Tony Ryall

Anthony Boyd Williams Ryall (born 19 November 1964) is a former New Zealand politician. He represented the National Party in the New Zealand Parliament from 1990 to 2014. Between 2008 and 2014 he served as a cabinet minister, holding the posts of Minister of Health, Minister of State Services and Minister of State Owned Enterprises. He served previously in the Shipley Cabinet between 1997 and 1999. He announced in February 2014 that he was to retire from politics at that year's general election. He is chief executive of BestStart Educare, an early childhood education provider.

Early life and family Ryall was born in Christchurch in 19 November 1964, and was educated in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and graduated Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting and Finance) from Massey University. Ryall is married with two children.

Professional career Before entering politics, he worked as a credit analyst at a bank.

Member of Parliament

1990–1999 He first won election to Parliament as Member of Parliament for the East Cape electorate in the 1990 election at age 26.

Ryall served in the Cabinet between 1997 and 1999 variously as Minister for State-Owned Enterprises (8 December 1997 – 10 December 1999), Minister of Local Government ( 31 August 1998 – 31 January 1999), Minister of Youth Affairs (31 August 1998 – 10 December 1999), Associate Minister of Justice (8 December 1997 – 31 January 1999), Minister of Justice (31 January – 10 December 1999), Minister in Charge of the Audit Department (8 December 1997 – 26 August 1998), Minister Responsible for Radio New Zealand (8 December 1997 – 31 January 1999), and Minister Responsible for Housing New Zealand (31 January 1999 – 10 December 1999).

In Opposition: 1999–2008 During the National Party's time in Opposition, he was spokesperson for Housing (1999–2002), Justice (1999–2002), Timberlands and SILNA (1999–2002), Commerce (15 August 2002 – 2 November 2003), Corrections (15 August 2002 – 2 November 2003), Courts (15 August 2002 – 2 November 2003), Police (15 August 2002 – 2 November 2003), Sentencing (15 August 2002 – 2 November 2003), Law and Order (2003 – 26 October 2005), and Immigration (9 August 2004 – 26 October 2005). Along with the Minister of Finance, Ryall oversaw National's government share offer programme, which yielded $4.7b from the partial sale of three state-owned electricity generators and Air New Zealand. He announced in February 2014 that he was to retire from politics at that year's general election.

Ryall was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a Member of Parliament, in the 2015 New Year Honours.

After politics Ryall joined law firm Simpson Grierson in November 2014 as head of its public policy practice. In February 2015, he was appointed a director of the New Zealand subsidiary of Australian nib Health Funds, a health insurance company. He is currently chief executive of BestStart Educare Limited.