Ron Mark

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = His Worship The Honourable

|name = Ron Mark

|image = Ron Mark, 2018.jpg

| order = 40th Minister of Defence

| term_start = 26 October 2017

| term_end = 6 November 2020

| primeminister = Jacinda Ardern

| predecessor = Mark Mitchell

| successor = Peeni Henare

|constituency_MP2 = New Zealand First list

|parliament2 = New Zealand

|term_start2 = 20 September 2014

|term_end2 = 17 October 2020

|term_start3 = 12 October 1996

|term_end3 = 8 November 2008

|office4 = Mayor of Carterton District

|term_start4 = 8 October 2022

|predecessor4 = Greg Lang

|term_start5 = 9 October 2010

|term_end5 = September 2014

|predecessor5 = Gary McPhee

|successor5 = John Booth

| office6 = 4th Deputy Leader of New Zealand First

| president6 =

| leader6 = Winston Peters

| term_start6 = 3 July 2015

| term_end6 = 27 February 2018

| predecessor6 = Tracey Martin

| successor6 = Fletcher Tabuteau

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|01|29|df=y}}

|birth_place = Masterton, New Zealand

|death_date =

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|nationality = New Zealand

|party = Labour (1990–1993)
New Zealand First (1996–present)

|otherparty =

|spouse = {{ubl|Gail Mark (separated)|Christine Tracey (current)}}

|partner =

|relations =

|children = 5

|residence =

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|occupation = Business owner/operator

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|allegiance = {{flag|New Zealand}}
{{flag|Oman}}

|branch = New Zealand Army
Sultan's Special Forces

|serviceyears = 1971–1986; 1985–1990

|rank = Captain

|unit = Multinational Force and Observers

|commands =

|battles =

|mawards = New Zealand Operational Service Medal
New Zealand General Service Medal (Sinai)
New Zealand Defence Service Medal
Multinational Service Medal and Bar
Order of the Special Royal Emblem for expatriate officers
The Oman Peace Medal
The Glorious Fifteenth National Day Medal

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Ron Stanley Mark (born 29 January 1954) is a New Zealand politician of the New Zealand First party, and former soldier, who served as Minister of Defence between October 2017 and November 2020. He served as mayor of Carterton from 2010 to 2014, and again from 2022 defeating incumbent Greg Lang.{{Cite web |date=9 October 2022 |title=Three new mayors in Wairarapa |url=https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=147966 |url-status=live|archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008043301/https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=147966|access-date=9 October 2022}}

Early life and family

Mark was born in Masterton on 29 January 1954, the son of Apiti Stanley Maaka and Te Aroha Maaka (née Grace).{{cite journal |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Alister |editor-link=Alister Taylor |title=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 |journal=New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa |year=2001 |publisher=Alister Taylor Publishers |location=Auckland |issn=1172-9813 |pages=577–578}} He was fostered with six Pākehā foster families in Pahiatua, saying "I wouldn’t have survived without them".*{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123132000/election-2020-ron-mark-one-of-parliaments-colourful-characters-bows-out-after-six-terms |title= Ron Mark one of parliament's colourful characters bows out after six terms |publisher=Stuff/Fairfax |date=20 October 2020}} He was educated at Tararua College from 1968 to 1970. Mark's first wife was Gail (née Berry) Mark, and the couple had four children. On 12 February 2012, Mark told The New Zealand Herald that his partner of seven years, Christine Tracey, had made a leap year proposal.{{Cite news |last=Shuttleworth |first=Kate |date=12 February 2012 |title=Leap year proposal for mayor |work=The New Zealand Herald |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/leap-year-proposal-for-mayor/SLMQVE4QQXIS4HSGXYQDMWCXXE/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816035151/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/leap-year-proposal-for-mayor/SLMQVE4QQXIS4HSGXYQDMWCXXE/ |archive-date=16 August 2023}} Marama Fox, formerly a Māori Party MP, is a cousin of Mark.{{cite web |title=Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Amendment Bill — First Reading – New Zealand Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nz/mi/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/51HansD_20160302_00000016/papawai-and-kaikokirikiri-trusts-amendment-bill-first |website=www.parliament.nz |access-date=10 September 2021 |language=en |quote=Although looking at some of my cousins, cousin Marama, we seem to share the same affliction—height disadvantage and not being able to see.}}

