   anne merrilyn tolley (born 1 march 1953 in napier, new zealand) serves as a politician representing the new zealand national party. with the formation of the fifth national government in late 2008, she became the minister of education, the first woman ever to assume the role. ==early years== before entering national politics, tolley served as deputy mayor of napier and a city councillor. tolley and her husband allan maintain several homes in gisborne as well as properties in whakatane and wellington. == parliamentary career ==     {{nz parlbox|term=49th|
1953_births Living_people Members_of_the_Cabinet_of_New_Zealand Members_of_the_New_Zealand_House_of_Representatives New_Zealand_National_Party_MPs New_Zealand_city_councillors New_Zealand_education_ministers New_Zealand_list_MPs New_Zealand_women_in_politics People_from_Gisborne,_New_Zealand People_from_Napier,_New_Zealand Unsuccessful_candidates_in_the_New_Zealand_general_election,_2002