Labour list MP and former Minister David Parker has announced he will leave Parliament.
Parker was first elected to Parliament as the MP for Otago in 2002.
He previously served as Attorney General and Minister of Trade, Revenue, Economic Development, Associate Finance, Climate Change, Energy, Environment, State Services, Transport and Land Information.
He will deliver his valedictory speech in early May.
“I leave enthusiastic for New Zealand and for the New Zealand Labour Party. I want to thank my Parliamentary colleagues and wish them well for the hard work ahead,” he said.
“I was a serial entrepreneur before coming to Parliament and have been an agent for change while here. I will return to the private sector and continue building a prosperous and egalitarian nation.”
A 23-year political career
In 2002, Parker won the Otago electorate by 648 votes to then incumbent National MP Gavan Herlihy. Parker’s win at the time surprised commentators, as Otago was previously seen as a safe National seat.
Parker delivered his maiden speech to Parliament on September 3, 2002.
In the speech, Parker said he supported the Queenstown-Lakes District Council to be able to collect a levy on visitors, which could fund improvements to infrastructure. Despite the idea seeing a resurgence in 2019, it remained only a proposal.
He also criticised the country’s economic management in the late 1990s, and said it “marked the greatest mismanagement of the New Zealand economy since Rt Hon. Robert Muldoon”.
Under David Cunliffe, Parker served as Labour’s deputy leader from 2013 to 2014. He later ran to become the leader of the party, but was placed third behind Andrew Little and Grant Robertson.
In 2023, Parker said it was “untenable” for him to continue as Revenue Minister after then Prime Minister Chris Hipkins ruled out the idea of a capital gains or wealth tax. He expressed disappointment the idea was not worked on.
Most recently, Parker had been serving the role of Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson and shadow attorney general.
Speaking on Q+A over the weekend, he took aim at social media companies, and said what they allow on their platforms is “ruining civilisation” and “ruining our democracies”.
Parker “made a difference” – Hipkins
Labour leader Chris Hipkins thanked Parker for his service to Parliament, and said he had achieved “an awful lot in his time here”.
“David Parker is a principled and talented Parliamentarian and the Labour team will miss him.
“No one’s work in politics is ever finished and I’m sure he steps away with that same sense.”
He said Parker was “optimistic and hard-working”, and served a variety of roles in Government and Opposition.
“What I know to be true is he made a difference, and contributed to a higher quality of life for New Zealanders.
“I want to thank David for his service to Parliament and to the Labour Party. I am certain his contribution to New Zealand is not over.”
