Trevor Mallard

Trevor Colin Mallard (born 17 June 1954) is a New Zealand politician. He is currently a Cabinet member, the Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Broadcasting, the Minister for State Owned Enterprises and the Associate Minister of Finance. He has formerly held other ministerial roles that put him in controversies, notably as Minister for the Rugby World Cup and Minister of Education.

He has a relatively high public profile, and is regarded as one of the government's more effective debaterswho although this has often been the focus of controversy, especially when he is used as an obstructive substitute for an absent Minister (as the principle stands that any Minister may answer on behalf of any other, this is possible at any time, but is by convention only done when the subject Minister is absent from the House).

Mallard lives in Wainuiomata, a suburb of Lower Hutt. He announced his separation from wife Stephanie, after 33 years of marriage, in June 2007. He has three children. He is interested in outdoor recreation, including rugby and mountain biking.

Early life

Mallard was born in Wellington, where he received his education. After gaining a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degree from Victoria University in 1974, he trained as a teacher at the Wellington College of Education. He subsequently held a number of teaching jobs in Wellington and the King Country. While teaching, Mallard became involved in the PPTA, the national secondary school teachers' union. He was secretary of the PPTA's King Country branch from 1979 to 1984.

Political life

Mallard had joined the Labour Party in 1972, while still at university. He held a number of internal party positions until the election of 1984 when he was elected as the party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Hamilton West. Although he was re-elected in the 1987 elections, he lost his seat in the election of 1990. Returning to the Wellington area, he contested the seat of Pencarrow in the 1993 elections and was successful. He has retained that seat ever since, although it is now known as Hutt South.

When Labour won the 1999 elections, Mallard was appointed to Cabinet. He became Minister of Education, Minister of State Services, and Minister for Sport and Recreation. In connection with his Education role, he also became Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office, and in connection with his Sport role, he also became Minister for the America's Cup (New Zealand held the America's Cup at the time). In 2004, Mallard also became Co-ordinating Minister for Race Relations, and Minister of Energy.

In an October 2007 cabinet reshuffle, he was re-assigned to be the Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Broadcasting, the Minister for State Owned Enterprises and the Associate Minister of Finance. [cite press release|publisher=New Zealand Government|date=31 October 2007|title=Ministerial List for Announcement on 31 October 2007|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/Documents/Files/Ministerial%20List.DOC|format=DOC]

Controversies

Mallard has been involved in a number of controversial disputes during his ministerial career. In particular, his handling of the education portfolio was strongly criticised by teachers' unions, including the PPTA. In his first term as minister, he was strongly criticised by teachers during a long-running strike action over salaries, and in his second term, he had been criticised for a program of school closures in rural districts. To some people, Mallard is a strong, decisive administrator who "takes no nonsense", while others see him as tactless and overly confrontational.

In April 2002, Trevor Mallard made crude comments about inserting beer bottles into "uncomfortable places" of International Rugby Board chairman Vernon Pugh and Australian Rugby boss John O'Neill during a radio interview about following the withdrawal of co-hosting rights for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He later apologised saying he mixed up hs passion for rugby with his role as Minister of Sport [cite web|url=http://www.scrum.com/2444_20187.php|title=Mallard apoligises for threats|publisher=Scrum.com|date=19 April 2002|accessdate=2008-07-17] .

In September 2006, Mallard was implicated in the resignation of National Party leader Don Brash after interjecting with an allegation in the House that Brash had engaged in an extramarital affair.

In October 2007 Mallard punched National Party MP Tau Henare in a scuffle that took place outside the debating chambers. It is speculated that this was a result of comments Henare made regarding a new relationship Mallard had formed. Mallard quickly apologized for his part in the altercation. [cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411368/1414972|title=Mallard sorry for punching Henare|publisher=TVNZ|date=25 October 2007|accessdate=2007-10-26] He also publicly revealed that the woman with whom he had entered a new relationship was former world champion rower Brenda Lawson [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=124&objectid=10472204|title=Mallard accepts demotion likely after punch-up|publisher=NZ Herald|date=26 October 2007|accessdate=2008-05-02] .

In May 2008, Trevor Mallard was warned by New Zealand's Chief Electoral Officer Robert Pedan than signage on his electorate vehicle breached provisions of the controversial Electoral Finance Act and order him to update the signage to include an authorisation from Party Officials. However, the Chief Electoral Officer did not refer the matter to the New Zealand Police to prosecute as the matter was considered inconsequential [cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4525483a23917.html|title=Mallard's Cruiser Caught Out|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|date=14 May 2008|accessdate=2008-07-16] .

References

External links

* [http://www.labour.org.nz/labour_team/mps/mps/trevor_mallard/index.html Labour Party profile for Trevor Mallard]
* [http://www.ps.parliament.govt.nz/mp72.htm Parliamentary profile]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10459892 Mallard announces separation from wife]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10401237 Mallard's involvement in Brash downfall]