Simon O’Connor – Former National MP, Family First Advocate

Simon O’Connor is a former National Party Member of Parliament (2011–2023) known for his conservative stances. He represented the Tamaki electorate in Auckland and was one of the few outspoken social conservatives in the National caucus. O’Connor publicly opposed abortion law reform and the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill, often citing his Catholic values. He gained notoriety in 2022 for celebrating the overturn of Roe v. Wade with a “Today is a good day” post, leading then-party leader Christopher Luxon to reprimand him. After leaving Parliament (he lost his seat in the 2023 election), O’Connor immediately aligned with Family First – in early 2024 he joined Family First NZ as a spokesperson or lobbyist. He was a featured speaker at IPNZ’s summit, billed as a “rare conservative voice” in politics. At the event he shared his perspective that fundamental human rights were at stake and endorsed the pushback against gender-affirming care. O’Connor also formerly co-chaired the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) during his MP tenure, showing his involvement in foreign affairs. While not very active on personal social media, he often appears in Family First’s online content (e.g. co-hosting discussions with figures like Ro Edge). His public roles now blend his political experience with advocacy: he helps Family First lobby the new government from the outside. O’Connor’s presence in IPNZ’s campaign connected the lobby group to the mainstream political sphere and signaled that elements within the National Party orbit were sympathetic to IPNZ’s cause.