Todd McClay

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The Honourable

Todd McClay

MP
Todd McClay.jpg
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Rotorua
Assumed office
8 December 2008
Preceded bySteve Chadwick
Majority825
11th Minister of Trade
In office
14 December 2015 – 26 October 2017
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Bill English
Preceded byTim Groser
Succeeded byDavid Parker (as Minister for Trade and Export Growth)
Minister of State Owned Enterprises
In office
8 October 2014 – 26 October 2017
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Bill English
Preceded byTony Ryall
Succeeded byWinston Peters
3rd Minister of Revenue
In office
10 June 2013 – 14 December 2015
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byPeter Dunne
Succeeded byMichael Woodhouse
Personal details
Born (1968-11-22) 22 November 1968 (age 52)
Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand
Political partyNational
Spouse(s)Nadene McClay
RelationsRoger McClay (father)
ResidenceRotorua, New Zealand
OccupationMember of Parliament for Rotorua
Websitehttp://www.toddmcclay.co.nz/

Todd Michael McClay (born 22 November 1968) is a New Zealand politician and former ambassador. He is the Member of Parliament for Rotorua. He was previously an ambassador for the Cook Islands and Niue to the European Union.

Early life[]

McClay was born in Rotorua in 1968. The son of former National MP Roger McClay, he was educated at Tauhara College in Taupo, Wesley College in Auckland and Wellington Polytechnic in Wellington. He gained a bachelor's degree in Politics.[citation needed]

European Union diplomatic career[]

McClay worked in the European Parliament as Head of Staff to Lord Plumb, President of the European Parliament and Leader of the British Conservatives in the European Parliament. He has also been active in European government affairs and lobbying and was a founder and CEO of a company, Political Relationship Management. McClay has been active in Pacific Islands, European and New Zealand diplomacy and politics since 1992, and was the Cook Islands' first accredited diplomat outside of the Pacific region. He remains the youngest-ever appointed Head of Mission to the European Union.[citation needed]

In 2000 the Cook Islands joined the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP) and he was appointed as special representative of the Cook Islands.[1] In 2002 the Cook Islands government upgraded its representation to the level of diplomatic mission, at which time McClay was appointed Ambassador to the EU.[2][3] He has represented the Cook Islands at many international meetings and conferences, including the WTO, FAO, ACP, EU and UN.[4]

Member of Parliament[]

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2008–2011 49th Rotorua 54 National
2011–2014 50th Rotorua 47 National
2014–2017 51st Rotorua 23 National
2017–2020 52nd Rotorua 14 National
2020–present 53rd Rotorua 6 National

First term, 2008–2011[]

In 2008, McClay was selected as the National Party candidate to stand for the Rotorua electorate in the 2008 New Zealand general election, running against incumbent Labour MP Steve Chadwick.[5] McClay won the seat of Rotorua on election night with a majority of 5,065 (15.43%). He was sworn in as a Member of Parliament on 8 December 2008.[6]

In 2009 his Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 Repeal (Easter Sunday Local Choice) Amendment Bill was drawn from the ballot.[7] The bill would have allowed local authorities to permit shops to open on Easter Sunday – something currently prohibited in most of New Zealand. The bill was narrowly defeated at its first reading.[8]

Second term, 2011–2014[]

In 2011, McClay was reelected as the Member of Parliament for Rotorua increasing his majority to 7,357 votes.[9]

In late June 2012, McClay announced his intention to bring a bill before Parliament to prohibit the display of gang insignia in all government premises, schools and hospitals in New Zealand. Modeled on the Whanganui Gang Insignia Act, McClay's announcement was met with strong public support.[10][11] The Bill received Royal Assent on 12 August 2013 and became law the day after.[12]

On 30 August 2012, McClay voted against the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand.[13]

In 2013 he was appointed Minister of Revenue and Associate Minister of Health, serving outside of Cabinet.[14]

