Paul Foster-Bell

Paul Ayers Robert Foster-Bell (born March 1977) is a former New Zealand diplomat, a politician and was a list member of the House of Representatives between May 2013 and 2017 for the National Party. While he failed to win the party's nomination for the Whangarei electorate in March 2014, he remained in Parliament as a list MP for the following term.

Foster-Bell was born in Whangārei in 1977 and grew up on a beef farm in the Portland area. His parents are Bob and Alyse Foster-Bell. He attended Otaika Primary School, Raumanga Intermediate and Whangarei Boys' High School. He studied in Dunedin, gaining a bachelor degree in archaeology (2003), a graduate diploma in business (2008), and a Master of International Studies with Distinction (2023) from Otago University. He is of English, Scots, Irish, Portuguese and Māori descent, with whakapapa ties to the tribes of Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa and Te Aupōuri.

Foster-Bell was a diplomat and his last assignment was as Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, having previously served as First Secretary & Consul in Tehran in Iran, and Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan. In Wellington he worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MFAT) Middle East and Africa division, as Deputy Chief of Protocol, and as a Regional Manager in the Ministry's Security Directorate. He took leave from MFAT from June to November 2011 to contest a parliamentary election.

Foster-Bell was vice-chair of Monarchy New Zealand in 2012–13.

Foster-Bell contested Dunedin South at the 2002 general election, losing to incumbent David Benson-Pope. Foster-Bell stood in the Wellington Central electorate during the 2011 general election. Foster-Bell was called to Parliament in May 2013 as a list MP, replacing Jackie Blue. He was sworn in on 28 May 2013. He was a member of the Health Committee and of the Justice and Electoral Committee.

In March 2014, Foster-Bell sought the National Party nomination in the Whangarei electorate, but was beaten by Shane Reti. Foster-Bell stood in Wellington Central once more, and was beaten by Labour's Grant Robertson. With a higher list placing of 46, and was returned as a member of parliament.

Foster-Bell was part of a cross-party group initiated by Jan Logie to look at and advocate for LGBTI rights. The group consisted of Catherine Delahunty (Green), Chris Bishop (National), David Seymour (Act), Denis O'Rouke (NZ First), Denise Roche (Green), James Shaw (Green), Jan Logie (Green), Kevin Hague (Green), Louisa Wall (Labour), Nanaia Mahuta (Labour), Paul Foster-Bell (National), and Trevor Mallard (Labour).

In April 2016, Foster-Bell convinced all MPs to unanimously pass his member's bill to create an exemption under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 that allowed Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA) veterans' clubs to serve traditional tots of liquor at gunfire breakfasts on Anzac Day.