David Cunliffe
Encyclopedia
David Richard Cunliffe is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party
, and the sitting member of parliament for New Lynn
, West Auckland
. He served as the Minister of Health
and Minister for Communications and Information Technology for the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
from October 2007 until November 2008. After the 2008 general election defeat of the Labour Party, and the resignation of Helen Clark
as the party leader, Cunliffe was appointed to be the party's Finance Spokesman. This is considered to be the third highest ranking within the party after leader and deputy leader. Cunliffe has been touted as a future leader of the Labour party, and party insiders have suggested he seriously considered challenging Goff in the aftermath of the 2008 electoral defeat. Speculation of a leadership challenge again arose during the June 2010 expenses scandal and again after the 'Cartergate' affair.
before working first as a diplomat and then as a business consultant. In 1994 and 1995, he was a Fulbright Scholar and Kennedy Memorial Fellow at Harvard University
’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
and Harvard Business School
, earning a Master of Public Administration
from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1995.
, standing as the Labour candidate for the Titirangi
seat. Since the 2002 election
he has represented the seat of New Lynn
. At the 2005 elections
, Cunliffe was returned with 18,087 votes (8,000 more than his nearest opponent) or 55% of the electorate vote . He retained his seat in the 2008 general election
, but his majority was cut to 4,025. Labour was defeated in the election.
as the Minister of Health
, and Minister for Communications and Information Technology in the Fifth Labour Government
until Labour lost the election in 2008.
In the 2002–2005 Parliament he held the ICT portfolios and was Associate Minister of Finance and Revenue, after previously serving as Parliamentary Private Secretary for Finance and Commerce.
During his first term (1999–2002) he served as Chair of the Commerce Select Committee, and sat on the Finance and Expenditure and Regulations Review select committees.
In 2006, in his previous role as Immigration Minister, he announced a major review of the Immigration Act 1987. As Minister for Communications and Information Technology he announced local loop unbundling in the telecommunications sector.
In May 2006 Cunliffe was referred to the Securities Commission
by the NZX for prematurely exposing information on Telecom
's future dividend plans. This caused a drop in Telecom's stock price.
On 30 June 2008 Cunliffe was conferred the title of Honorary Fellow of the NZCS (HFNZCS) by the New Zealand Computer Society
, the professional body
of the ICT profession in recognition of his significant contribution to the ICT sector.
District Health Board
over political, monetary and conflict of interest troubles. Napier
Mayor Barbara Arnott and a number of members of the district voiced opposition to Cunliffe's move as many of the board members were democratically elected. Following the release of a Health Ministry-commissioned independent report into the matter, Cunliffe referred to the board as "nasty little nest of self-perpetuating provincial elites".
of the Fifth National Government
, Cunliffe was made Labour's spokesman of Finance, shadowing National's Finance Minister, Bill English
.
. During the Address-In-Reply debate on 4 September 2002, Cunliffe said: "A New Zealand where we journey together towards maturity as a nation, and to the Commonwealth republic I personally believe we will become before the Treaty turns 200".
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New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
, and the sitting member of parliament for New Lynn
New Lynn (New Zealand electorate)
New Lynn is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. Its current representative is David Cunliffe, a member of the Labour Party. He has represented the seat since 2002. Cunliffe was the MP for Titirangi from 1999 to 2002...
, West Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. He served as the Minister of Health
Minister of Health (New Zealand)
The Minister of Health is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards.The present Minister is Tony Ryall, a member of the National Party.-History:...
and Minister for Communications and Information Technology for the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand between 10 December 1999 and 19 November 2008.-Overview:The fourth National government, in power since 1990, was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms,...
from October 2007 until November 2008. After the 2008 general election defeat of the Labour Party, and the resignation of Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
as the party leader, Cunliffe was appointed to be the party's Finance Spokesman. This is considered to be the third highest ranking within the party after leader and deputy leader. Cunliffe has been touted as a future leader of the Labour party, and party insiders have suggested he seriously considered challenging Goff in the aftermath of the 2008 electoral defeat. Speculation of a leadership challenge again arose during the June 2010 expenses scandal and again after the 'Cartergate' affair.
Early life
Cunliffe studied politics at University of OtagoUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
before working first as a diplomat and then as a business consultant. In 1994 and 1995, he was a Fulbright Scholar and Kennedy Memorial Fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
and Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, earning a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1995.