Military and professional careers

Mark pursued a military career between 1971 and 1990, initially serving in the New Zealand Army. His first unit was the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers before moving to 2/1 Battalion, 3 and 10 Tpt Regiments and Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles before passing New Zealand Special Air Service selection.{{cite web |title=Hon Ron Mark |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/biography/ron-mark |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220041034/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/biography/ron-mark |archive-date=20 February 2020}} Mark served a 13-month tour of duty in the Sinai with the Multinational Force and Observers in 1982–83. After being refused entry into the NZSAS, he was contracted to the Sultanate of Oman as a technical staff officer from 1985 to 1986, and then joined the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces becoming an electrical and mechanical engineering officer in the Sultan's Special Force Electrical and Mechanical Engineers between 1986 and 1990.

Between 1990 and 1996, Mark was a commercial consultant, ran an import and export business, and was an amusement park operator.

Member of Parliament, 1996–2008

{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|1996}}|end=1999|party=New Zealand First|electorate=List|term=45th|list=11}}

{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|1999}}|end=2002|party=New Zealand First|electorate=List|term=46th|list=4}}

{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2002}}|end=2005|party=New Zealand First|electorate=List|term=47th|list=4}}

{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2005}}|end=2008|party=New Zealand First|electorate=List|term=48th|list=4}}

{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2014}}|end=2017|party=New Zealand First|electorate=List|term=51st|list=9}}

{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2017}}|end=2020|party=New Zealand First|electorate=List|term=52nd|list=2}}

In the 1993 election he was the Labour candidate for the Selwyn electorate. He was later involved in the discussions about the formation of the New Zealand Democratic Coalition.{{cite news |last=Clifton|first=Jane |title=Moore closer to break with Labour |work=The Sunday Star-Times |date=3 March 1996 |page=A2 }}

When these failed, he joined New Zealand First.

He was a list MP from the 1996 election until his party's failure to retain any seats in the 2008 election. During the (1996–98) coalition between New Zealand First and the National Party, he was the government's Senior Whip.{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Hon Ron Mark Former Member |url=https://www.parliament.nz/mi/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/mark-ron/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107221929if_/https://www.parliament.nz/mi/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/mark-ron/ |archive-date=7 January 2023 |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=New Zealand Parliament Pāremata Aotearoa}}

The New Zealand television channel TV3 was banned for three days from filming in Parliament in August 2006 for showing Mark repeatedly giving the finger to another MP.{{cite news |title=TV3 punished for showing finger gesture |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10398444 |work= The New Zealand Herald |date= 28 August 2006 |access-date= 12 December 2011}}

In 2009, Mark told media that while he still had a subscription with New Zealand First, he was "not active", and that he would not rule out standing for Parliament with another party.{{cite news |title= Ron Mark turns back on NZ First |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10584840 |work= The New Zealand Herald |date= 16 July 2009 |access-date= 17 July 2009}}

Mayor of Carterton, 2010–2014

In 2010, Mark was elected Mayor of Carterton in the Wairarapa. He succeeded outspoken mayor Gary McPhee who retired after two terms.{{cite news |last=Katterns |first=Tanya |title=Carterton mayor off with a bang |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/local-elections-2010/4217367/Carterton-mayor-off-with-a-bang |access-date=20 September 2013 |work=Stuff |date=11 October 2010}} In the 2013 local elections, Mark was returned as mayor unopposed.{{cite web |url= http://cartertondc.co.nz/sites/default/files/2013_Local_Government_Elections_Nominations.doc |title= 2013 Local Government Elections Nominations |publisher=Carterton District Council |access-date= 20 September 2013}}

