Ruth Richardson

The Honourable Ruth Richardson
Richardson in 1991
37th Minister of Finance
In office 2 November 1990 – 29 November 1993
Prime Minister	Jim Bolger
Preceded by	David Caygill
Succeeded by	Bill Birch
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Selwyn
In office 28 November 1981 – 18 July 1994
Preceded by	Colin McLachlan
Succeeded by	David Carter
Personal details
Born	(1950-12-13) 13 December 1950 (age 73) Taranaki, New Zealand
Political party	National
Relations	George Pearce (great-grandfather)

Ruth Margaret Richardson^[1] (born 13 December 1950) is a retired New Zealand politician of the National Party who served as Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993. Her 1991 budget, which she dubbed the "Mother of all Budgets", formed the catalyst for her party's economic reforms known in the media as "Ruthanasia".

Richardson was a lawyer by profession. She was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Selwyn in 1981. Following the National Party victory in the 1990 election, Richardson was appointed as Finance Minister in the fourth National Government. She supported and carried on the free-market reforms initiated by the preceding Labour Government, and extended them in a significant way with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 1994. Richardon's economic restructuring, including privatisation of state assets and cuts to social welfare, contributed to New Zealand emerging from its fiscal problems. However, critics have noted the wide-ranging effects on New Zealand's social fabric including child poverty along with wealth inequality, which were both severely exacerbated.

Richardson was dismissed as Finance Minister following the 1993 election; she resigned from Parliament in 1994. She later joined ACT New Zealand.