David Carter (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable

| name = Sir David Carter

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|KNZM|size=100%}}

| image = David Carter 2014.jpg

| order2 = 29th Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives

| term_start2 = 31 January 2013

| term_end2 = 7 November 2017

| primeminister2 = John Key
Bill English
Jacinda Ardern

| predecessor2 = Lockwood Smith

| successor2 = Trevor Mallard

| order3 = 1st Minister for Primary Industries

| term_start3 = 14 December 2011

| term_end3 = 29 January 2013

| primeminister3 = John Key

| predecessor3 = Himself (portfolios merged)

| successor3 = Nathan Guy

| order4 = 15th Minister of Local Government

| term_start4 = 3 August 2012

| term_end4 = 29 January 2013

| primeminister4 = John Key

| predecessor4 = Nick Smith

| successor4 = Chris Tremain

| order5 = 33rd Minister of Agriculture

| term_start5 = 19 November 2008

| term_end5 = 14 December 2011

| primeminister5 = John Key

| predecessor5 = Jim Anderton

| successor5 = Himself as Minister for Primary Industries

| order6 = Minister for Biosecurity

| term_start6 = 19 November 2008

| term_end6 = 14 December 2011

| primeminister6 = John Key

| predecessor6 = Jim Anderton

| successor6 = Himself as Minister for Primary Industries

| order7 = 29th Minister for Forestry

| term_start7 = 19 November 2008

| term_end7 = 14 December 2011

| primeminister7 = John Key

| predecessor7 = Jim Anderton

| successor7 = Himself as Minister for Primary Industries

| order8 = 6th Minister for Senior Citizens

| term_start8 = 31 August 1998

| term_end8 = 10 December 1999

| primeminister8 = Jenny Shipley

| predecessor8 = Robyn McDonald

| successor8 = Lianne Dalziel

| constituency_MP9 = National Party List

| parliament9 = New Zealand

| majority9 =

| predecessor9 =

| successor9 =

| term_start9 = 1999

| term_end9 = 2020

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|4|3|df=y}}

| birth_place = Christchurch

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = New Zealand

| spouse =

| party = National Party

| relations = Maurice Carter (father)
Matt Doocey (nephew)

| children =

| residence =

| alma_mater = Lincoln University

| occupation = Farmer

| profession =

| religion =

| signature =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Sir David Cunningham Carter {{post-nominals|country=NZL|KNZM}} (born 3 April 1952) is a New Zealand National Party politician who served as the 29th Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017 and as a Cabinet Minister in the Fourth and Fifth National Governments. He represented the Selwyn electorate in the 44th Parliament and the Banks Peninsula electorate in the 45th Parliament. He served as a list MP from 1999 until he retired at the 2020 election.

Early life

Carter was born in Christchurch in 1952, the son of Merle and Maurice Carter.{{cite news |last1=Crean |first1=Mike |title=Maurice Carter leaves behind immense legacy |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4981210/Maurice-Carter-leaves-behind-immense-legacy |access-date=18 July 2020 |work=The Press |date=11 May 2011}} He attended St Bede's College, and has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree from Lincoln University. He has farmed sheep and cattle for over 30 years, and established the first commercial cattle-embryo transplant company in New Zealand in 1974.{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10540351 |title=Business backgrounds in short supply |last=Slade |first=Maria |date=3 November 2008 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=15 February 2010}}

Member of Parliament

{{NZ parlbox

|start=1994

|end=1996|term=44th|electorate=Selwyn|party=New Zealand National Party}}

{{NZ parlbox

|start={{NZ election link year|1996}}

|end=1999|term=45th|electorate=Banks Peninsula|list=41|party=New Zealand National Party}}

{{NZ parlbox

|start={{NZ election link year|1999}}

|end=2002|term=46th|electorate=List|list=21|party=New Zealand National Party}}

{{NZ parlbox

|start={{NZ election link year|2002}}

|end=2005|term=47th|electorate=List|list=4|party=New Zealand National Party}}

{{NZ parlbox

|start={{NZ election link year|2005}}

|end=2008|term=48th|electorate=List|list=8|party=New Zealand National Party}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 49th

|start = {{NZ election link year|2008}}

|end = 2011

|electorate = List

|party = New Zealand National Party

|list = 9

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|start = {{NZ election link year|2011}}

|end = 2014

|term = 50th

|electorate = List

|list = 10

|party = New Zealand National Party

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|start = {{NZ election link year|2014}}

