Richard Worth
Encyclopedia
Richard Westwood Worth, OBE
, VRD
, KStJ
(born 3 July 1948) is a former New Zealand
politician. He was a member of the National Party
parliamentary caucus until he resigned on Friday 12 June 2009.
, Worth obtained an LLB (Hons) and Master of Jurisprudence (First Class) from the University of Auckland
and a Master of Business Administration
(Distinction) from Massey University
. He has had a career in law
and management
, and has been active in a wide range of organisations and associations, including the Order of St. John
and the Naval Reserves with the rank of Captain
. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) for services to New Zealand. Before entering Parliament he was the chairman of Simpson Grierson
, one of New Zealand's larger law firms. He was the Consul for Colombia, and later, the honorary Consul for Monaco.
He obtained a Ph.D.
from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
(RMIT) with a thesis entitled The Closer Economic Relationship Between Australia and New Zealand: choices other than quiescence or withdrawal in the face of conflict? completed in 2004.
's candidate for the Auckland
seat of Epsom
in the 1999 election
with a majority of 1,908. He was re-elected in the 2002 election
with an increased majority of 5,619.
He lost his electorate seat in the 2005 election
to the ACT New Zealand leader Rodney Hide
. This was the result of a tactical voting message from Hide who had called on National voters to support him in order to elect a coalition partner for National, as otherwise ACT was unlikely either to win an electorate seat or to gain the five percent of the nationwide vote which would guarantee it list seats. Worth was however elected as a list MP. National's party vote in Epsom was the highest of any electorate in the country.
When John Key
became National Party leader in November 2006, Worth relinquished his Justice and Auckland Issues spokesperson portfolios, and was given the portfolio for Economic Development.
Worth was re-elected on the party list in the 2008 general elections. National's highest party vote was again secured in Epsom.
On 19 November 2008, Worth became Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Land Information
, Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand
, Minister Responsible for the National Library
and Associate Minister of Justice.
In March 2009 a perceived conflict of interest arose following a private trip to India. Worth later disengaged from his Indian business interests and stepped down as chair of the New Zealand India Trade Group. Worth took the trip under a diplomatic passport, something normally reserved for official trips.
issued a press release announcing Richard Worth had resigned as a minister for personal reasons and that there would be no further comment. Soon after, the New Zealand Police
issued a statement saying an allegation had been made against a sitting MP and that they were beginning a preliminary investigation. At a subsequent press conference Key said the resignation resulted from a criminal investigation into a "relatively recent" incident, and had Worth not resigned he would have been sacked.
Key subsequently referred to an unrelated and resolved allegation related to "making a nuisance of himself toward women." He said the current instance was serious enough to warrant criminal investigation. He said Worth's conduct did not befit a Cabinet Minister in his administration, that he would not have Worth in Cabinet, and that he had lost confidence in Worth as a Cabinet Minister. The New Zealand Herald indicated that the Prime Minister had known about the current allegations at the centre of Worth's resignation for the preceding fortnight.
According to the woman at the center of the second allegation, later identified as Neelam Choudary, an active member of the New Zealand Labour Party
, Worth first contacted her on 26 November 2008, and altogether, forty texts and sixty telephone calls ensued, until they ceased on 23 February 2009. Choudary, an Indian, was allegedly offered a job as an ethnic affairs advisor or board member. She has also alleged that inappropriate and "vulgar" telephone calls referred to her purchase of "transparent garments", and that his conduct was "unacceptable" and "unwanted".
Prime Minister Key reiterated that there was no future for Worth within his Cabinet, and warned that suspension or expulsion from the National caucus was still a prospect. Worth resigned from Parliament on 12 June 2009 (effective 16 June 2009), citing that his role as a Member of Parliament was compromised due to speculation and innuendo, and he wished to seek a new direction in international trade. Choudary never produced any texts and Labour did not pursue the matter further. After Worth's parliamentary resignation, Cam Calder
took his place as the next eligible person on the current New Zealand National Party
list
In early July 2009 it was reported that the woman who made the original allegation to police had withdrawn her complaint and police dropped the matter. In November 2009, police announced that Worth would not face charges.
In 2010, Choudary announced that she was running for a Botany
seat on the Howick Local Board with a Residents & Ratepayers ticket in the initial elections for Auckland Council
. She ranked sixth of seven candidates in the race for three places.
profile listing him as barrister specialising in mediation and arbitration and company director.Linked-in profile for Richard Worth (checked 26 April 2010)
Shortly after he resigned, Monaco reappointed him honorary Consul to New Zealand, but New Zealand Foreign Minister
Murray McCully
held up the appointment for more than a year and it wasn't until October 2010 that the position was finalised.
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Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, VRD
Volunteer Reserve Decoration
The Volunteer Reserve Decoration was awarded to commissioned officers in the United Kingdom's Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for long service and good conduct.The VRD was established in 1908...
, KStJ
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(born 3 July 1948) is a former New Zealand
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 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:...
parliamentary caucus until he resigned on Friday 12 June 2009.
Background
Born 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...
, Worth obtained an LLB (Hons) and Master of Jurisprudence (First Class) 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...
and a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
(Distinction) from Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
. He has had a career in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, and has been active in a wide range of organisations and associations, including the Order of St. John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
and the Naval Reserves with the rank of Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) for services to New Zealand. Before entering Parliament he was the chairman of Simpson Grierson
Simpson Grierson
Simpson Grierson is a New Zealand commercial law firm founded in 1887; it is ranked in the top four firms in that country. The firm is a partnership comprising 48 partners and consultants supported by around 160 lawyers and legal executives in four departments...
