David Shearer
Encyclopedia
David James Shearer, MBE (born 28 July 1957) is a humanitarian worker and politician from New Zealand
. He won the Mount Albert by-election on 13 June 2009 to become a Member of the Parliament of New Zealand
for the Labour Party
. He was named (together with his wife) as New Zealander of the Year by the New Zealand Herald in 1992.
. He attended Papatoetoe High School
, where he was head boy. He then graduated from the University of Auckland
with a BSc and the University of Canterbury
with a MSc (Hons) in Resource Management
. Between 1983 to 1987 he was a teacher at Massey High School
and Onehunga High School
.
, the Save the Children Fund, and the International Crisis Group
, and is the author of numerous publications in the areas of humanitarian affairs and conflict resolution.
In 1992 Shearer, and his wife Anuschka Meyer, were named the New Zealanders of the Year by the New Zealand Herald after running one of the biggest aid camps in Somalia
. In 1993 New Years Honours List he was awarded a MBE by the United Kingdom
for his work in Somalia.
, serving as the Senior Humanitarian Affairs Adviser in Liberia
.
In 1999 Shearer served in various posts including as the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator
for the United Nations in Rwanda
, the Senior Humanitarian Adviser in Albania
and as the Chief of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Belgrade
. He then left the United Nations to work as an adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
, Phil Goff
.
In 2002 Shearer returned to the United Nations, serving as a Senior Adviser to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
In February 2003 Shearer was appointed head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Jerusalem. During the conflict in Lebanon
in 2006 he served as the Humanitarian Coordinator
.
In 2007 Shearer was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
as his Deputy Special Representative
(Humanitarian, Reconstruction and Development) for Iraq
. While in Iraq Shearer also served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator
and the Humanitarian Coordinator.
Before his election as a Member of Parliament Shearer had twice previously stood for the Labour party; in 1999
he stood as a list only candidate and in 2002
he unsuccessfully contested Whangarei
.
In May 2009 he returned to New Zealand to successfully contest the Labour party nomination for Mt. Albert
against seven other candidates. He then won the 2009 Mt Albert by-election
on 13 June 2009 with 13,260 votes, a majority of 9,718 over National's Melissa Lee
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He won the Mount Albert by-election on 13 June 2009 to become a Member of the Parliament of New Zealand
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
for the Labour Party
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....
. He was named (together with his wife) as New Zealander of the Year by the New Zealand Herald in 1992.
Early life
Shearer was born and brought up in AucklandAuckland
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 attended Papatoetoe High School
Papatoetoe High School
Papatoetoe High School is a secondary school in Papatoetoe suburb of Manukau city, Auckland Region, New Zealand.PHS hosts a satellite unit of the Kelston Deaf Education Centre, including a full-time educational interpreter....
, where he was head boy. He then graduated from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
with a BSc and the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
with a MSc (Hons) in Resource Management
Resource management
In organizational studies, resource management is the efficient and effective deployment of an organization's resources when they are needed. Such resources may include financial resources, inventory, human skills, production resources, or information technology...
. Between 1983 to 1987 he was a teacher at Massey High School
Massey High School
Massey High School is a co-educational state secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand established in 1969. The school is located on the western edge of the city, giving it a blend of suburban and rural students. It has experienced significant roll growth over the past few years and is now the...
and Onehunga High School
Onehunga High School
Onehunga High School is a state co-educational secondary school in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga, New Zealand.The school incorporates a business school, founded by Just Water International's creator Tony Falkenstein, which is sponsored by brewery company Lion Nathan and a construction school...
.
Public policy
Shearer has conducted various assignments with the International Institute for Strategic StudiesInternational Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
, the Save the Children Fund, and the International Crisis Group
International Crisis Group
The International Crisis Group is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts around the world through field-based analyses and high-level advocacy.-History:...
, and is the author of numerous publications in the areas of humanitarian affairs and conflict resolution.
In 1992 Shearer, and his wife Anuschka Meyer, were named the New Zealanders of the Year by the New Zealand Herald after running one of the biggest aid camps in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. In 1993 New Years Honours List he was awarded a MBE by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for his work in Somalia.
United Nations
In 1995 Shearer joined the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, serving as the Senior Humanitarian Affairs Adviser in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
.
In 1999 Shearer served in various posts including as the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator
Humanitarian Coordinator
The Humanitarian Coordinator is the senior-most United Nations official in a country experiencing a humanitarian emergency. The Humanitarian Coordinator is appointed by the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator when a new emergency occurs or an existing humanitarian situation "worsens in...
for the United Nations in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, the Senior Humanitarian Adviser in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and as the Chief of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. He then left the United Nations to work as an adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Murray McCully, who was National Party Spokeperson of Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are also Associate Minister roles...
, Phil Goff
Phil Goff
Philip Bruce Goff is the current Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. During the Fifth Labour Government, he served in a number of ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Defence of New Zealand, Minister of Corrections, Minister of Foreign Affairs and...
.
In 2002 Shearer returned to the United Nations, serving as a Senior Adviser to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
In February 2003 Shearer was appointed head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Jerusalem. During the conflict in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 2006 he served as the Humanitarian Coordinator
Humanitarian Coordinator
The Humanitarian Coordinator is the senior-most United Nations official in a country experiencing a humanitarian emergency. The Humanitarian Coordinator is appointed by the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator when a new emergency occurs or an existing humanitarian situation "worsens in...
.
In 2007 Shearer was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
as his Deputy Special Representative
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
(Humanitarian, Reconstruction and Development) for Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. While in Iraq Shearer also served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator
Resident Coordinator
A United Nations Resident Coordinator is the highest United Nations official and the chief of UN diplomatic mission in a country . It confers the same rank as an Ambassador of a foreign state...
and the Humanitarian Coordinator.
Member of Parliament
New 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...
he stood as a list only candidate and in 2002
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 unsuccessfully contested Whangarei
Whangarei (New Zealand electorate)
rightWhangarei is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.National Party MP Phil Heatley has held it since 2008.-Population Centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Whangarei* Hikurangi* Ruakaka...
.
In May 2009 he returned to New Zealand to successfully contest the Labour party nomination for Mt. Albert
Mount Albert (New Zealand electorate)
Mount Albert is a Parliamentary electorate in Auckland, New Zealand, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. It has been represented by David Shearer since a by-election on 13 June 2009. It was represented by Helen Clark from the 1981 general election until...
against seven other candidates. He then won the 2009 Mt Albert by-election
Mount Albert by-election, 2009
A by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Mount Albert on 13 June 2009. There were fifteen candidates in the election. David Shearer of the Labour Party won the election with 63% of the vote...
on 13 June 2009 with 13,260 votes, a majority of 9,718 over National's Melissa Lee
Melissa Lee
Melissa Lee is a New Zealand politician. She was elected to the House of Representatives as a list MP for the National Party in the 2008 election. She is currently a member of the Commerce and Law and Order committees....
.