|end = 2017

|term = 51st

|electorate = List

|list = 3

|party = New Zealand National Party

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|start = {{NZ election link year|2017}}

|end = 2020

|term = 52nd

|electorate = List

|list = 3

|party = New Zealand National Party

}}

Carter stood in the {{NZ electorate link|Lyttelton}} electorate in the {{NZ election link|1993}} as a successor to Gail McIntosh, but was defeated by Labour's Ruth Dyson.{{cite tech report |title=Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place |publisher=Chief Electoral Office |year=1993}} Carter was first elected to Parliament in the 1994 by-election in Selwyn, replacing the resigning Ruth Richardson. In the 1996 general election he won the Banks Peninsula electorate against Dyson. In the 1999 election he was defeated by Dyson, but entered Parliament as a list MP. In the 2002 election, he failed to recapture the seat and remained a list MP.

From 1998 until the National Party's defeat in 1999 Carter was Minister for Senior Citizens,"Appointment of Ministers" (1 September 1998) 131 New Zealand Gazette 3190. Associate Minister of Revenue, and Associate Minister for Food, Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control. At the very end of National's term in office, he was also Associate Minister of Education.

In 2008, Carter was initially chosen as the National candidate for the resurrected safe National seat of Selwyn, but opposition to this saw the National candidacy up for grabs again. He pulled out and the candidacy was eventually won by Amy Adams, who won the seat. Carter was given a high list placing of nine instead and did not contest an electorate.{{cite web |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/e9/html/e9_part3_1.html |title=Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties (2008) |publisher=Elections New Zealand |access-date=21 September 2011}}{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10494801 |title=National MP Carter steps aside |last=Trevett |first=Claire |date=27 February 2008 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=15 February 2010}} After National's election victory, he took the portfolios of Agriculture, Biosecurity and Forestry.{{cite press release |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10543509 |title=Key's Government |date=17 November 2008 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=15 February 2010}}

=Minister of Agriculture=

In May 2010, Carter issued a ban on kosher slaughter, rejecting the recommendations of his advisers.{{cite news |url= http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137759#.UIQtdGeJmSo |title=New Zealand Bans Kosher Slaughtering |date=30 May 2010 |access-date=21 October 2012 |last=Ben Gedalyahu |first=Tzvi | work=Arutz Sheva}} Carter held shares in a firm that exports meat, and prior to instituting the ban he met senior managers of the firm who wanted a ban on kosher slaughter to reduce their competition.{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10690598 |title=MP Carter makes quick u-turn |date=28 November 2010 |access-date=21 October 2012 |last=Fisher |first=David |work=The New Zealand Herald}}

=Minister of Primary Industries=

After the 2011 election, Carter was appointed Minister of the new Ministry of Primary Industries. In November 2012 he approved the increased squid fishery SQU6T by 140%, despite recommendations from scientists and the Department of Conservation that this would be detrimental to the endangered New Zealand sealion.{{cite news |title=Threat to sea lions ignored |first=Michael |last=Field |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7994729/Threat-to-sea-lions-ignored |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=25 November 2012 |access-date=23 January 2013}}

=Speaker of the House=

On 22 January 2013, the Prime Minister John Key{{cite press release|title=PM announces changes to Cabinet line-up|publisher=The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (of New Zealand)|date=22 January 2013|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-announces-changes-cabinet-line|access-date=3 February 2013}} announced that Carter was his preference to replace Lockwood Smith as Speaker of the House. Carter's appointment was not without controversy, and the Labour Party questioned whether he actually wanted the job.{{cite news|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Spat-over-Parliaments-next-Speaker/tabid/1607/articleID/284795/Default.aspx|work=3 News NZ|title=Labour: Carter wrong man for job|date=29 January 2013}}

As the opposition was not consulted as per convention, Trevor Mallard was nominated by Labour and the position was put to a vote on 31 January 2013. Carter won by 62 votes to 52.[http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/0/6/1/50HansD_20130131_00000004-Election-of-Speaker.htm Election of Speaker], parliament.nz, 31 January 2013; accessed 26 September 2017. Consistent with the tradition of newly elected speakers, Carter had to be "dragged to the chair" following the election.{{cite news |title=Carter elected Speaker of the House |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/national/politics/8246741/Carter-elected-Speaker-of-the-House |access-date=26 September 2017 |work=The Press |date=31 January 2013 |author=Fairfax NZ News reporters}}

