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David Carter (politician)

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For other people named David Carter, see David Carter (disambiguation).
The Right Honourable
Sir David Carter
KNZM
29th Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In office
31 January 2013 – 7 November 2017
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Bill English
Jacinda Ardern
Preceded byLockwood Smith
Succeeded byTrevor Mallard
1st Minister for Primary Industries
In office
14 December 2011 – 29 January 2013
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byHimself (portfolios merged)
Succeeded byNathan Guy
15th Minister of Local Government
In office
3 August 2012 – 29 January 2013
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byNick Smith
Succeeded byChris Tremain
33rd Minister of Agriculture
In office
19 November 2008 – 14 December 2011
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byJim Anderton
Succeeded byHimself as Minister for Primary Industries
Minister for Biosecurity
In office
19 November 2008 – 14 December 2011
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byJim Anderton
Succeeded byHimself as Minister for Primary Industries
29th Minister for Forestry
In office
19 November 2008 – 14 December 2011
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byJim Anderton
Succeeded byHimself as Minister for Primary Industries
6th Minister for Senior Citizens
In office
31 August 1998 – 10 December 1999
Prime MinisterJenny Shipley
Preceded byRobyn McDonald
Succeeded byLianne Dalziel
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National Party List
In office
1999–2020
Personal details
Born (1952-04-03) 3 April 1952 (age 72)
Christchurch
NationalityNew Zealand
Political partyNational Party
RelationsMaurice Carter (father)
Matt Doocey (nephew)
Alma materLincoln University
OccupationFarmer

Sir David Cunningham Carter KNZM (born 3 April 1952) is a New Zealand National Party politician who served as the 29th Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017 and as a Cabinet Minister in the Fourth and Fifth National Governments. He represented the Selwyn electorate in the 44th Parliament and the Banks Peninsula electorate in the 45th Parliament. He served as a list MP from 1999 until he retired at the 2020 election.

Early life

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Carter was born in Christchurch in 1952, the son of Merle and Maurice Carter.[1] He attended St Bede's College, and has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree from Lincoln University. He has farmed sheep and cattle for over 30 years, and established the first commercial cattle-embryo transplant company in New Zealand in 1974.[2]

Member of Parliament

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
1994–1996 44th Selwyn National
1996–1999 45th Banks Peninsula 41 National
1999–2002 46th List 21 National
2002–2005 47th List 4 National
2005–2008 48th List 8 National
2008–2011 49th List 9 National
2011–2014 50th List 10 National
2014–2017 51st List 3 National
2017–2020 52nd List 3 National

Carter stood in the Lyttelton electorate in the 1993 election as a successor to Gail McIntosh, but was defeated by Labour's Ruth Dyson.[3] Carter was first elected to Parliament in the 1994 by-election in Selwyn, replacing the resigning Ruth Richardson. In the 1996 general election he won the Banks Peninsula electorate against Dyson. In the 1999 election he was defeated by Dyson, but entered Parliament as a list MP. In the 2002 election, he failed to recapture the seat and remained a list MP.

From 1998 until the National Party's defeat in 1999 Carter was Minister for Senior Citizens,[4] Associate Minister of Revenue, and Associate Minister for Food, Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control. At the very end of National's term in office, he was also Associate Minister of Education.

In 2008, Carter was initially chosen as the National candidate for the resurrected safe National seat of Selwyn, but opposition to this saw the National candidacy up for grabs again. He pulled out and the candidacy was eventually won by Amy Adams, who won the seat. Carter was given a high list placing of nine instead and did not contest an electorate.[5][6] After National's election victory, he took the portfolios of Agriculture, Biosecurity and Forestry.[7]

Minister of Agriculture

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In May 2010, Carter issued a ban on kosher slaughter, rejecting the recommendations of his advisers.[8] Carter held shares in a firm that exports meat, and prior to instituting the ban he met senior managers of the firm who wanted a ban on kosher slaughter to reduce their competition.[9]

Minister of Primary Industries

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After the 2011 election, Carter was appointed Minister of the new Ministry of Primary Industries. In November 2012 he approved the increased squid fishery SQU6T by 140%, despite recommendations from scientists and the Department of Conservation that this would be detrimental to the endangered New Zealand sealion.[10]

Speaker of the House

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On 22 January 2013, the Prime Minister John Key[11] announced that Carter was his preference to replace Lockwood Smith as Speaker of the House. Carter's appointment was not without controversy, and the Labour Party questioned whether he actually wanted the job.[12]

As the opposition was not consulted as per convention, Trevor Mallard was nominated by Labour and the position was put to a vote on 31 January 2013. Carter won by 62 votes to 52.[13] Consistent with the tradition of newly elected speakers, Carter had to be "dragged to the chair" following the election.[14]

Carter's investiture as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, at Government House, Wellington, on 5 May 2021

The office of speaker entitles Carter to the title The Right Honourable following a reform of the New Zealand royal honours system in 2010.[15][16]

Carter cited his intention to continue as Speaker, "if that is the will of Parliament", as the basis for his decision to stand as a list-only candidate in the 2014 general election.[17]

On 10 November 2015, Carter controversially failed to acknowledge offence caused to significant numbers of Labour and Green MPs after John Key had accused them of "backing rapists" during a debate about the Christmas Island Detention Centre.[18] The following day, Carter silenced seven female MPs who stated that they were victims of sexual abuse and stood up to express personal offence to Key's statement, which they called on Key to apologise for. Carter ruled that the manner in which they stood to address the house was contrary to the House's standing orders and dismissed several of the seven; the remainder walked out.[19]

