John Boscawen
Encyclopedia
John Boscawen is an ACT New Zealand member of the New Zealand House of Representatives
and as of May 2011, ACT's Parliamentary Leader and former Minister of Consumer Affairs of New Zealand. He came to parliament in the 2008 general election
as a list MP, having been ranked fourth. Before entering parliament he was best known for his campaign against the Electoral Finance Act
. He sits on the Finance and Expenditure, Commerce, and Parliamentary Service select committees, and is ACT's spokesperson for a range of issues including Housing, Transport, Energy and Economic Development.
.
He became an associate member of the New Zealand Business Roundtable
.
campaign manager for the 2005 election
and overall campaign manager in 2008. He also donated NZ$100,000 to the party. In 2008 he was ranked fourth on the ACT party's list. With ACT winning 3.65% of the vote at the 2008 general election
, Boscawen entered parliament as ACT's fourth MP.
In 2009 Boscawen stood as ACT's candidate for the Mount Albert
electorate, in the Mount Albert by-election. Boscawen placed fourth (968 votes), winning 4.72% of the votes cast. Boscawen provided the media with one of the memorable images of the by-election, when a disgruntled audience member sqashed a lamington
on Boscawen's head during a live televised candidates debate.
On 17 August 2010 it was announced Boscawen would become ACT's deputy leader and take the ministerial roles of Consumer Affairs, and Associate Commerce. The position of deputy leader, and Consumer Affairs, and Associate Education and Defence were formerly held by Heather Roy before her removal. The Associate Education role was taken over ACT leader Rodney Hide likewise Associate
Commerce by Boscawen. As the ministerial roles are government roles, they require formal consultation with and approval of the Governor General Sir Anand
Satyanand
. After the May 2011 resignation of Rodney Hide
as Leader of the Act Party Boscawen tendered resignation of his Ministerial portfolios and became the Parliamentary Leader of the Act Party for Don Brash
who became Leader outside Parliament. His Portfolios were transferred to Simon Power, a Minister resigning at the end of the 49th New Zealand Parliament
, so that The Prime Minister would not have to recommend to the Governor General another Member of Parliament.
Foundation.
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
and as of May 2011, ACT's Parliamentary Leader and former Minister of Consumer Affairs of New Zealand. He came to parliament 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...
as a list MP, having been ranked fourth. Before entering parliament he was best known for his campaign against the Electoral Finance Act
Electoral Finance Act
The Electoral Finance Act 2007 was a controversial act in New Zealand. The Electoral Finance Bill was introduced by the Fifth Labour Government partly in response to the 2005 New Zealand election funding controversy, in particular "third-party" campaigns....
. He sits on the Finance and Expenditure, Commerce, and Parliamentary Service select committees, and is ACT's spokesperson for a range of issues including Housing, Transport, Energy and Economic Development.
Business career
Boscawen was an accountant in the 1980s, but became insolvent after borrowing heavily to invest in the sharemarket before the stockmarket crash of 1987. With help from his parents, he was able to return to investing, developing the K-Mart Plaza in HastingsHastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
.
He became an associate member of the New Zealand Business Roundtable
New Zealand Business Roundtable
The New Zealand Business Roundtable , a market-oriented thinktank, operates from Wellington, New Zealand. Businessman Robert McLeod chairs the organisation, with Bill Gallagher MBE, Nick Calavrias and Bill Day as Vice-Chairs. Members, who pay a five-figure subscription fee, represent most of the...
.
Member of Parliament
ACT New Zealand was formed in 1994 and Boscawen became a member the following year. He has served on the party's board and been its treasurer, was EpsomEpsom (New Zealand electorate)
Epsom is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Epsom is Rodney Hide MP of the ACT Party. He has held this position since 2005.-Population centres:...
campaign manager for the 2005 election
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...
and overall campaign manager in 2008. He also donated NZ$100,000 to the party. In 2008 he was ranked fourth on the ACT party's list. With ACT winning 3.65% of the vote at 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...
, Boscawen entered parliament as ACT's fourth MP.
In 2009 Boscawen stood as ACT's candidate for the Mount 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...
electorate, in the Mount Albert by-election. Boscawen placed fourth (968 votes), winning 4.72% of the votes cast. Boscawen provided the media with one of the memorable images of the by-election, when a disgruntled audience member sqashed a lamington
Lamington
A lamington is a sponge cake of Australian origin in the shape of a cuboid, coated in a layer of traditionally chocolate icing then desiccated coconut. Lamingtons are sometimes served as two halves with a layer of cream and/or strawberry jam between, and are commonly found in South African and...
on Boscawen's head during a live televised candidates debate.
On 17 August 2010 it was announced Boscawen would become ACT's deputy leader and take the ministerial roles of Consumer Affairs, and Associate Commerce. The position of deputy leader, and Consumer Affairs, and Associate Education and Defence were formerly held by Heather Roy before her removal. The Associate Education role was taken over ACT leader Rodney Hide likewise Associate
Commerce by Boscawen. As the ministerial roles are government roles, they require formal consultation with and approval of the Governor General Sir Anand
Satyanand
Anand Satyanand
Sir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO, KStJ was the 19th Governor-General of New Zealand. He previously worked as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman.-Early life and family:...
. After the May 2011 resignation of Rodney Hide
Rodney Hide
Rodney Hide is a New Zealand politician who was leader of the political party ACT New Zealand from 2004 to 2011. From 2005 to 2011 he represented the electorate of Epsom as its Member of Parliament. Rodney Hide was Minister of Local Government, Associate Minister of Commerce and Minister of...
as Leader of the Act Party Boscawen tendered resignation of his Ministerial portfolios and became the Parliamentary Leader of the Act Party for Don Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
who became Leader outside Parliament. His Portfolios were transferred to Simon Power, a Minister resigning at the end of the 49th New Zealand Parliament
49th New Zealand Parliament
The 49th New Zealand Parliament was elected at the 2008 election. It consists of 122 members, including an overhang of two seats caused by the Māori Party having won two more electorate seats than its share of the party vote would otherwise have given it. The Parliament will serve from 2008 until...
, so that The Prime Minister would not have to recommend to the Governor General another Member of Parliament.
Philanthropy
Boscawen is a trustee of the Auckland Philharmonia Foundation and the Otahuhu CollegeOtahuhu College
Otahuhu College is a secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand for students years 9 to 13.-Location:It is located in the suburb of Otahuhu and is a co-educational school. The school is built in a gully on the southern side of Mangere Road...
Foundation.
External links
- Boscawen, John: Maiden Statements at the New Zealand Parliament website