Casey Costello

Costello previously worked as policewoman, and was the first woman elected vice-president of the police union.[1] later becoming a building services company manager in Auckland. She is of Ngāpuhi, Scottish and Irish descent.[2][3] She is a founding trustee and spokesperson for Hobson's Pledge, a lobby group opposing what it believes are race-based laws and policies in New Zealand.[4][1] Costello has also been involved in the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union, a right-wing lobby group.[5] She is also a trustee of the Migrant Exploitation Relief Foundation, pushing for investigation of the exploitation of illegal immigrants.[6]

Costello entered politics when she was selected by ACT New Zealand to contest the Māngere electorate at the 2011 election. She was ranked 34th on the party list.[7]

Costello later shifted her party affiliation and was selected by New Zealand First to contest the Port Waikato electorate at the 2023 election.[8] She was ranked 3rd on the party list.[9] At the New Zealand First conference where her candidacy was announced, Costello submitted a proposal that it should be party policy to remove the “exclusive authority of the Waitangi Tribunal to determine the meaning and effect” of the Treaty of Waitangi, along with other suggested changes to the Tribunal's authority.[10] She identified the removal of the Māori Health Authority as one of the first things she would like to accomplish if elected.[6]

The electorate vote in Port Waikato was cancelled on 9 October 2023 after ACT candidate Neil Christensen died. Costello was automatically renominated for the by-election to be held on 25 November 2023.[11] Costello entered parliament as a list MP based on New Zealand First's share of the party vote.