In January 2014, he was appointed Associate Minister for Tourism.[15]

Third term, 2014–2017[]

In September 2014, McClay was again elected as Member of Parliament for Rotorua with an increased majority of 7,418, after beating Labour candidate and former TV weatherman, Tamati Coffey.[16]

Following the 2014 election, McClay was promoted to Cabinet retaining his position as Minister of Revenue, while picking up the portfolios of State-Owned Enterprises, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Associate Minister of Trade.[17]

Following the resignation of former Trade Minister Tim Groser, McClay became Minister of Trade on 14 December 2015. He retained State Owned Enterprises and Associate Foreign Affairs, while handing over Inland Revenue to Michael Woodhouse.[18]

In late July 2016, McClay was rebuked by Prime Minister John Key for downplaying concerns that China would retaliate if New Zealand undertook an investigation of Chinese steel dumping.[19]

In 2017, McClay represented his party in Beijing before a dialogue organised by the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China (CCP). McClay also referred to the Xinjiang re-education camps as "vocational training centers" in line with CCP talking points.[20][21]

Fourth term, 2017–2020[]

During the 2017 general election, McClay retained Rotorua for National by a margin of 7,901 votes.[22]

In late August 2019, former National MP Jami-Lee Ross alleged that McClay had helped to facilitate a NZ$150,000 to the National Party in his capacity as Trade Minister in 2016 from a company owned by Chinese millionaire Lin Lang. McClay and the National Party have denied these allegations.[23][24]

Fifth term, 2020–present[]

During the 2020 general election, McClay retained his seat in Rotorua by a final margin of 825 votes.[25]

Personal life[]

He lives in Rotorua with his wife, Nadene, and their four children.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ "ACP DIRECTORY: THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC STATES DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS" (PDF). Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. 2 October 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Cook Islands Government Structure". Cook Islands Government. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Ec av Portal". European Commission Audiovisual Service. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  4. ^ "MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, 2 APRIL 2003" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union. European Union. 2 April 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Taipari, Greg (20 March 2008). "National chooses Rotorua candidate". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  6. ^ "Official Count Results – Rotorua". Electoral Commission. 22 November 2008. Archived from the original on 22 January 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 Repeal (Easter Sunday Local Choice) Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  8. ^ "Easter trading bill defeated on conscience vote". Stuff. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Official Count Results – Rotorua". Electoral Commission. 10 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Todd McClay seeks to ban gang patches". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  11. ^ Gillespie, Kim (16 May 2013). "Editorial: Gang bill likely to reduce influence". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013 No 56, Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". Legislation.govt.nz. Parliamentary Counsel Office. 12 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Rotorua MP votes against gay marriage bill". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  14. ^ Chapman, Kate; Watkins, Tracey; Small, Vernon; Rutherford, Hamish (10 June 2013). "Dunne's portfolios handed to MP McClay". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  15. ^ "New ministerial role for Rotorua MP Todd McClay". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. 21 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Official Count Results – Rotorua". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Todd McClay promoted to cabinet minister". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. 5 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Todd McClay tipped for promotion". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. 6 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  19. ^ Small, Vernon (25 July 2016). "McClay rebuked by PM after failing to reveal wider fears of China retribution". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  20. ^ Cook, Sarah (14 January 2020). "Beijing's Global Megaphone: The Expansion of Chinese Communist Party Media Influence since 2017". Freedom House. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  21. ^ Lulu, Jichang (16 November 2018). "New Zealand: United Frontlings bearing gifts". Sinopsis. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  22. ^ "Rotorua – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  23. ^ O'Brien, Tova. "National MP Todd McClay responds to 'outside spirit of the law' donation allegation". Newshub. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  24. ^ "National denies former trade minister Todd McClay helped facilitate $150k donation". Radio New Zealand. 27 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Rotorua – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

External links[]

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Steve Chadwick 		Member of Parliament for Rotorua
2008–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from ""