McAnulty was born in Eketahuna. McAnulty’s family have lived in the Wairarapa area for more than 170 years, with his great grandmother’s great grandfather, Henry Burling arriving as an early settler in what is now the town of Featherston. McAnulty completed a thesis at the University of Otago in 2011 titled The role of political positioning in party performance in the 2008 New Zealand General Election. He worked for the T.A.B as a bookmaker covering the racing industry and an economic development advisor for the Masterton District Council. He is a volunteer fire-fighter, board member of both Wings over Wairarapa and Golden Shears, a trustee of the Masterton Community Trust and Chair of Relay For Life. A PM of the future.