Rachel Brooking

Rachel Jane Brooking (born 18 October 1975) She was Minister for Oceans and Fisheries and Minister for Food Safety in the Sixth Labour Government.

Early life and career Brooking grew up in Dunedin, where she attended Otago Girls' High School. Brooking has a double degree in ecology and law from the University of Otago. She specialised in environmental, resource management and local government law, and worked for a period for the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in Wellington before returning to Dunedin to practice law with Anderson Lloyd. She was previously the chair of the Otago/Southland branch of the Resource Management Law Association. In 2010, Brooking was appointed to the board of University Book Shop (Otago) Ltd, and in 2019 to the board of Dunedin International Airport. Brooking was ranked 46 on the party list, which was a high enough ranking to enter Parliament. In her first term, she was appointed deputy chair of the environment committee and the regulations review committee.

The day after Dunedin MP David Clark announced on 13 December 2022 that he would retire, Brooking said she would seek the Labour candidacy for the electorate in 2023, for which she was selected.

On 11 April 2023, Brooking was appointed as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, and also allocated the associate environment and immigration portfolios. She was a minister outside cabinet. Brooking was given the Food Safety portfolio following Meka Whaitiri's switch to Te Pāti Māori.

On 6 October 2023 Brooking, in her capacity as Oceans and Fisheries Minister, along with Minister of Conservation Willow-Jean Prime announced that the Government would create six new marine reserves between Timaru and the Catlins in the lower South Island. In late June 2024, the Department of Conservation delayed plans to create these six marine reserves, citing logistical concerns.

Second term, 2023–present During the 2023 election, she won the Dunedin electorate seat, defeating National's candidate Michael Woodhouse by a margin of 7,980 votes.

In late November 2023, Brooking was given the environment, food safety, and space portfolios in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.

On 5 December 2023, Brooking was granted retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council.

On 7 March 2025, Brooking gained the RMA Reform portfolio in addition to her existing portfolios.

Personal life Brooking is married to Chris Jackson, a cancer specialist who was the medical director for the Cancer Society of New Zealand. They have three children.