Paula Bennett's husband makes a rare appearance in the spotlight

Paula Bennett's husband made a rare appearance with her at the National Party HQ last night.

Alan Philips usually keeps a low profile, and did not appear in photographs with her as she was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister in 2016.

However, he joined her on stage last night as the National Party celebrated having 46 per cent of the vote.

Bennett married Alan Philips seven years ago. She first met him more than 30 years ago, but the pair rekindled their romance when he moved back to New Zealand from Australia.

"Alan and I first met over 23 years ago when he was a truck driver and used to stop in at the diner I was waitressing in,'' she told the Herald in April 2012.

"We recently got back together, and Alan and his kids moved back from Australia to New Zealand so we could be a family together.

"We are very happy, and both feel very lucky to have found each other again.''