National MP for Rangitata, Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for the South Island, Minister for Youth and Associate Minister of Transport

James Meager is the National MP for Rangitata, Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for the South Island, Minister for Youth and Associate Minister of Transport. James, 37, was born and raised Timaru with family from both Mid and South Canterbury.

After gaining a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Otago, James held a number of roles at Otago University, including as a student coordinator and a strategic projects manager for its Māori health workforce development programme. He went on to work for National MP Chris Bishop, as a press secretary for then-Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett and as an advisor to opposition leaders Bill English and Simon Bridges. James then spent three years with Simpson Grierson in Wellington and Christchurch, including as a senior solicitor in the public law litigation team. Outside of work, James enjoys spending time with his two dogs Alexios (Alex) and Barnabas (Barney), and playing cricket for the Parliamentary Cricket XI aka The Blackbenchers, which he co-captains.