The office of speaker entitles Carter to the title The Right Honourable following a reform of the New Zealand royal honours system in 2010."[http://www.dia.govt.nz/MSOS118/On-Line/NZGazette.nsf/6cee7698a9bbc7cfcc256d510059ed0b/ee67da2daf478626cc2577a7005ac355!OpenDocument Rules for the Grant, Use and Retention of the Title “The Right Honourable” in New Zealand]" (23 September 2010) 124 New Zealand Gazette 3251 at 3285.{{cite web|title=The Right Honourable|url=http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/overview/rthon|publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=31 January 2013}}

Carter cited his intention to continue as Speaker, "if that is the will of Parliament", as the basis for his decision to stand as a list-only candidate in the 2014 general election.{{cite web|title=Today in politics: Saturday, May 10|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10029974/Today-in-politics-Saturday-May-10|publisher=Stuff |date=10 May 2014|access-date=10 May 2013}}

On 10 November 2015, Carter controversially failed to acknowledge offence caused to significant numbers of Labour and Green MPs after John Key had accused them of "backing rapists" during a debate about the Christmas Island Detention Centre.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMWGkfTU7oU Speaker Rules on PM's "Rapist" Comments], youtube.com; accessed 26 September 2017. The following day, Carter silenced seven female MPs who stated that they were victims of sexual abuse and stood up to express personal offence to Key's statement, which they called on Key to apologise for. Carter ruled that the manner in which they stood to address the house was contrary to the House's standing orders and dismissed several of the seven; the remainder walked out.{{cite news|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/newsworthy/the-consequences-of-speaking-up-2015111119|title=A Disgraceful Day in Parliament|publisher=TV3 News|date=11 November 2015|access-date=12 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127044944/http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/newsworthy/the-consequences-of-speaking-up-2015111119|archive-date=27 January 2016|url-status=dead}}

On 11 May 2016, Carter dismissed the Prime Minister, John Key, from the debating chamber. Key had ignored several of the Speaker's warnings about behaviour contrary to the standing orders. Carter stated, "He is to be treated no differently to any other in this house".{{cite news |title=New Zealand PM thrown out of parliament |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36264258 |access-date=12 May 2020 |work=BBC News |date=11 May 2016}}

=In opposition, 2017–2020=

Carter was returned as an MP through the National Party list in the 2017 election.{{cite web |title=2017 General Election – Official Result Successful Candidates |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/successful-candidates.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=19 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610041429/https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/successful-candidates.html |archive-date=10 June 2020 |url-status=live}} Following the election, a Labour-led coalition government was formed with the support of the New Zealand First and Green parties.{{cite news |url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/10/full-video-nz-first-leader-winston-peters-announces-next-government.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019164112/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/10/full-video-nz-first-leader-winston-peters-announces-next-government.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2017 |title=Full video: NZ First leader Winston Peters announces next Government |author=Chapman, Grant |date=19 October 2017 |work=Newshub |access-date=19 October 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/10/an-historic-moment-for-the-green-party-james-shaw.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019163305/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/10/an-historic-moment-for-the-green-party-james-shaw.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2017 |title=An 'historic moment' for the Green Party – James Shaw |author=Hurley, Emma |date=19 October 2017 |work=Newshub |access-date=19 October 2017}} Carter was succeeded as Speaker by Labour MP Trevor Mallard, who assumed the position on 7 November 2017.{{cite news |title=Trevor Mallard sworn in as Speaker |date=7 November 2017 |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/11/trevor-mallard-sworn-in-as-speaker.html |access-date=12 May 2020 |work=Newshub |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210084704/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/11/trevor-mallard-sworn-in-as-speaker.html|archive-date=10 December 2019|url-status=dead}}

In mid-October 2018, Carter confirmed that he along with fellow National MP Chris Finlayson would retire before the next general election. Carter denied that his resignation came as a result of a secret tape by National Party leader Simon Bridges suggesting that Finlayson should resign in order to clear the way for newer National MPs.{{cite news|last1=Cooke|first1=Henry|last2=Devlin|first2=Collette|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107924432/chris-finlayson-and-david-carter-to-leave-parliament-by-next-election |title=Chris Finlayson and David Carter to leave Parliament by next election |work=Stuff |date=17 October 2018 |access-date=3 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044234/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107924432/chris-finlayson-and-david-carter-to-leave-parliament-by-next-election |archive-date=6 March 2019 |url-status=live }}

