Steve Maharey

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Hon. Steve Maharey
Steve Maharey

Hon. Steve Maharey
Minister for Research, Science and Technology
In office
December 2004[1] – 31st October 2007[2]
Prime Minister Helen Clark
Succeeded by Pete Hodgson
Constituency Palmerston North, since 1990
Minister for Education
In office
October 2005[3] – 31st October 2007[2]
Prime Minister Helen Clark
Preceded by Trevor Mallard,David Benson-Pope
Succeeded by Chris Carter
Born 3 February 1953 (1953-02-03) (age 55)
Palmerston North, Flag of New Zealand New Zealand
Political party Labour
Profession Lecturer

Steven (Steve) Maharey (born 3 February 1953) is a current New Zealand Member of Parliament for Palmerston North, as a member of the governing Labour Party. He is to leave politics and the party before the next general election to become the Vice-Chancellor at Massey University.[4]

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.[2]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Maharey was born in Palmerston North. After gaining an MA in sociology, 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.

[edit] Palmerston North City Councillor

Between 1986 and 1989, Maharey served on the Palmerston North City Council.

[edit] Member of Parliament

Parl. Electorate List Pos. Party
43rd Palmerston North Labour
44th Palmerston North Labour
45th Palmerston North none Labour
46th Palmerston North 3 Labour
47th Palmerston North 4 Labour
48th Palmerston North 4 Labour

In the 1990 election, Maharey stood as the Labour's party candidate for Palmerston North replacing incumbent MP Trevor de Cleene, and was elected to Parliament. As of 2006, he continues to hold that seat.

[edit] 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, 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 is officially ranked fourth in the Cabinet hierarchy.

[edit] Political views

Maharey is the most prominent advocate within the Labour Party for the so-called "Third Way" approach, similar to that of Tony Blair in the United Kingdom. Maharey is often considered to be one of the more significant political theorists within the government.

Maharey's role in the Labour Party is one of the most aggressive 'attack dogs', best projected by his regular commentaries.

[edit] Controversies

While fellow colleague John Tamihere 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.[5] The New Zealand Herald quoted several exchanges between the two verbatim that were alleged to have occurred by Rankin.[6] The court did not uphold Rankin's claims.

In April 2007, Maharey came under criticism for saying 'fuck you' in parliamentary question time on April 4th.[7] 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.' [8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Cullen gets Attorney General role", TVNZ, 20 December 2004. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  2. ^ a b c New Zealand Government (31 October 2007). "Ministerial List for Announcement on 31 October 2007" (DOC). Press release.
  3. ^ "Clark announces cabinet portfolios", TVNZ, 19 October 2005. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  4. ^ Claire Trevett. "Maharey quitting Cabinet to join University", New Zealand Herald, 19 October 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-19. 
  5. ^ Letter No.149. The Jobs Letter (16 July 2001). Retrieved on 2007-10-19.
  6. ^ Vernon Small and Francesca Mold. "[Officials planned to lie says Rankin", New Zealand Herald, June 26, 2001. Retrieved on 2007-10-19. 
  7. ^ Audrey Young. "A couple of quick words from the Minister ... whoops", New Zealand Herald, 5 April 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-19. 
  8. ^ Radio New Zealand—Ministerial Process. Parliament of New Zealand (Hansard) (4 April 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-19.
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