Andy Foster

Early life

Foster was born in England and moved to New Zealand aged 5, settling in Ngaio. He later studied at Victoria University of Wellington gaining a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Bachelor of Commerce in business management.

Political career

In the late 1980s Foster became politically active and joined the National Party and worked as a parliamentary researcher for National for three years. When party colleagues were looking for people to stand in local government, Foster accepted nomination and stood for election in the 1992 local elections for the Wellington City Council on a Citizens' ticket. He was successful winning a seat from the Western Ward. He held a seat in the Western Ward until 2004 when local electoral boundaries were re-drawn and he stood for the newly created Onslow-Western Ward and has held a seat from there ever since. Foster has also stood for Mayor twice, first in 2001, coming fourth and again in 2016 placing fifth.

Foster is also the president of TRAFINZ, a group representing local authority views in New Zealand regarding road safety and traffic management. He has also been involved with the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust, Karori Sports Club, Karori Brooklyn Community Trust and held directorships with Capital Power, Wellington International Airport and Capacity Infrastructure.

Foster no longer belongs to the National Party and is a self described "Bluegreen", a right-wing environmentalist. In the lead up to the 2017 general election Foster has stated he is contemplating standing for Parliament as a candidate for New Zealand First. On 15 August 2017 Foster was confirmed as the New Zealand First candidate for the Wellington Central electorate. He was placed 18 on New Zealand First's party list.