Minister for Auckland

Minister for Auckland
Incumbent
Simeon Brown
since 27 November 2023
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
StyleThe Honourable
Member ofCabinet of New Zealand
Executive Council
Reports toPrime Minister of New Zealand
AppointerGovernor-General of New Zealand
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation10 December 1999
First holderJudith Tizard
Salary$288,900[1]
Websitewww.beehive.govt.nz

Minister for Auckland is a minister in the New Zealand Government with responsibility over issues concerning Auckland, first created by Prime Minister Helen Clark in 1999 and reinstated by Chris Hipkins in 2023. The first minister was Judith Tizard, and the current minister is Simeon Brown.

History[edit]

Resident Minister for Auckland[edit]

After Wellington became capital of New Zealand in 1865, with the seat of government moving from Auckland to the new capital, some of the government ministries appointed an agent at Auckland. This was sometimes referred to as "Resident Minister for Auckland" in the contemporary media.[2][3] This was not a ministerial appointment, but instead a paid role for the government. Daniel Pollen held the role twice (1868–1869 and 1870–1873) and on both occasions, he resigned from the Legislative Council so that he could take on this role.[4] Confusingly, the 1869–1872 Fox Ministry appointed William Reeves as Resident Minister for Middle Island (December 1871 – September 1872) and unlike the Auckland role, that was a ministerial appointment.[5]

Fifth Labour Government (1999–2008)[edit]

Under Prime Minister Helen Clark, Judith Tizard first held the portfolio as "Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Auckland issues" from December 1999 until August 2002 until it was changed to "Minister for Auckland Issues", which she held from August 2002 until October 2007.[6][7]

Sixth Labour Government (2017–2023)[edit]

After a 15-year hiatus on the existence of a Minister for Auckland, newly elected Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, in his first cabinet designated Michael Wood as Minister for Auckland on 31 January 2023. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins stated that "When Auckland succeeds, the country succeeds. I know that the last few years have been particularly tough for the City of Sails" as a justification for his appointment.[8]

After controversies arose around conflicts of interest surrounding Michael Wood as the Minister for Transport, and further information was found about Michael Wood's supposed refusal on multiple occasions to declare conflicts of interests, he decided to step down as a Cabinet Minister after widespread pressure.

Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni was subsequently given the portfolio of Minister for Auckland after the controversy on 21 June 2023.

List of ministers[edit]

Key

  Labour   National

No. Name Portrait Term of Office Prime Minister
As Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Auckland issues
1 Judith Tizard 10 December 1999 15 August 2002 Clark
As Minister for Auckland Issues
(1) Judith Tizard 15 August 2002 31 October 2007 Clark
As Minister for Auckland
2 Michael Wood 1 February 2023 21 June 2023 Hipkins
3 Carmel Sepuloni 21 June 2023 27 November 2023
4 Simeon Brown 27 November 2023 present Luxon

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination 2016" (PDF). Parliament.nz. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Resident Minister for Auckland". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. V, no. 1530. 20 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  3. ^ "The Resident Minister". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XXV, no. 3732. 5 July 1869. p. 5. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  4. ^ McLintock, A. H., ed. (1966). "Pollen, Daniel (1813–96)". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga.
  5. ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 64. OCLC 154283103.
  6. ^ McConnell, Glen (31 January 2023). "The minister for Auckland: Michael Wood's surprise new role". Stuff. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Hon Judith Tizard". New Zealand Parliament. 8 November 2008. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  8. ^ McConnell, Glenn (31 January 2023). "The minister for Auckland: Michael Wood's surprise new role". Stuff. Retrieved 30 September 2023.