, one of New Zealand's larger law firms. He was the Consul for Colombia, and later, the honorary Consul for Monaco.
He obtained a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
(RMIT) with a thesis entitled The Closer Economic Relationship Between Australia and New Zealand: choices other than quiescence or withdrawal in the face of conflict? completed in 2004.
Member of Parliament
Worth entered Parliament when he successfully stood as the National PartyNew 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:...
's candidate for the 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...
seat of Epsom
Epsom (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:...
in the 1999 election
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...
with a majority of 1,908. He was re-elected in 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...
with an increased majority of 5,619.
He lost his electorate seat in 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...
to the ACT New Zealand leader 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...
. This was the result of a tactical voting message from Hide who had called on National voters to support him in order to elect a coalition partner for National, as otherwise ACT was unlikely either to win an electorate seat or to gain the five percent of the nationwide vote which would guarantee it list seats. Worth was however elected as a list MP. National's party vote in Epsom was the highest of any electorate in the country.
When John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
became National Party leader in November 2006, Worth relinquished his Justice and Auckland Issues spokesperson portfolios, and was given the portfolio for Economic Development.
Worth was re-elected on the party list in the 2008 general elections. National's highest party vote was again secured in Epsom.
On 19 November 2008, Worth became Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Land Information
Land Information New Zealand
Land Information New Zealand is a New Zealand government agency. The current Chief Executive is Colin MacDonald and the current Minister of Land Information is Maurice Williamson.- Nature and scope of functions :...
, Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand
Archives New Zealand
Archives New Zealand is the National Archives of New Zealand, with overall responsibility for government recordkeeping and for community archives. Since 1 February 2011 it has been part of the Department of Internal Affairs...
, Minister Responsible for the National Library
National Library of New Zealand
The National Library of New Zealand is New Zealand's legal deposit library charged with the obligation to "enrich the cultural and economic life of New Zealand and its interchanges with other nations"...
and Associate Minister of Justice.
In March 2009 a perceived conflict of interest arose following a private trip to India. Worth later disengaged from his Indian business interests and stepped down as chair of the New Zealand India Trade Group. Worth took the trip under a diplomatic passport, something normally reserved for official trips.
Resignation
On 3 June 2009 Prime Minister John KeyJohn Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
issued a press release announcing Richard Worth had resigned as a minister for personal reasons and that there would be no further comment. Soon after, the New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
issued a statement saying an allegation had been made against a sitting MP and that they were beginning a preliminary investigation. At a subsequent press conference Key said the resignation resulted from a criminal investigation into a "relatively recent" incident, and had Worth not resigned he would have been sacked.
Key subsequently referred to an unrelated and resolved allegation related to "making a nuisance of himself toward women." He said the current instance was serious enough to warrant criminal investigation. He said Worth's conduct did not befit a Cabinet Minister in his administration, that he would not have Worth in Cabinet, and that he had lost confidence in Worth as a Cabinet Minister. The New Zealand Herald indicated that the Prime Minister had known about the current allegations at the centre of Worth's resignation for the preceding fortnight.
According to the woman at the center of the second allegation, later identified as Neelam Choudary, an active member of the New Zealand 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....
, Worth first contacted her on 26 November 2008, and altogether, forty texts and sixty telephone calls ensued, until they ceased on 23 February 2009. Choudary, an Indian, was allegedly offered a job as an ethnic affairs advisor or board member. She has also alleged that inappropriate and "vulgar" telephone calls referred to her purchase of "transparent garments", and that his conduct was "unacceptable" and "unwanted".
Prime Minister Key reiterated that there was no future for Worth within his Cabinet, and warned that suspension or expulsion from the National caucus was still a prospect. Worth resigned from Parliament on 12 June 2009 (effective 16 June 2009), citing that his role as a Member of Parliament was compromised due to speculation and innuendo, and he wished to seek a new direction in international trade. Choudary never produced any texts and Labour did not pursue the matter further. After Worth's parliamentary resignation, Cam Calder
Cam Calder
Campbell Gordon Calder , known as Cam Calder is a New Zealand doctor and politician representing the National Party as a member of Parliament.-Background:...
took his place as the next eligible person on the current New Zealand 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:...
list
In early July 2009 it was reported that the woman who made the original allegation to police had withdrawn her complaint and police dropped the matter. In November 2009, police announced that Worth would not face charges.
In 2010, Choudary announced that she was running for a Botany
Botany Downs, New Zealand
Botany Downs is a suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand.This residential area was previously part of the East Tamaki area. According to the 2006 census, Botany Downs has a population of 4830, having grown 2.7% since 2001. It has one of the country's biggest shopping malls - Botany Town Centre -...
seat on the Howick Local Board with a Residents & Ratepayers ticket in the initial elections for Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
. She ranked sixth of seven candidates in the race for three places.
After Parliament
After his resignation, Worth returned to the bar, with his LinkedInLinkedIn
LinkedIn is a business-related social networking site. Founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking. , LinkedIn reports more than 120 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories. The site is available in English, French,...
profile listing him as barrister specialising in mediation and arbitration and company director.Linked-in profile for Richard Worth (checked 26 April 2010)
Shortly after he resigned, Monaco reappointed him honorary Consul to New Zealand, but New Zealand Foreign Minister
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...
Murray McCully
Murray McCully
Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
held up the appointment for more than a year and it wasn't until October 2010 that the position was finalised.
External links
- Official page on the New Zealand Parliament website
- The closer economic relationship between Australia and New Zealand: choices other than quiescence or withdrawal in the face of conflict 2004, Ph.D. thesis, Richard W. Worth.
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