In late July 2020, Carter submitted a private member's bill seeking to repeal the Labour-led government's Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act 2018. The bill passed its first reading and was referred to the justice select committee.{{cite web |title=Electoral (Integrity Repeal) Amendment Bill — First Reading |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20200729_20200729_28 |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813082531/https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20200729_20200729_28 |archive-date=13 August 2020 |date=29 July 2020 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=2020-07-29|title=Dead rat spat back up: Green Party vote to repeal waka jumping law with National, infuriating Winston Peters|url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300069404/dead-rat-spat-back-up-green-party-vote-to-repeal-waka-jumping-law-with-national-infuriating-winston-peters |access-date=2020-08-02|work=Stuff|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420073358/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300069404/dead-rat-spat-back-up-green-party-vote-to-repeal-waka-jumping-law-with-national-infuriating-winston-peters|archive-date=2021-04-20}} Following the bill's first reading, Carter indicated that he would retire at the 2020 New Zealand general election. Carter's private member bill was assigned to fellow National MP Nick Smith.{{cite web |author1=New Zealand National Party |title=Waka-jumping Repeal Bill Passes First Reading |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2007/S00305/waka-jumping-repeal-bill-passes-first-reading.htm |publisher=Scoop |access-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331030031/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2007/S00305/waka-jumping-repeal-bill-passes-first-reading.htm |archive-date=31 March 2021 |date=30 July 2020 |url-status=live}}

Post-parliament

File:David Carter investiture as KNZM.jpg by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, at Government House, Wellington, on 5 May 2021]]

In the 2021 New Year Honours, Carter was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives.{{cite web |date=31 December 2020 |title=New Year honours list 2021 |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2021 |access-date=8 May 2021 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet}}

Following his retirement from parliament, Carter was elected to the National Party's Board of Directors on 21 November 2020. He challenged Peter Goodfellow for the role of President but was unsuccessful.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/peter-goodfellow-retains-national-presidency-former-mp-joins-board/BMJU5EDII4K5P5OKFG7RAAU2UE/ |title=Peter Goodfellow retains National presidency – former MP joins board |date=21 November 2020 |work=The New Zealand Herald |first=Jason |last=Walls}} On 8 August 2021 he resigned from the board after another unsuccessful challenge to Goodfellow. He stated that he has "zero confidence" in Goodfellow, criticising the alleged "dysfunctional governance" of the party and lack of money to run a suitable campaign.{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Thomas |title=Peter Goodfellow re-elected National Party president |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/peter-goodfellow-re-elected-national-party-president/3XRRVESKESPB3ROOYACF4C3HNI/ |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=8 August 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809044135/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/peter-goodfellow-re-elected-national-party-president/3XRRVESKESPB3ROOYACF4C3HNI/|archive-date=9 August 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Jane |title=David Carter resigns from National Party board with 'zero confidence' in Goodfellow |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/448747/david-carter-resigns-from-national-party-board-with-zero-confidence-in-goodfellow |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=8 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809044807/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/448747/david-carter-resigns-from-national-party-board-with-zero-confidence-in-goodfellow|archive-date=9 August 2021|url-status=live}}

In August 2024, Carter became chair of the Canterbury A&P Association board.{{cite web |last=Gill |first=Sinead |date=12 August 2024 |title=Sir David Carter elected onto Canterbury A&P Association board |url=https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350373489/sir-david-carter-elected-canterbury-ap-association-board |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=The Press }}{{cite web |last=Cronshaw |first=Tim |date=28 August 2024 |title=Carter determined to rebuild show |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-events/carter-determined-rebuild-show |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=Otago Daily Times }}{{cite web |last=Burns |first=Adam |date=14 November 2024 |title=Scaled-back Christchurch A&P Show hopes to attract up to 60,000 over three days |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/533799/scaled-back-christchurch-a-and-p-show-hopes-to-attract-up-to-60-000-over-three-days |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=RNZ }}

References

External links

[http://davidcarter.co.nz/ David Carter MP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912002119/http://www.davidcarter.co.nz/ |date=12 September 2014 }} official site
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141105023031/https://www.national.org.nz/team/mps/detail/david.carter.speaker Profile] at National Party
{{MPLinksNZ | parliament = mps/current/51MP171/carter-david | beehive = david-carter | theywork = david_carter }}

{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for Selwyn|years=1994–1996}}

{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for Banks Peninsula| years=1996–1999}}

{{s-ttl | title = Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives|years=2013–2017}}

{{s-ttl | title = Minister for Senior Citizens |years=1998–1999}}