Watts was born in Cambridge, Waikato, where his family were orchardists. He has two younger brothers.[3] He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a toddler.[4]
Watts attended the University of Waikato, graduating with a Bachelor of Management Studies in accounting and finance. He has worked in both the private and public sector roles in New Zealand, Asia and the United Kingdom, including a summer internship at the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department.[4] During the 2008 financial crisis, he was working for the Royal Bank of Scotland in London in various management roles. He is a chartered accountant and was later deputy chief financial officer at the Waitematā District Health Board.[5] He also has a Bachelor of Health Science in paramedicine from the Auckland University of Technology, and at one point worked as a front-line ambulance officer for St John.[3][6]
Watts was selected as the National candidate for the North Shore electorate in March 2020, ahead of four other nominees including former Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member Joe Bergin and Kaipātiki Local Board member Danielle Grant.[5] Watts stated his objectives in politics are giving more government support to the health sector and building more roads and new infrastructure.[6] He is also concerned about improving wastewater networks to improve water quality at beaches.[3]
First term, 2020–2023
During the 2020 New Zealand general election, he was elected to the North Shore seat by a margin of 3,734 votes, defeating Labour's candidate Romy Udanga.[8][9] In his first term in Parliament, he sat on the health committee until December 2021 and thereafter sat on the finance and expenditure committee.[10] In the shadow cabinet of Christopher Luxon, Watts was the party spokesperson for local government, regional development, ACC, climate change, and statistics. In the local government portfolio, he was an outspoken critic of the Labour government's Water Services Reform Programme. His member's bill, the Accident Compensation (Notice of Decisions) Amendment Bill, proposed broadening the rights of employers to appeal decisions of the Accident Compensation Corporation but was defeated at its first reading on 7 April 2021.[11]
On 10 July 2024, Watts released the Government's climate change strategy. He announced that the Government's climate change strategy would be guided by five pillars: ensuring resilient infrastructure and well-prepared communities, credible markets to support climate transition, abundant and affordable clean energy, climate innovation boosting the economy and nature-based climate change solutions. Watts also announced that the Government would begin consultation for its 2024-2030 emissions reduction plan over the next two weeks.[19] In early October 2024, Watts appointed senior diplomat Stuart Horne as New Zealand's Climate Change Ambassador.[20]
On 25 June 2025, Watts confirmed that New Zealand had withdrawn its associate membership of the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance (Boga), an alliance of countries and stakeholders formed at a 2021 United Nations climate summit to promote a transition away from fossil fuels at international summits. He justified the decision on the grounds that only a small number of countries were involved in Boga, stating "in the context of significance or implications, it doesn't have anything material for this Government." Watts also said that remaining in Boga conflicted with the Government's policy of reversing the previous Labour Government's ban on future oil and gas exploration. Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick criticised the decision, saying that it would undermine New Zealand's international reputation and relationships.[22]
A case against Watts, in his role as Minister for Climate Change, was brought to the High Court in March 2026 by Lawyers for Climate Action NZ and the Environmental Law Initiative.[23] The case argued that the government's plan to tackle climate change is inherently risky, and that dismantling dozens of climate policies without consulting the public was unlawful.[24]
Miscellaneous
On 21 March 2026 Watts, as Minister of Local Government, confirmed that the Government would launch a complete review of the Dog Control Act 1996 in response to a spate of violent dog attacks. These incidents included a Northland woman who was mauled to death by a pack of dogs.[25]
On 9 February 2026 Watts, as Minister of Energy, announced that the Government would invest in building a new liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, which would be funded by a levy on electricity of between $2 and $4/MWh. The facility is expected to be finished in mid-2027 or 2028.[26]
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