On 11 May 2016, Carter dismissed the Prime Minister, John Key, from the debating chamber. Key had ignored several of the Speaker's warnings about behaviour contrary to the standing orders. Carter stated, "He is to be treated no differently to any other in this house".[20]

In opposition, 2017–2020

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Carter was returned as an MP through the National Party list in the 2017 election.[21] Following the election, a Labour-led coalition government was formed with the support of the New Zealand First and Green parties.[22][23] Carter was succeeded as Speaker by Labour MP Trevor Mallard, who assumed the position on 7 November 2017.[24]

In mid-October 2018, Carter confirmed that he along with fellow National MP Chris Finlayson would retire before the next general election. Carter denied that his resignation came as a result of a secret tape by National Party leader Simon Bridges suggesting that Finlayson should resign in order to clear the way for newer National MPs.[25]

In late July 2020, Carter submitted a private member's bill seeking to repeal the Labour-led government's Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act 2018. The bill passed its first reading and was referred to the justice select committee.[26][27] Following the bill's first reading, Carter indicated that he would retire at the 2020 New Zealand general election. Carter's private member bill was assigned to fellow National MP Nick Smith.[28]

In the 2021 New Year Honours, Carter was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives.[29]

Post-parliament

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Following his retirement from parliament, Carter was elected to the National Party's Board of Directors on 21 November 2020. He challenged Peter Goodfellow for the role of President but was unsuccessful.[30] On 8 August 2021 he resigned from the board after another unsuccessful challenge to Goodfellow. He stated that he has "zero confidence" in Goodfellow, criticising the alleged "dysfunctional governance" of the party and lack of money to run a suitable campaign.[31][32]

References

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  1. ^ Crean, Mike (11 May 2011). "Maurice Carter leaves behind immense legacy". The Press. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  2. ^ Slade, Maria (3 November 2008). "Business backgrounds in short supply". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  3. ^ Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). Chief Electoral Office. 1993.
  4. ^ "Appointment of Ministers" (1 September 1998) 131 New Zealand Gazette 3190.
  5. ^ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties (2008)". Elections New Zealand. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  6. ^ Trevett, Claire (27 February 2008). "National MP Carter steps aside". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  7. ^ "Key's Government". The New Zealand Herald (Press release). 17 November 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  8. ^ Ben Gedalyahu, Tzvi (30 May 2010). "New Zealand Bans Kosher Slaughtering". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  9. ^ Fisher, David (28 November 2010). "MP Carter makes quick u-turn". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  10. ^ Field, Michael (25 November 2012). "Threat to sea lions ignored". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  11. ^ "PM announces changes to Cabinet line-up" (Press release). The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (of New Zealand). 22 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Labour: Carter wrong man for job". 3 News NZ. 29 January 2013.
  13. ^ Election of Speaker, parliament.nz, 31 January 2013; accessed 26 September 2017.
  14. ^ Fairfax NZ News reporters (31 January 2013). "Carter elected Speaker of the House". The Press. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Rules for the Grant, Use and Retention of the Title “The Right Honourable” in New Zealand" (23 September 2010) 124 New Zealand Gazette 3251 at 3285.
  16. ^ "The Right Honourable". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  17. ^ "Today in politics: Saturday, May 10". Stuff.co.nz. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  18. ^ Speaker Rules on PM's "Rapist" Comments, youtube.com; accessed 26 September 2017.
  19. ^ "A Disgraceful Day in Parliament". TV3 News. 11 November 2015. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  20. ^ "New Zealand PM thrown out of parliament". BBC News. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  21. ^ "2017 General Election – Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  22. ^ Chapman, Grant (19 October 2017). "Full video: NZ First leader Winston Peters announces next Government". Newshub. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  23. ^ Hurley, Emma (19 October 2017). "An 'historic moment' for the Green Party – James Shaw". Newshub. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Trevor Mallard sworn in as Speaker". Newshub. 7 November 2017. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  25. ^ Cooke, Henry; Devlin, Collette (17 October 2018). "Chris Finlayson and David Carter to leave Parliament by next election". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Electoral (Integrity Repeal) Amendment Bill — First Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Dead rat spat back up: Green Party vote to repeal waka jumping law with National, infuriating Winston Peters". Stuff. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  28. ^ New Zealand National Party (30 July 2020). "Waka-jumping Repeal Bill Passes First Reading". Scoop. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  29. ^ "New Year honours list 2021". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  30. ^ Walls, Jason (21 November 2020). "Peter Goodfellow retains National presidency – former MP joins board". The New Zealand Herald.
  31. ^ Coughlan, Thomas (8 August 2021). "Peter Goodfellow re-elected National Party president". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  32. ^ Patterson, Jane (8 August 2021). "David Carter resigns from National Party board with 'zero confidence' in Goodfellow". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Carter (politician).
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Selwyn
1994–1996 		In abeyance
Title next held by
Amy Adams
New constituency Member of Parliament for Banks Peninsula
1996–1999 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
2013–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Senior Citizens
1998–1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Agriculture
2008–2011 		Ministries merged
Minister for Biosecurity
2008–2011
Minister for Forestry
2008–2011
New title
New Ministry
 Minister for Primary Industries
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Local Government
2012–2013 		Succeeded by
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