| The Honourable Harry Duynhoven |
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|---|---|
| Mayor of New Plymouth | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Tennent |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for New Plymouth |
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| In office 1987 – 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Friedlander |
| Succeeded by | John Armstrong |
| Majority | 5,439 (16.5%) [1] |
| In office 1993 – 2008 |
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| Preceded by | John Armstrong |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Young |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1955 (age 56–57) New Plymouth |
| Nationality | Netherlands New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Profession | Electrician |
Harry James Duynhoven QSO is a New Zealand politician. He is the current mayor of the city of New Plymouth and surrounding districts. He assumed office in October 2010. He was a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party.
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Duynhoven was born in New Plymouth in 1955. He left Spotswood College at age sixteen to become an electrician, and eventually became technical teacher at the collegiate and polytechnic level.
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| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1987–1990 | 42nd | New Plymouth | Labour | |
| 1993–1996 | 44th | New Plymouth | Labour | |
| 1996–1999 | 45th | New Plymouth | none | Labour |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | New Plymouth | 29 | Labour |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | New Plymouth | none | Labour |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | New Plymouth | none | Labour |
Duynhoven entered Parliament in the 1987 elections, winning the New Plymouth seat from incumbent National Party MP, Tony Friedlander. In the 1990 elections, he lost the seat to National's John Armstrong, but won it back in the 1993 elections. In the 2008 election he lost to New Zealand National Party candidate, Jonathan Young by 105 votes,[1] the smallest margin in the election.[2]
In 2003, it was alleged that Duynhoven might have accidentally violated an electoral regulation, thus depriving him of his seat. This claim arose after Duynhoven applied to resume his citizenship of the Netherlands. His father was from the Netherlands, and Duynhoven had possessed citizenship from birth, but had temporarily lost it due to a change of Netherlands law. According to electoral law, applying for foreign citizenship would require Duynhoven to vacate his seat. The law was seen by many as misguided, however, and Duynhoven, with his huge majority, was almost certain to re-enter Parliament in the event of a by-election. As such, the government passed an act retroactively amending the law.
Duynhoven served as a Minister outside Cabinet of Helen Clark's Labour Government with the portfolio of Associate Minister of Transport, and later, Minister for Transport Safety and Associate Minister of Energy until his government's defeat. He did not stand as a party list candidate in the 2008 general election.
Duynhoven was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order in the 2012 New Year Honours, for services as a Member of Parliament.[3]
In October 2010, Duynhoven was elected Mayor of New Plymouth.[4]
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tony Friedlander |
Member of Parliament for New Plymouth 1987–1990 1993–2008 |
Succeeded by John Armstrong |
| Preceded by John Armstrong |
Succeeded by Jonathan Young |
|