Member of Parliament
He was first elected to Parliament in the 1999 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, standing as the Labour candidate for the Titirangi
Titirangi (New Zealand electorate)
-Population centres:The electorate is in the Western suburbs of Auckland, and includes the following population centres:-History:The electorate existed from 1984 to 1996, when it was replaced by the reconstituted Waitakere. In 1999 it was recreated from parts of Waitakere and New Lynn before again...
seat. Since the 2002 election
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
he has represented the seat of New Lynn
New Lynn (New Zealand electorate)
New Lynn is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. Its current representative is David Cunliffe, a member of the Labour Party. He has represented the seat since 2002. Cunliffe was the MP for Titirangi from 1999 to 2002...
. At the 2005 elections
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
, Cunliffe was returned with 18,087 votes (8,000 more than his nearest opponent) or 55% of the electorate vote . He retained his seat in the 2008 general election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
, but his majority was cut to 4,025. Labour was defeated in the election.
Cabinet minister
Cunliffe was a member of the New Zealand CabinetNew Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
as the Minister of Health
Minister of Health (New Zealand)
The Minister of Health is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards.The present Minister is Tony Ryall, a member of the National Party.-History:...
, and Minister for Communications and Information Technology in the Fifth Labour Government
Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand between 10 December 1999 and 19 November 2008.-Overview:The fourth National government, in power since 1990, was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms,...
until Labour lost the election in 2008.
During his first term (1999–2002) he served as Chair of the Commerce Select Committee, and sat on the Finance and Expenditure and Regulations Review select committees.
In 2006, in his previous role as Immigration Minister, he announced a major review of the Immigration Act 1987. As Minister for Communications and Information Technology he announced local loop unbundling in the telecommunications sector.
In May 2006 Cunliffe was referred to the Securities Commission
Securities Commission of New Zealand
The Securities Commission was an independent Crown Entity of the government of New Zealand and the main regulator of investments. It was replaced on the 1 May 2011 by the Financial Markets Authority ....
by the NZX for prematurely exposing information on Telecom
Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
's future dividend plans. This caused a drop in Telecom's stock price.
On 30 June 2008 Cunliffe was conferred the title of Honorary Fellow of the NZCS (HFNZCS) by the New Zealand Computer Society
New Zealand Computer Society
The New Zealand Computer Society Inc is a non-profit incorporated society in New Zealand. As New Zealand's ICT professional body, the NZCS exists to promote education and ensure a high level of professional practice amongst ICT professionals....
, the professional body
Professional body
A professional association is usually a nonprofit organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession, and the public interest.The roles of these professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in a...
of the ICT profession in recognition of his significant contribution to the ICT sector.
District Health Board controversy
In February 2008, as the Minister of Health, Cunliffe dismissed the Hawke's BayHawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
District Health Board
District Health Board (New Zealand)
District Health Boards in New Zealand are organisations established by the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, responsible for ensuring the provision of health and disability services to populations within a defined geographical area. They have existed since 1 January 2001 when the ...
over political, monetary and conflict of interest troubles. Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
Mayor Barbara Arnott and a number of members of the district voiced opposition to Cunliffe's move as many of the board members were democratically elected. Following the release of a Health Ministry-commissioned independent report into the matter, Cunliffe referred to the board as "nasty little nest of self-perpetuating provincial elites".
Opposition
While in oppositionOfficial Opposition (New Zealand)
The Official Opposition in New Zealand is usually the largest political party or coalition which is not a member of the ruling government. This means that the political party, while still involved with the political process in New Zealand, they do not have ministers or their supporters in a...
of the Fifth National Government
Fifth National Government of New Zealand
The Fifth National Government of New Zealand is the current government of New Zealand. It is led by Prime Minister John Key.After the 2008 general election the National Party and its allies were able to form a government, taking over from Helen Clark's Fifth Labour Government. The National party...
, Cunliffe was made Labour's spokesman of Finance, shadowing National's Finance Minister, Bill English
Bill English
Simon William "Bill" English is the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure of New Zealand.English entered parliament in 1990 as a National party MP representing the Wallace electorate...
.
Political views
Cunliffe is a supporter of New Zealand becoming a republicRepublicanism in New Zealand
Republicanism in New Zealand is a theoretical political concept, the implementation of which would result in changing New Zealand's current constitutional monarchy to that of a republic...
. During the Address-In-Reply debate on 4 September 2002, Cunliffe said: "A New Zealand where we journey together towards maturity as a nation, and to the Commonwealth republic I personally believe we will become before the Treaty turns 200".
Further reading
- This was a discussion forum about information technology policy – NationalNew Zealand National PartyThe New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
's Maurice WilliamsonMaurice WilliamsonMaurice Donald Williamson is a New Zealand politician, representing Pakuranga in the House of Representatives as a member of the National Party...
is also a participant.
External links
- Cunliffe's official website
- Parliamentary page
- 3news.co.nz interview with David Cunliffe ahead of 2011 election
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