Shane Jones

The Honourable Shane Jones
Shane Jones in 2011
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour Party
In office 2005–2014
Minister for Building and Construction
In office 31 October 2007 – 19 November 2008
Prime Minister	Helen Clark
Preceded by	Clayton Cosgrove
Succeeded by	Maurice Williamson
Personal details
Born	(1959-09-03) 3 September 1959 (age 57) Awanui, Tai Tokerau, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Dorothy Pumipi
Children	7
Residence	Kerikeri
Alma mater	University of Auckland

Shane Geoffrey Jones (born 3 September 1959) is a former New Zealand politician for the Labour Party who is currently Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development. Jones was a cabinet minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand. He contested the leadership of the Labour Party in a 2013 leadership election but lost to rival David Cunliffe. He left parliament at the end of May 2014.

Jones is Māori, of Te Aupōuri and Ngāi Takoto descent, as well as having English, Welsh and Croatian ancestry. He has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master Public Administration (MPA), and was awarded a Harkness Fellowship to study at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He stood in the 2005 election for the Labour Party, being ranked twenty-seventh on its party list. This is the highest position given by Labour to someone who was not already a member of parliament. He took his seat in the new parliament after the Labour Party won 50 seats in New Zealand's 120 seat parliament. Jones held a number of senior roles in the public sector, being best known for his work as chairman of the Waitangi Fisheries Commission. He worked for the Ministry for the Environment and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. After his entry into parliament, after 2005 election, Jones became chair of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. He has often been speculated by the media and among his colleagues as the future leader of the Labour Party.