Toni Severin
Toni Gae Severin is a New Zealand politician who became a Member of Parliament in the New Zealand parliament at the 2020 general election as a representative of the ACT New Zealand party.

Early life and career
Severin grew up in Invercargill. After moving to Christchurch, she worked as a laboratory technician for Canterbury District Health Board for 14 years. At the age of 21, she was diagnosed with dyslexia. Later, she completed a diploma in marketing at Christchurch Polytechnic.

Severin is a business owner with her husband, Richard. The Companies Register shows her as director and shareholder of Vess 2013, a residential rental company, and Jet-X Wellington, which steam-cleans building exteriors. A third company, Unique Links NZ, a jewellery wholesaling company, is in the process of being removed from the Companies Register for failing to file an annual return.

Political career

Seeking election
Severin unsuccessfully contested four elections for ACT before finally being elected a member of Parliament.

In the 2008, 2011 and 2014 elections, she was selected for Christchurch Central. Her party list placement in 2008 was 54th and she placed sixth of nine candidates in the electorate. In 2011, she was ranked 17th on the party list and finished last of six electorate candidates. In 2014, she was placed 11th on the party list and came sixth of eight candidates.

Severin transferred to Christchurch East for the 2017 general election and was placed 10th on the ACT party list. She was last out of the seven candidates.

In the 2020 general election, Severin contested Christchurch East for a second time, and was ninth on the party list. She finished fourth of nine candidates, but ACT won 7.6% of the party vote. This entitled it to ten MPs, including Severin.

Time in Parliament
Severin has been a member of the Health and the Regulations Review Select Committees. She has been Act's spokesperson on ACC, corrections, and disability issues. 

For the 2023 general election, ACT moved Severin down its party list from 9th to 14th.

Political views 
Severin is a licensed gun owner and believes the gun control laws passed after the Christchurch mosque attack was rushed and would not have prevented the attack. 
Severin delayed receiving her COVID-19 vaccination after seeking medical advice due to a pre-existing condition.

References

Living people
ACT New Zealand MPs
Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
New Zealand list MPs
Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
21st-century New Zealand politicians
21st-century New Zealand women politicians
Year of birth missing (living people)
Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election
Unsuccessful candidates in the 2011 New Zealand general election
Unsuccessful candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election
Unsuccessful candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election
Candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election