Belinda Jane Vernon is a former New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 politician. She was an MP from 1996 to 2002, representing the National Party

New Zealand National Party

The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...

.

Early life

Vernon attended Remuera Intermediate School

Remuera Intermediate School

Remuera Intermediate School is a school catering for 10 to 13 year olds in Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand. The school was founded in 1954. The current Principal of the school is Janet Exon, and the deputy principal of the school is Matthew Crumpton. The school's roll consists of around 900...

 (1970–71) and Diocesan School for Girls

Diocesan School for Girls (Auckland)

Diocesan School for Girls is a private girls' school in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. It is consistently a top-achieving school nationally. The school is Anglican-based and was established in 1903. It caters to international students and has accommodation for 35 boarders at Innes House...

 (1972–76). She gained a BComm

Bachelor of Commerce

A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...

 from the University of Auckland

University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...

. She commenced her professional life as an accountant for a London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 shipping company. Back in New Zealand, she became financial controller, and then company secretary, for a trans-Tasman

Trans-Tasman

Trans-Tasman is an adjective used primarily in Australia and New Zealand, which signifies an interrelationship between both countries. Its name originates from the Tasman Sea which lies between the two countries...

 shipping company.

Member of Parliament

Vernon was first elected to Parliament as MP for the Auckland

Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...

 seat of Maungakiekie

Maungakiekie (New Zealand electorate)

Maungakiekie is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Maungakiekie is Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga of the National Party...

 in the 1996 elections

New Zealand general election, 1996

The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...

, but lost the seat to Labour

New Zealand Labour Party

The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....

's Mark Gosche

Mark Gosche

Mark James Gosche is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party. He was born in Auckland to Samoan parents, and has been active in New Zealand's Pacific Islander community.-Member of Parliament:...

 in the 1999 elections

New Zealand general election, 1999

The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...

. She remained in Parliament as a list MP. In the 2002 elections

New Zealand general election, 2002

The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...

, she failed to retake Maungakiekie, and owing to the collapse of National's vote that year, was not high enough on the party list to remain in Parliament.

Vernon was National's spokesperson for Transport, and for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

After politics

Vernon is Deputy Chair and Chair of Technical Committee of the Motutapu

Motutapu Island

Motutapu Island is a island in the Hauraki Gulf to the northeast of the city of Auckland, New Zealand. The island is part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park....

 Restoration Trust. On 1 July 2011 she was appointed as a director at GNS Science

GNS Science

GNS Science is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. It focuses on geology, geophysics , and nuclear science ....

.