Return to Parliament, 2014–2020

=Fourth term, 2014–2017=

Mark stood as a New Zealand First candidate at the 2014 general election, finishing third in the Wairarapa electorate.{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Caleb |title=Bittersweet return for Mark |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wairarapa/10527098/Bittersweet-return-for-Mark |work=The Dominion POst |access-date=25 January 2019 |date=21 September 2014}} However, his ninth placing on the New Zealand First list saw him returned to Parliament, and he resigned as Mayor of Carterton, and was replaced by John Booth.

When the new Parliament was sworn in on 20 October 2014, Mark was one of two MPs nominated for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives. He received 13 votes, coming second to incumbent Speaker David Carter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features-pre-2016/document/00NZPHomeNews201410201/election-and-confirmation-of-speaker|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218062749if_/https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features-pre-2016/document/00NZPHomeNews201410201/election-and-confirmation-of-speaker|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2022|title = Election and confirmation of Speaker – New Zealand Parliament}}

In Parliament, Mark was noted for being critical of attacks on private military contractors like himself, and critical of what he considered terrorist organizations like the African National Congress and those who fought against the government of Southern Rhodesia.{{cite news|publisher=North & South|date=2021-11-26|title=Hired Guns|url=https://northandsouth.co.nz/2021/11/26/new-zealand-private-soldiers-afghanistan-iraq/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/51HansS_20141209_00001059/mark-ron-countering-terrorist-fighters-legislation-bill|date=2014-12-09|title=Hansard, 09 December 2014. Volume:702;Page:1242}}

On 3 July 2015, he replaced Tracey Martin as deputy leader of New Zealand First.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Nicholas |title=Ron Mark new NZ First deputy leader |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11475210 |access-date=3 July 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=3 July 2015}}

In November 2015, Mark told National MP Melissa Lee to Go Back to Korea in parliament.{{cite web | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/73722468/nz-first-mp-ron-mark-denies-racism-over-go-back-to-korea-jibe | title=NZ First MP Ron Mark denies racism over 'go back to Korea' jibe | date=5 November 2015 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/288959/mark-tells-lee-%27go-back-to-korea%27 | title=Mark tells Lee: 'Go back to Korea' | website=Radio New Zealand | date=5 November 2015 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201777626/politicans-slam-ron-mark-for-go-back-to-korea-comments | title={{as written|Polit|icans [sic]}} slam Ron Mark for go back to Korea comments | website=Radio New Zealand | date=6 November 2015 }}

=Fifth term, 2017–2020=

During the {{NZ election link|2017}}, Mark contested Wairarapa, finishing third place.{{cite web |title=Wairarapa – Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-58.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117212934/http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-58.html |archive-date=17 January 2020 |url-status=live}} However, he was re-elected into Parliament on New Zealand First's party list.{{cite web |title=2017 General Election – Official Result Successful Candidates |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/successful-candidates.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117212450/http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/successful-candidates.html |archive-date=17 January 2020 |url-status=live}}

Following the 2017 general election, Mark was appointed Minister of Defence and Veterans following the formation of a coalition government consisting of the Labour Party, New Zealand First, and the Green Party.{{cite web|title=Ministerial List|url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/ministers-and-their-portfolios/ministerial-list|publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=26 October 2017}} Mark was succeeded as New Zealand First deputy leader by Fletcher Tabuteau on 27 February 2018.{{cite news|last=Moir|first=Jo|title=NZ First appoints Fletcher Tabuteau as its new deputy leader – rolling Ron Mark|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101801802/NZ-First-appoints-Fletcher-Tabuteau-as-its-new-deputy-leader-rolling-Ron-Mark|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=27 February 2018|access-date=27 February 2018}}

