Peter Dunne
In office 17 July 1984 – 23 September 2017 | |
Preceded by | Hugh Templeton |
Succeeded by | Greg O'Connor |
Majority | 710 |
Personal details | |
Born | Peter Francis Dunne 17 March 1954 Christchurch, New Zealand |
Political party | United Future (2002–2017) |
Other political affiliations | United New Zealand (1995–2002) Future (1994–1995) Labour (until 1994) |
Spouse(s) | Jennifer Mackrell (1976–present); 2 sons |
Relations | Frank Smyth (grandfather) |
Peter Francis Dunne
He served as a
On 21 August 2017, Dunne announced that he would retire from politics and pulled out of campaigning for re-election at the 2017 New Zealand general election.[4] United Future lost its sole seat in Parliament and attained only 0.1% of the party vote. He is retired as a politician, and is now a political commentator.[5]
Early life and family
Dunne was born in Christchurch on 17 March 1954, the son of Ralph and Joan Dunne.[6] He attended St Bede's College and gained an MA in political science from Canterbury University before studying business administration at Massey University.[7]
In 1976, he married high school chemistry teacher Jennifer Mackrell, and they have two sons.
Member of Parliament
Labour MP
In the
United New Zealand party
Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984–1987 | 41st | Ohariu | Labour | ||
1987–1990 | 42nd | Ohariu | Labour | ||
1990–1993 | 43rd | Ohariu | Labour | ||
1993–1994 | 44th | Onslow | Labour | ||
1994 | Changed allegiance to: | Independent | |||
1994–1995 | Changed allegiance to: | Future | |||
1995–1996 | Changed allegiance to: | United NZ | |||
1996–1999 | 45th | Ohariu-Belmont | 3 | United NZ | |
1999–2000 | 46th | Ohariu-Belmont | 1 | United NZ | |
2000–2002 | Changed allegiance to: | United Future | |||
2002–2005 | 47th | Ohariu-Belmont | 1 | United Future | |
2005–2008 | 48th | Ohariu-Belmont | 1 | United Future | |
2008–2011 | 49th | Ōhariu
|
1 | United Future | |
2011–2013 | 50th | Ōhariu | 1 | United Future | |
2013–2014 | Changed allegiance to: | Independent | |||
2014 | Changed allegiance to: | United Future | |||
2014–2017 | 51st | Ōhāriu | 1 | United Future |
In 1995, a group of MPs from both Labour and National decided to band together and form a new
United New Zealand hoped to take advantage of the new
United Future New Zealand party
In 2000, Dunne's United merged with the
United Future New Zealand working with Outdoor Recreation
United Future, like other minor political parties working in coalition, suffered in the polls. The United Future entered an agreement to work formally with the Outdoor Recreation Party, a registered political party formed to represent the views of hunters, fishers, trampers and recreational users of the marine and natural environment.
Dunne retained his seat in the 2005 general election but his party's proportion of the nationwide vote diminished considerably, with a corresponding loss of seats in Parliament.
Fifth Labour Government
On 17 October 2005 Dunne gave his support to
Don Brash expressed a lack of amusement with Dunne's decision to support a Labour-led coalition government. Brash expressed astonishment at Dunne accepting the ministerial portfolio of Revenue while remaining outside
After the
Fifth National Government
United Future's share of the party vote declined further in the
Between December 2008 and August 2009, Dunne served as the chairman of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee. Dunne described the committee's report, which consisted of four minority reports, as a "middle road" through "complex and contentious" material.[20]
In 2010, as Minister of Revenue, Dunne introduced the Taxation (Income-sharing Tax Credit) Bill to Parliament in September 2010, to give effect to United Future's policy of allowing couples raising dependent children up to the age of 18 years to share their incomes for tax purposes. The Bill was referred to a select committee and was reported back to Parliament in March 2011, but never had a second reading. In April 2011, the government announced the establishment of a statutory Game Animal Council, another United Future initiative agreed to as part of the 2008 confidence and supply agreement.
Dunne has long argued for reform of the superannuation system, proposing a flexible system where people could retire earlier and receive less, or later and receive more.[21]
During the fifth National government's second term (2011–14), Dunne was reappointed Minister of Revenue and Associate Minister of Health, and gained an additional appointment as Associate Minister of Conservation. With the Government majority reduced, Dunne held the balance of power for more than ten pieces of legislation in that term,[22] including the Government's asset-sales plan.[23]
As Associate Minister of Health, Dunne had responsibility for drugs, mental health and suicide prevention. He was responsible for the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013, which established a regulated market for psychoactive substances, and New Zealand's National Drug Policy released in 2015. In 2015–17 he made moves to make cannabis-based medicines more available to New Zealanders.
