| Ryan Hamilton | |
| Term Start2: | 14 October 2023 |
| Parliament2: | New Zealand |
| Predecessor2: | Jamie Strange |
| Office3: | Hamilton City Councillor for the East Ward |
| Term Start3: | 22 February 2018 |
| Term End3: | October 2023 |
| Predecessor3: | Philip Yeung |
| Successor3: | Tim Macindoe |
| Party: | National |
| Spouse: | Marie |
| Children: | 3 |
| Alma Mater: | University of Waikato |
Ryan Alexander Hamilton[1] (born)[2] is a New Zealand politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for representing the National Party since the 2023 general election. He was a Hamilton city councillor from 2018 until resigning following his election to Parliament.
Hamilton unsuccessfully ran for the Hamilton City Council in 2004, 2010, and 2016.[3] [4] [5] He also unsuccessfully ran for election to the WEL Energy Trust and the Waikato District Health Board.[6] He was finally elected to the council in a February 2018 by-election following the death of councillor Philip Yeung.[7] He was elected to a full term in 2019 and in 2022 was the highest-polling councillor in the East Ward.[8]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the only councillor to vote against requiring My Vaccine Pass to enter council facilities.[9]
He formally resigned from his seat on the Council in October 2023 following his election to Parliament.[10]
Hamilton expressed interest in being the National candidate for Hamilton East in August 2022 following David Bennett's decision to retire.[11] He was selected as the candidate in February 2023[12] and placed 66th on the 2023 party list.[13] During the election campaign there was a media exposé on Hamilton's social media history linking him to conspiracy theories about fluoridation in drinking water and others relating to Covid-19 including calling vaccine mandates illegal. Hamilton did not respond to media interview requests but the National Party released an unsolicited statement in Hamilton's name apologising for his past comments.[14]
On election night, Hamilton won the Hamilton East electorate, defeating Labour's candidate Georgie Dansey by 5,060 votes.[15] [16]
Hamilton is married with three children. His mother, Mavora Hamilton, also served as a Hamilton City Councillor.[17]