a period in Oman. She married Scott Shadbolt, a firefighter.

In 2018 Mark-Shadbolt was appointed chief advisor Māori at the Ministry for the Environment, and she later rose to deputy secretary for Māori rights and interests. She led the creation of the Ministry's strategy for building capability for engaging with Māori.

In the 2017 New Zealand general election, Mark-Shadbolt stood unsuccessfully in the Christchurch East electorate for New Zealand First. She had previously stood for the same party in the Waimakariri electorate in 2008.

Mark-Shadbolt was a finalist in the Environmental champion section of the 2019 New Zealand Women of Influence Awards, and won the Public Policy section in the 2021 awards.