| The Honourable Steve Maharey CNZM |
|
|---|---|
| Hon. Steve Maharey | |
| Minister for Research, Science and Technology | |
| In office December 2004[1] – 31 October 2007[2] |
|
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Pete Hodgson |
| 42nd Minister of Education | |
| In office October 2005[3] – 31 October 2007[2] |
|
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| Preceded by | Trevor Mallard, David Benson-Pope |
| Succeeded by | Chris Carter |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Palmerston North |
|
| In office 1990–2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Trevor de Cleene |
| Succeeded by | Iain Lees-Galloway |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 February 1953 Palmerston North, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Profession | Lecturer |
Steven "Steve" Maharey CNZM (born 3 February 1953) is a former Member of Parliament for Palmerston North in New Zealand, as a member of the Labour Party. He left politics and the party before the 2008 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]
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Maharey was born in Palmerston North in 1952, the son of William Maharey and his wife Irene. He attended Freyberg High School in 1966–1969. After gaining an MA in sociology from Palmerston North's Massey University (1972–1976), he was a lecturer at that institution from 1978, teaching both sociology and business administration. His particular speciality within sociology was media studies.[5]
Maharey served one term on the Palmerston North City Council (1986–1989).[5]
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| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1990–1993 | 43rd | Palmerston North | Labour | |
| 1993–1996 | 44th | Palmerston North | Labour | |
| 1996–1999 | 45th | Palmerston North | none | Labour |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | Palmerston North | 3 | Labour |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | Palmerston North | 4 | Labour |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | Palmerston North | 5 | Labour |
In the 1990 election, Maharey stood as the Labour Party candidate for Palmerston North, replacing retiring MP Trevor de Cleene, and was elected to Parliament.[5] After Maharey left the Labour party, Iain Lees-Galloway successfully held the seat for Labour in the 2008 election.
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 was officially ranked fourth in the Cabinet hierarchy.
Maharey was 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 was often considered to be one of the more significant political theorists within the government.
While former 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.[6] The New Zealand Herald quoted several exchanges between the two verbatim that were alleged to have occurred by Rankin.[7] The court did not uphold Rankin's claims.
In April 2007, Maharey came under criticism for saying 'fuck you' in parliamentary question time on 4 April.[8] 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.'[9]
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Trevor de Cleene |
Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1990–2008 |
Succeeded by Iain Lees-Galloway |
| Political offices | ||
| New title | Minister for Research, Science and Technology 2004–2007 |
Succeeded by Pete Hodgson |
| Preceded by Trevor Mallard |
Minister of Education 2005–2007 |
Succeeded by Chris Carter |