Steve Maharey
Encyclopedia
Steven "Steve" Maharey CNZM
(born 3 February 1953) is a former Member of Parliament for Palmerston North in New Zealand, as a member of the Labour Party
. He left politics and the party before the 2008 general election
to become the Vice-Chancellor at Massey University
.
Formerly he held the roles of Minister of Education, Minister of Broadcasting, Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Minister for Crown Research Institutes and Minister responsible for the Education Review Office, Minister of Social Development and Employment, Minister of Housing and Minister of Youth Affairs. Possibly due to his pending departure from politics he was not assigned any ministerial roles in the October 2007 cabinet reshuffle.
, he was a lecturer at Massey University
, also in Palmerston North, teaching both sociology and business administration. His particular speciality within sociology was media studies
.
, Maharey stood as the Labour Party candidate for Palmerston North
, replacing retiring MP Trevor de Cleene
, and was elected to Parliament. After Maharey left the Labour party, Iain Lees-Galloway
successfully held the seat for Labour in the 2008 election
.
After the 1999 elections
, a Labour-Alliance government was formed, Maharey became Minister of Social Services and Employment, having responsibility for social welfare, youth services, and the reduction of unemployment. In 2002 the title changed to Minister for Social Development and Employment. He also became Associate Minister of Education holding special responsibility for tertiary education. After the 2002 elections
, in which Labour was re-elected, Maharey also became Minister of Broadcasting. In a December 2004 cabinet reshuffle, Maharey dropped the Associate Minister of Education portfolio and became Minister for Education, Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Minister for Crown Research Institutes, and Minister for Youth Affairs. He was officially ranked fourth in the Cabinet
hierarchy.
" approach, similar to that of Tony Blair
in the United Kingdom. Maharey was often considered to be one of the more significant political theorists within the government.
described Maharey as 'smarmy' in an Investigate Magazine
interview, Maharey's personality publicly surfaced during the Christine Rankin Employment Court Hearing in 2001, where Rankin and Maharey publicly exchanged insults. The New Zealand Herald quoted several exchanges between the two verbatim that were alleged to have occurred by Rankin. The court did not uphold Rankin's claims.
In April 2007, Maharey came under criticism for saying 'fuck
you' in parliamentary question time on 4 April. He apologised shortly afterwards. The outburst was elicited when Maharey was questioned by Jonathan Coleman about the appropriateness of his actions as broadcasting minister threatening to complain to the Radio New Zealand
board when he was displeased by a host Sean Plunket
referring to a comment Maharey had made about the need for the Cambridge exam
in Botswana as 'racist.'
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New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 3 February 1953) is a former Member of Parliament for Palmerston North in New Zealand, as a member of 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 left politics and the party before 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...
to become the Vice-Chancellor at 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...
.
Formerly he held the roles of Minister of Education, Minister of Broadcasting, Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Minister for Crown Research Institutes and Minister responsible for the Education Review Office, Minister of Social Development and Employment, Minister of Housing and Minister of Youth Affairs. Possibly due to his pending departure from politics he was not assigned any ministerial roles in the October 2007 cabinet reshuffle.
Early life
Maharey was born in Palmerston North. After gaining an MA in sociologySociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, he was a lecturer at 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...
, also in Palmerston North, teaching both sociology and business administration. His particular speciality within sociology was media studies
Media studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
.
Palmerston North City Councillor
Between 1986 and 1989, Maharey served on the Palmerston North City Council.Member of Parliament
In the 1990 electionNew 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...
, Maharey stood as the Labour Party candidate for Palmerston North
Palmerston North (New Zealand electorate)
Palmerston North is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Palmerston North is Iain Lees-Galloway of the Labour Party...
, replacing retiring MP Trevor de Cleene
Trevor De Cleene
Trevor Albert de Cleene was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and a lawyer.-Member of Parliament:He represented the Palmerston North electorate in Parliament from 1981 to 1990....
, and was elected to Parliament. After Maharey left the Labour party, Iain Lees-Galloway
Iain Lees-Galloway
Iain Lees-Galloway is a politician from New Zealand. He was elected to represent the Labour Party in the seat of Palmerston North at the 2008 general election...
successfully held the seat for Labour in the 2008 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...
.
Cabinet minister
Maharey immediately became Labour's spokesperson on broadcasting issues, and also gained associate responsibility for education. In 1994, he switched roles and became spokesperson on labour relations. In 1996, he became spokesperson on social welfare, employment, and tertiary education, and dropped the labour relations portfolio in 1997.After the 1999 elections
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...
, a Labour-Alliance government was formed, Maharey became Minister of Social Services and Employment, having responsibility for social welfare, youth services, and the reduction of unemployment. In 2002 the title changed to Minister for Social Development and Employment. He also became Associate Minister of Education holding special responsibility for tertiary education. After the 2002 elections
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...
, in which Labour was re-elected, Maharey also became Minister of Broadcasting. In a December 2004 cabinet reshuffle, Maharey dropped the Associate Minister of Education portfolio and became Minister for Education, Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Minister for Crown Research Institutes, and Minister for Youth Affairs. He was officially ranked fourth in the Cabinet
New 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...
hierarchy.
Political views
Maharey was the most prominent advocate within the Labour Party for the so-called "Third WayThird way (centrism)
The Third Way refers to various political positions which try to reconcile right-wing and left-wing politics by advocating a varying synthesis of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies. Third Way approaches are commonly viewed from within the first- and second-way perspectives as...
" approach, similar to that of Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
in the United Kingdom. Maharey was often considered to be one of the more significant political theorists within the government.
Controversies
While former colleague John TamihereJohn Tamihere
John Henry Tamihere is a New Zealand media personality and former politician. He served as a Cabinet minister in the governing Labour Party from August 2002 to 3 November 2004.-Early life:...
described Maharey as 'smarmy' in an Investigate Magazine
Investigate (New Zealand)
Investigate is a current affairs magazine published in New Zealand. It has a conservative Christian editorial standpoint and has published a number of controversial articles. Many of the more notable articles have been critical of policies and members of the centre-left Fifth Labour Government of...
interview, Maharey's personality publicly surfaced during the Christine Rankin Employment Court Hearing in 2001, where Rankin and Maharey publicly exchanged insults. The New Zealand Herald quoted several exchanges between the two verbatim that were alleged to have occurred by Rankin. The court did not uphold Rankin's claims.
In April 2007, Maharey came under criticism for saying 'fuck
Four Letter Word
"Four Letter Word" is the fourth single from the Kim Wilde album Close.It was released at the end of 1988 — the year that had seen Wilde release a best-selling album, have four international hits and support Michael Jackson on the European leg of his world tour."Four Letter Word" marked the first...
you' in parliamentary question time on 4 April. He apologised shortly afterwards. The outburst was elicited when Maharey was questioned by Jonathan Coleman about the appropriateness of his actions as broadcasting minister threatening to complain to the Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
board when he was displeased by a host Sean Plunket
Sean Plunket
Sean Plunket is a New Zealand broadcast journalist and host of Sean Plunket Mornings on Newstalk ZB. He broadcasts Monday to Friday between 8.30am and Midday on 1035AM in Wellington and 89.5FM in Kapiti. He worked as one of two breakfast hosts on Radio New Zealand's weekday Morning Report between...
referring to a comment Maharey had made about the need for the Cambridge exam
Cambridge International Examinations
University of Cambridge International Examinations is a provider of international qualifications for students between the ages of 14 and 19, offering examinations and qualifications in more than 150 countries. It is an Examination Board under Cambridge Assessment, founded in 1858 as a department...
in Botswana as 'racist.'
Political offices
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