Steven Joyce
Encyclopedia
Steven Leonard Joyce is a New Zealand
politician, who entered the New Zealand House of Representatives
in 2008 as a member of the New Zealand National Party
. In the same year he became Minister of Transport
and Minister for Communications and Information Technology.
As a broadcasting entrepreneur with RadioWorks he became a self-made millionaire before he entered politics.
, before enrolling at Massey University
, applying to study veterinary science. However he "missed the cut", graduating instead with a BSc in zoology. While at university he worked as a presenter and programme director
on student radio. After leaving university Joyce and a group of friends (including radio presenter Jeremy Corbett
) started their own radio station, Energy FM, in New Plymouth
. With business partners, he built up RadioWorks over the next seventeen years, both organically and by acquisition, to a network of 22 radio stations and 650 staff. He retired as Managing Director of RadioWorks in April 2001, when CanWest purchased it, Joyce receiving $6 million for the sale.
After RadioWorks he joined the National Party, working as their campaign manager in both the 2005
and the 2008 general election
s. He also served as CEO of Jasons Travel Media
for two years until 2008.
In 2010 while Minister of Transport, Joyce admitted to two prior driving convictions, careless driving resulting in a fine in 1988, and careless driving causing injury resulting in a fine and loss of licence in 1989.
(16th on the party list), the then Prime Minister
Helen Clark
criticised him as a "Hollow Man" featuring as a key background player in Nicky Hager
's 2006 book The Hollow Men
. With the formation of a National Party minority government
in 2008, the new Prime Minister John Key
appointed Joyce to two cabinet portfolios: Transport, and Communications and Information, in his first term as an MP
.
As Minister of Transport, he introduced several changes to road user regulations. In November 2009 a ban on using cellphones while driving came into effect. In 2010 he announced his intentions that New Zealand's unique right-hand rule at intersections would be reverted, and the minimum driving age would rise from 15 to 16 - both measures were subject to cabinet approval and public consultation, and eventually passed into law. This minimum driving age proposal was criticised by the editorial board of The New Zealand Herald
for being too hesitant after experts and the public had favoured raising the driving age as high as 18 - but Joyce, in the opinion of the newspaper, had not shown the resolve to follow the recommendations.
Joyce was also central to the introduction of Auckland Transport as a council-controlled organisation for the 'super city' of Auckland
, a move that attracted widespread criticism. Joyce defended the move against accusations of excessive secrecy and lack of elected oversight by stating that "Auckland will need a good agency focused on delivering the projects that have been agreed by council" and noting that Council had a number of ways of ensuring that the entity was accountable.
in the north of Auckland
with his wife Suzanne and their two children, on a seven-acre lifestyle block.
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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, who entered the New Zealand House of Representatives
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....
in 2008 as a member of the 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:...
. In the same year he became Minister of Transport
Ministry of Transport (New Zealand)
The Ministry of Transport is the New Zealand Government's principal transport policy adviser. It leads and generates policy, and the government's New Zealand Transport Strategy provides the framework within which transport policy is developed...
and Minister for Communications and Information Technology.
As a broadcasting entrepreneur with RadioWorks he became a self-made millionaire before he entered politics.
Broadcasting
Joyce's parents worked as grocers. He went to school at Francis Douglas Memorial CollegeFrancis Douglas Memorial College
Francis Douglas Memorial College is an all-boys state integrated Catholic school located in Westown, New Plymouth, New Zealand. The college was founded in 1959 under the leadership of the De La Salle Brothers, a religious order of brothers based on the teachings of St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle...
, before enrolling 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...
, applying to study veterinary science. However he "missed the cut", graduating instead with a BSc in zoology. While at university he worked as a presenter and programme director
on student radio. After leaving university Joyce and a group of friends (including radio presenter Jeremy Corbett
Jeremy Corbett
Jeremy Corbett is a radio and television host and comedian from New Zealand.Corbett has been breakfast co-host for More FM's Auckland broadcast since the mid-1990s. On television he appeared in Pulp Comedy and hosted the New Zealand edition of Deal or No Deal. He currently hosts 7 Days...
) started their own radio station, Energy FM, in New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. With business partners, he built up RadioWorks over the next seventeen years, both organically and by acquisition, to a network of 22 radio stations and 650 staff. He retired as Managing Director of RadioWorks in April 2001, when CanWest purchased it, Joyce receiving $6 million for the sale.
After RadioWorks he joined the National Party, working as their campaign manager in both the 2005
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 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...
s. He also served as CEO of Jasons Travel Media
Jasons Travel Media
Jasons Travel Media is a company that provides a booking service for accommodation especially motels and hotels in New Zealand, as well as Australia and the South Pacific...
for two years until 2008.
In 2010 while Minister of Transport, Joyce admitted to two prior driving convictions, careless driving resulting in a fine in 1988, and careless driving causing injury resulting in a fine and loss of licence in 1989.
Member of Parliament
After the National Party announced on 28 July 2008 that Joyce would stand as a National Party list-only candidateElectoral system of New Zealand
In 1994 New Zealand officially adopted mixed member proportional representation as its electoral system for the House of Representatives after many years of first-past-the-post voting. The first MMP election was held in 1996....
(16th on the party list), the then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
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...
criticised him as a "Hollow Man" featuring as a key background player in Nicky Hager
Nicky Hager
Nicky Hager is an author and investigative journalist born in Levin, New Zealand and now resides in Wellington. He generally writes about issues involving intelligence networks, environmental issues and politics. He has degrees in physics and philosophy...
's 2006 book The Hollow Men
The Hollow Men (book)
The Hollow Men is a 2006 book written by Nicky Hager about the election strategies used by the New Zealand National Party during New Zealand's 2005 parliamentary election...
. With the formation of a National Party minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in 2008, the new Prime Minister 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....
appointed Joyce to two cabinet portfolios: Transport, and Communications and Information, in his first term as an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
As Minister of Transport, he introduced several changes to road user regulations. In November 2009 a ban on using cellphones while driving came into effect. In 2010 he announced his intentions that New Zealand's unique right-hand rule at intersections would be reverted, and the minimum driving age would rise from 15 to 16 - both measures were subject to cabinet approval and public consultation, and eventually passed into law. This minimum driving age proposal was criticised by the editorial board of The New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
for being too hesitant after experts and the public had favoured raising the driving age as high as 18 - but Joyce, in the opinion of the newspaper, had not shown the resolve to follow the recommendations.
Joyce was also central to the introduction of Auckland Transport as a council-controlled organisation for the 'super city' of Auckland
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...
, a move that attracted widespread criticism. Joyce defended the move against accusations of excessive secrecy and lack of elected oversight by stating that "Auckland will need a good agency focused on delivering the projects that have been agreed by council" and noting that Council had a number of ways of ensuring that the entity was accountable.
Private life
Joyce lives in AlbanyAlbany, New Zealand
Albany is a northern suburb of Auckland, one of the several cities in northern New Zealand. The name derives from Alba and its Latinisation. It is located to the north of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre. The suburb is in the Albany ward, one of the...
in the north of 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...
with his wife Suzanne and their two children, on a seven-acre lifestyle block.
External links
- Profile at National party
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