As Minister of Internal Affairs between 2014 and 2017 Dunne extended the term of the New Zealand passport from 5 years to 10 years and led the development of an integrated national fire and emergency service, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, to replace the New Zealand Fire Service and the separate Rural Fire Service. He also oversaw the He Tohu project which saw three of New Zealand's most precious constitutional documents – the 1835 Declaration of Independence, the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, and the 1893 Women's Suffrage petition – rehoused in a purpose-built facility at the National Library.[24]
Resignation and reinstatement
In mid-2013 Dunne refused to hand over all 86 emails between himself and
On 28 January 2014, Dunne was reinstated to the Executive as Minister of Internal Affairs, Associate Minister of Health, and Associate Minister of Conservation. He retained his portfolios on 29 September 2014, after the 2014 general election, in the third term of the National Party-led government.
Party registration status
On 31 May 2013 the New Zealand Electoral Commission de-registered the United Future Party at their request, following concerns the party no longer had the requisite 500 members.[27] This meant Dunne was no longer the leader of a political party and was denied more than $180,000 in funding he had previously been allocated as a party leader.[2] The Electoral Commission re-registered United Future as a political party on 13 August 2013. The Speaker of the House, David Carter, restored Dunne's position as leader of a recognised Parliamentary party and re-allocated party funding in late August 2013.
Honours and awards
In 1990, Dunne was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[6] In the 2018 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a member of Parliament.[28]
Political philosophy
Dunne supported
From 2007, Dunne rebranded
Dunne supports a
Political publications
- Dunne, Peter (2002). Home is Where My Heart Is. Wellington, [N.Z.]: United Future New Zealand. ISBN 0-473-08433-3.
- Dunne, Peter (2005). In the Centre of Things. Wellington, [N.Z.]: Dunmore Press / United Future New Zealand. ISBN 1-877399-03-5.
References
- The Dominion Post. Retrieved 17 October 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "United Future loses party funding – National – NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "Dunne, Lotu-liga sworn in | Radio New Zealand News". Radionz.co.nz. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "New Zealand Election 2017 – United Future leader Peter Dunne quits". 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ Dangers around early voting outlined as more Kiwis jump on trend
- ^ ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ a b Pryor, Nicole. "Rare stumble by political chameleon". The Press. p. A16. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ Tunnah, Helen (3 November 2003). "Art of compromise at coalition party conference". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "Mr Boring? What about my bow-ties? – National". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-877473-97-5. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ "All Labour's 29 MPs get areas of responsibility". Otago Daily Times. 28 November 1990. p. 4.
- ^ Goulter, John (12 October 1994). "Dunne turns back on Labour". The Evening Post. p. 1.
- ^ Edwards, Brent (15 October 1994). "'Join us', Nat MP tells Dunne". The Evening Post. p. 2.
- ^ Edwards, Brent (28 June 1995). "MPs Jump Ship - Seven Quit for United Party". The Evening Post. p. 1.
- ^ Small, Vernon (28 July 2014). "Let's just talk politics and skip brewing up the pot". Stuff. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "Brash: I had the 57 votes". The New Zealand Herald. 19 October 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ "Dunne post lifts optimism". The New Zealand Herald. 19 October 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ "Official Count Results -- Overall Status". Archived from the original on 9 February 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ "Key's Government". The New Zealand Herald. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ^ NZPA (31 August 2009). "Report on emissions trading scheme review released". 3 News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
Committee chair Peter Dunne today described the resulting report as a 'middle road' through some 'complex and contentious' material.
- ^ "Peter Dunne slams retirement report | Politics | Newshub". 3news.co.nz. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "MP who often has the last word – National – NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "Labour blames Dunne for close vote". 3 News NZ. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ^ The He Tohu information page of the NZ National Library https://natlib.govt.nz/he-tohu
- ^ "Peter Dunne resigns as minister". 3 News NZ. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ "Dunne speaks out over 'unacceptable' Henry inquiry". TVNZ. 3 December 2013.
- ^ "United Future's registration cancelled". 3 News NZ. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2018". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- Scoop (news website). 16 June 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ "For Queen or Country?: New Zealand Listener – March 2005". Retrieved 2 August 2006.
- ^ "New Zealand Day Bill" (PDF). justice.govt.nz. 28 October 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
External links
- Profile on New Zealand Parliament website