Peter McCardle
Encyclopedia
Peter McCardle is a New Zealand
politician. He was an MP from 1990 to 1999, first as a member of the National Party
, then as a member of New Zealand First
, and finally as an independent. McCardle is currently deputy mayor of Upper Hutt City Council.
and welfare policy.
as the National MP for the Heretaunga
electorate, defeating the Labour MP Bill Jeffries
. McCardle was re-elected in the 1993 elections
, defeating Labour Party
candidate Heather Simpson (now Helen Clark
's Chief of Staff).
McCardle, however, found his party colleagues unwilling to adopt his radical employment policies, which were primarily based around the idea of "workfare
". In 1996, after being involved in failed discussions with Mike Moore to form a new party
, McCardle eventually decided to leave National and join the New Zealand First party, where he hoped to have greater influence.
McCardle was re-elected to Parliament as a New Zealand First list MP in the 1996 elections
, also unsuccessfully contesting the Rimutaka seat. In the coalition government formed by National and New Zealand First, McCardle became Minister of Employment, and set about implementing some of his proposals. When the coalition began to collapse, McCardle joined the group that broke from New Zealand First to continue supporting the government. He did not retain his Employment portfolio, but was given other ministerial roles. He remained an independent for the duration of the parliamentary term, but did not choose to seek re-election.
, the ACT Welfare Spokesman, hired McCardle as a consultant. McCardle eventually was offered the role as head of the ACT Parliamentary Research Unit.
In the 2001 local body elections and district health board elections McCardle was elected as a Upper Hutt
City councillor and Hutt Valley District Health Board member, both roles he successfully defended in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
McCardle left his ACT Parliamentary Office role before the 2005 election to write his memoirs.
McCardle resigned from the Hutt Valley District Health Board in 2008, when he became senior advisor to the new National Party Minister of Health, Tony Ryall. McCardle and Ryall entered Parliament together in 1990.
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...
politician. He was an MP from 1990 to 1999, first as a member of the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The 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:...
, then as a member of New Zealand First
New Zealand First
New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
, and finally as an independent. McCardle is currently deputy mayor of Upper Hutt City Council.
Pre-parliamentary career
McCardle originally worked for the New Zealand Employment Service, and was prompted to enter politics by a desire to make a significant contribution to unemploymentUnemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and welfare policy.
Member of Parliament
McCardle was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
as the National MP for the Heretaunga
Heretaunga (New Zealand electorate)
Heretaunga is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Upper Hutt.-Population centres:The electorate was urban, and was based on Heretaunga a suburb of Upper Hutt in the northern Hutt Valley.-History:...
electorate, defeating the Labour MP Bill Jeffries
Bill Jeffries
William Patrick "Bill" Jeffries was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the Heretaunga electorate from 1981 to 1990, when he was defeated by a National candidate in a swing against Labour....
. McCardle was re-elected in the 1993 elections
New Zealand general election, 1993
The 1993 New Zealand general election was held on 6 November 1993 to determine the composition of the 44th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Jim Bolger, win a second term in office, despite a major swing back towards the Labour Party. The new Alliance and New...
, defeating 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....
candidate Heather Simpson (now 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...
's Chief of Staff).
McCardle, however, found his party colleagues unwilling to adopt his radical employment policies, which were primarily based around the idea of "workfare
Workfare
Workfare is an alternative model to conventional social welfare systems. The term was first introduced by civil rights leader James Charles Evers in 1968; however, it was popularized by Richard Nixon in a televised speech August 1969...
". In 1996, after being involved in failed discussions with Mike Moore to form a new party
New Zealand Democratic Coalition
The New Zealand Democratic Coalition was a proposed moderate political party intended to contest the 1996 General Election. It would have been led by former Prime Minister Mike Moore and was intended to capture the balance of power on election night...
, McCardle eventually decided to leave National and join the New Zealand First party, where he hoped to have greater influence.
McCardle was re-elected to Parliament as a New Zealand First list MP in the 1996 elections
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, also unsuccessfully contesting the Rimutaka seat. In the coalition government formed by National and New Zealand First, McCardle became Minister of Employment, and set about implementing some of his proposals. When the coalition began to collapse, McCardle joined the group that broke from New Zealand First to continue supporting the government. He did not retain his Employment portfolio, but was given other ministerial roles. He remained an independent for the duration of the parliamentary term, but did not choose to seek re-election.
Post-parliamentary career
Soon after the 1999 election Dr. Muriel NewmanMuriel Newman
Dr. Muriel Newman is a former New Zealand politician. She was the deputy leader of the ACT New Zealand.-Early years:Newman was born in northern England, but arrived in New Zealand at the age of eight. She was raised in Whangarei. She gained a BSc in mathematics from University of Auckland, and...
, the ACT Welfare Spokesman, hired McCardle as a consultant. McCardle eventually was offered the role as head of the ACT Parliamentary Research Unit.
In the 2001 local body elections and district health board elections McCardle was elected as a Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt is a satellite city of Wellington. It is New Zealand's smallest city by population, the second largest by land area. It is in Greater Wellington.-Geography:Upper Hutt is 30 km north-east of Wellington...
City councillor and Hutt Valley District Health Board member, both roles he successfully defended in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
McCardle left his ACT Parliamentary Office role before the 2005 election to write his memoirs.
McCardle resigned from the Hutt Valley District Health Board in 2008, when he became senior advisor to the new National Party Minister of Health, Tony Ryall. McCardle and Ryall entered Parliament together in 1990.