During the 2020 general election held on 17 October, Mark contested the Wairarapa electorate, coming third place behind Labour's candidate Kieran McAnulty and National's candidate Mike Butterick.{{cite web |title=Wairarapa – Official Result |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-58.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=3 November 2020 }} He and his fellow NZ First MPs lost their seats after the party's vote dropped to 2.6%, below the five percent threshold needed to enter Parliament.{{cite web |title=2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/ |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=6 November 2020 }}{{cite news |last1=Owen |first1=Catrin |title=Election 2020: Who are the MPs ejected from Parliament? |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300135635/election-2020-who-are-the-mps-ejected-from-parliament |access-date=19 October 2020 |work=Stuff |date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019221802/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300135635/election-2020-who-are-the-mps-ejected-from-parliament |archive-date=19 October 2020|url-status=live}}

On 9 November 2020, Mark was granted retention of the title "The Honourable" for life, in recognition of his term as a member of the Executive Council.{{cite news |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2020-vr5185 |title=Retention of the title "The Honourable" |date=10 November 2020 |work=New Zealand Gazette |access-date=10 November 2020}}

After politics, 2020–present

Mark and other former New Zealand First MPs were approached by the media ahead of the party's AGM in June 2021. He said that he would not be attending the meeting or renewing his party membership, as he was finished with politics and not interested in returning to Parliament.{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Henry |title=Winston Peters is returning to the spotlight, but can he return to Parliament? |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300336602/winston-peters-is-returning-to-the-spotlight-but-can-he-return-to-parliament |access-date=20 June 2021 |agency=Stuff |date=20 June 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=Derek |title=New Zealand First, Winston Peters and election 2023: Should he stay or should he go? |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/new-zealand-first-winston-peters-and-election-2023-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/OUDU2CCXPPNL2ORTUBRT5XTJK4/ |access-date=20 June 2021 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=20 June 2021}} Mark travelled to Ukraine to assist with humanitarian efforts during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite news |title=Former New Zealand Defence Minister Ron Mark in Ukraine providing humanitarian aid |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/05/former-new-zealand-defence-minister-ron-mark-in-ukraine-providing-humanitarian-aid.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511222002/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/05/former-new-zealand-defence-minister-ron-mark-in-ukraine-providing-humanitarian-aid.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 May 2022 |access-date=10 June 2022}}

=Mayor of Carterton, 2022–present=

Mark was re-elected as Mayor of Carterton in the 2022 New Zealand local elections.{{Cite web |date=15 December 2022 |title=Your Mayor & Councillors |url=https://cdc.govt.nz/your-council/your-mayor-and-councillors/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230107223212/https://cdc.govt.nz/your-council/your-mayor-and-councillors/ |archive-date=7 January 2023 |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=Te Kaunihera-ā-Rohe o Taratahi Carterton District Council}} He ran on a campaign for more scrutiny of council operations to avoid previous "cost blowouts", also drawing attention to what he described as "some political parties...pushing for central control over everything, whether by asset stripping first or imposing more and more legislative requirements".{{cite news |title=Ron Mark throws hat in ring to be Carterton mayor again |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/472774/ron-mark-throws-hat-in-ring-to-be-carterton-mayor-again |access-date=15 August 2022 |work=RNZ |date=12 August 2022 |language=en-nz}} He later clarified his concerns that this was [an]..."ideological drive to centralise and put everything under the control of the government", citing the Three Waters reform programme as an example of this "collectivism".{{Cite web |date=10 October 2023 |title=NZ 'pushing back' against Govt policies, Carterton's mayor says |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/10/10/nz-pushing-back-against-govt-policies-cartertons-mayor-says/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107230326if_/https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/10/10/nz-pushing-back-against-govt-policies-cartertons-mayor-says/ |archive-date=7 January 2023 |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=1News}} Mark also expressed some concerns about the voting process due to high numbers of people not receiving their voting papers, or votes going missing in the mail, stating that "constitutionally...[this]...is open to questioning by every court of law."{{Cite news |last=Ireland |first=Emily |date=10 October 2022 |title=Ron hits the right mark |work=Wairarapa Times-Age |url=https://times-age.co.nz/ron-hits-the-right-mark/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107225549if_/https://times-age.co.nz/ron-hits-the-right-mark/ |archive-date=7 January 2023}}

