Bennett was born in Dunedin. His parents were officers in The Salvation Army and frequently moved around the country. He attended Dominion Road School in Auckland, Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch, and Rongotai College in Wellington. He spent two years working in television production, including such shows as Showcase, Fair Go, and McPhail and Gadsby. After witnessing poverty in Donetsk, Ukraine, on a trip with the Salvation Army in 2002, Bennett decided to foster troubled teen boys.[5]
Bennett was a member of the New Plymouth branch of the Labour Party branch for over five years prior to his selection.[citation needed] In late 2019, Bennett ran unopposed for the Labour nomination for the New Plymouth seat,[6] after serving on the local electorate executive for the previous two years.[citation needed]
On 20 February 2024, Grant Robertson announced that he would be retiring from Parliament in March 2024 to assume the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago. Since Robertson was a list candidate, Bennett re-entered Parliament on the Labour Party list as next in line.[9] Bennett assumed the economic development and associate energy portfolios after re-entering Parliament.[10][11]
Personal life
Bennett is openly gay, and became engaged to fiancé Jon O'Neill after a proposal on stage at a Troy Kingi concert in New Plymouth.[12] During the 2020 general election campaign, Bennett was accosted by a member of the public about his sexuality, which led to Andrew Little's stepping in to stop the abuse.[13] After being delayed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bennett and O'Neill were married at Parliament on 8 February 2021, the day before Bennett's maiden speech.[14]
Notes
^Normally, list MPs do not have individual predecessors or successors, but Robertson resigned during a sitting parliament and therefore was succeeded by Bennett.