Phil Heatley is 42 years old and the electorate MP for Whangarei.

He attended Maunu & Whau Valley Primary, Kamo Intermediate and Kamo High Schools in Whangarei.

Being born, raised and educated in Whangarei, he has strong personal ties to the electorate with his own family and extended family all residing there.

In 1990 he completed a Masters with honours degree, majoring in Horticultural Engineering. After finishing his studies he returned to Whangarei to work.

Phil's personal interests include carpentry, tennis, boating and fishing.

In 1993 both Phil and his wife Jenny, a registered nurse, worked voluntarily with an international relief agency aboard a nine-story, 12,000-ton hospital ship. When in port crew undertook medical, agricultural and construction work in developing countries.

After returning from overseas in 1995, Phil was employed as a Professional Engineer for a NZ Dairy Board subsidiary in Northland. Nationally, Phil was responsible for working on behalf of the dairy industry in relation to the Resource Management Act (1991).