In August 2023, Mark expressed concern that a government review recommending that New Zealand's 67 city and district councils and 11 regional councils be reorganised into 15 regional groupings could "to a more centralised socialist viewpoint, disempowering our people." While serving as Mayor of Carterton between 2010 and 2014, Mark had supported the amalgamation of local government bodies.{{Cite web |last=Milne |first=Jonathan |date=4 August 2023 |title=Wairarapa communities light the way for new era of local council mergers |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/wairarapa-communities-light-the-way-for-new-era-of-local-council-mergers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806191445/https://www.newsroom.co.nz/wairarapa-communities-light-the-way-for-new-era-of-local-council-mergers |archive-date=6 August 2023 |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=Newsroom}}{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Nick |date=9 August 2023 |title=Ron Mark: I don't know how Carterton will survive unless we amalgamate |url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/ron-mark-calls-for-the-amalgamation-of-wairarapa-councils/ |format=audio|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810001435/https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/ron-mark-calls-for-the-amalgamation-of-wairarapa-councils/ |archive-date=10 August 2023 |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=NewstalkZB}} In April 2021, the Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta had commissioned a review into the future of local government in New Zealand.{{Cite web |date=23 April 2021 |title=Te Arotake i te Anamata mō Ngā Kaunihera Review into the Future for Local Government |url=https://www.dia.govt.nz/Future-for-Local-Government-Review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509143746/https://www.dia.govt.nz/Future-for-Local-Government-Review |archive-date=9 May 2021 |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs}} A draft report was released on 28 October 2022 while the final report was released in July 2023.{{Cite web |last=Mahuta |first=Nanaia |date=28 October 2022 |title=Local government review panel releases independent draft report |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/local-government-review-panel-releases-independent-draft-report |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028045306/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/local-government-review-panel-releases-independent-draft-report |archive-date=28 October 2022 |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=Beehive.govt.nz}}{{Cite web |last1=Palmer |first1=Jim |last2=Hulse |first2=Penny |last3=Coffin |first3=Antoine |last4=Surgenor |first4=Gael |last5=Boyle |first5=Brendan |display-authors=1 |date=July 2023 |title=He piki tūranga, he piki kōtuku: The future for local government |url=https://www.futureforlocalgovernment.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/DIA_17168_Te-Arotake_Final-report_17_DIGITAL.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711054350/https://www.futureforlocalgovernment.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/DIA_17168_Te-Arotake_Final-report_17_DIGITAL.pdf |archive-date=11 July 2023 |access-date=16 August 2023}}

In early July 2024, Mayor Mark urged other local councils to consider amalgamating into larger entities due to the financial costs of the Sixth National Government's "Local Water Done Well" programme, stating "there was no room for "fiefdoms doing their own thing in the future." Mayor of South Wairarapa Martin Connelly expressed disagreement with Mark, saying that "it is far too early to know what the long-term effects will be."{{cite news |last1=Ireland |first1=Emily |title=Ron Mark: Small councils 'won't survive' Govt water reform changes |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/07/03/ron-mark-small-councils-wont-survive-govt-water-reform-changes/ |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=1News |date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914004517/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/07/03/ron-mark-small-councils-wont-survive-govt-water-reform-changes/ |archive-date=14 September 2024|url-status=live}}

=Waitangi Tribunal=

In mid January 2025, Mark was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal by Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka.{{cite news |last1=McConnell |first1=Glenn |title=Minister overhauls Waitangi Tribunal membership |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360551546/minister-overhauls-waitangi-tribunal-membership |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Stuff |date=17 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118102846/https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360551546/minister-overhauls-waitangi-tribunal-membership |archive-date=18 January 2025}}