Stuart Nash
Stuart Nash | |
|---|---|
 Stuart Nash in 2023 | |
| 9th Minister for Economic Development | |
| In office 1 February 2023 – 28 March 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | himself (as Minister for Economic and Regional Development) |
| Succeeded by | Megan Woods (Acting) |
| 32nd Minister of Forestry | |
| In office 6 November 2020 – 28 March 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Shane Jones |
| Succeeded by | Megan Woods (Acting) |
| 11th Minister for Oceans and Fisheries | |
| In office 1 February 2023 – 28 March 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | David Parker |
| Succeeded by | David Parker (Acting) |
| 39th Minister of Police | |
| In office 1 February 2023 – 15 March 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Chris Hipkins |
| Succeeded by | Megan Woods (Acting) |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Paula Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Poto Williams |
| 9th Minister for Economic and Regional Development | |
| In office 6 November 2020 – 1 February 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Phil Twyford (as Minister for Economic Development) Shane Jones (as Minister for Regional Economic Development) |
| Succeeded by | himself (as Minister for Economic Development) Kiri Allan (as Minister for Regional Development) |
| 37th Minister of Tourism | |
| In office 6 November 2020 – 1 February 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Kelvin Davis |
| Succeeded by | Peeni Henare |
| 11th Minister of Fisheries | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Nathan Guy (as Minister for Primary Industries) |
| Succeeded by | David Parker |
| 30th Minister of Revenue | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Judith Collins |
| Succeeded by | David Parker |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Napier | |
| In office 20 September 2014 – 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Tremain |
| Succeeded by | Katie Nimon |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for the Labour Party list | |
| In office 8 November 2008 – 26 November 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1967 (age 57)[1] Napier, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse | Sarah Nash |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Hal Nash Jenny Nash |
| Relatives | Sir Walter Nash (great-grandfather) |
| Alma mater | University of Canterbury |
| Profession | International Business |
| Website | Official website |
Stuart Alexander Nash (born August 1967) is a New Zealand politician, entrepreneur, and businessman. He was a member of the House of Representatives for Labour Party from 2008 to 2011, and was re-elected in 2014 election as a representative of Napier electorate. In October 2017 when Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister of New Zealand, Nash entered Labour Cabinet, with a portfolios of Police, Revenue, Small Business and Fisheries. Upon Labour's reelection in 2020, Nash swapped out his Police, Revenue, and Fisheries portfolios for a stronger economic focus with Economic and Regional Development, Tourism, Small Business, and Forestry. On 28 March 2023, following several breaches of conduct, including using his position to attempt to influence police procedures, it was revealed Nash communicated confidential details surrounding a Cabinet meeting to two of his donors, and Nash was removed from all Cabinet positions by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. In early April 2023, Nash confirmed that he would not be contesting 2023 election.
Nash is the great-grandson of Sir Walter Nash, 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960.
Early, professional, and personal life
Stuart Alexander Nash was born on August 1967 in Napier, to his parents, Jenny and Hal Nash. He is the eldest of four children. Nash grew up in Napier, and was educated at Napier Boys' High School where he was a prefect and played in the first XV, the senior tennis team and captained the debating team. Nash holds master's degrees in Law, Forestry Science, and Management from the University of Canterbury. Before moving back to his home town of Napier, he was the Director of Strategic Development at Auckland University of Technology and wrote the business case for AUT University's Southern Campus and for AUT Millennium - New Zealand's high performance sports centre.[2]
He is married to Sarah Nash, and they had four children.[3]
In March 2024, he and his wife Sarah both purchased a former Napier courthouse with the intention of renovating it into their family home. Built in 1875, the former courthouse building, which survived from 1931 earthquake (than the Great Depression). For the past 35 years, it served as the local Department of Conservation office. The courthouse was vested in Mana Ahuriri Trust as a part of the Treaty of Waitangi settlement. The trust decided to sell the building in 2023.[4]
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2011 | 49th | List | 36 | Labour | |
| 2014–2017 | 51st | Napier | none | Labour | |
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | Napier | 11 | Labour | |
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | Napier | 12 | Labour | |
Early political career
In 2005, Nash was a Labour candidate for the safe National seat of Epsom, placing third behind Rodney Hide and Richard Worth; having been directed by then-Prime Minister Helen Clark to ask Labour supporters to vote for the National candidate, Richard Worth, in a strategy designed to defeat ACT MP, Rodney Hide. The tactic didn't work, with Hide winning; though at 9,915 Labour received the highest number of party votes in this electorate since the introduction of the MMP parliamentary system in 1996.[5] Placed at number 60 on the party list, Nash failed to get elected.[6]
Election to Parliament on the list
In 2007, Nash contested the Labour Party selection for Napier seat in 2008 election, but lost to Russell Fairbrother, a list MP and a former Napier electorate MP.[7] However, Nash was ranked at number 36 on the party list and was subsequently elected to parliament.[8]
After becoming a list MP Nash was appointed Labour's spokesperson for Revenue, and associate spokesperson for Trade and Forestry by Labour leader Phil Goff.[9] On 15 June 2010, Opposition Leader Phil Goff appointed Nash to be portfolio spokesperson for Forestry, a position formerly held by Mita Ririnui. In February 2011 Phil Goff announced his new caucus line up and Nash was ranked 27th, retaining all his portfolio responsibilities.[10]
2011–2014
In the 2011 general election, Nash contested Napier electorate seat held by National Cabinet Minister Chris Tremain. Nash reduced Tremain's 2008 majority of 9,018 votes by 5,300 votes (the highest reduction achieved against a sitting National electorate MP) but still came second. As well, Nash was ranked 27 on the Labour list, higher than in 2008 but not high enough on the Labour list to return to Parliament as a List MP.[11]
After leaving Parliament, Nash signed on as the chief-of-staff for newly appointed party leader David Shearer. However, Nash resigned after just four months into the job and returned to his home town of Napier, citing the birth of his new child and focusing on winning back the electorate there.[12] During his three years out of parliament Nash ran AUT University's Southern Campus and was in charge of Investor relations at AUT Millennium.
2014–current: Return to Parliament
In February 2014, Nash was selected as Labour's candidate for Napier to contest the 2014 general election.[13] National's Tremain had retired and was succeeded by Wayne Walford, and Nash had a majority of 3,850 votes over Walford.[14] The electorate was also contested by Garth McVicar for the Conservative Party, and McVicar's 7,603 votes cut into traditional National Party votes.[14][15][16]
Nash retained the Napier electorate in 2017, increasing his majority and becoming only the second Labour MP after Damien O'Connor to win and hold a seat off the National party this century.[17] Nash was elected as a Cabinet Minister by the Labour Party caucus following Labour's formation of a coalition government with New Zealand First and the Greens.[18] On 26 October, he was appointed as Minister of Police, Revenue, Small Business and Fisheries.[19]
During the 2020 general election, Nash retained his seat in Napier by a final margin of 5,856.[20] On 2 November 2020, Jacinda Ardern announced that Nash would be replacing the Police, Revenue and Fisheries portfolios, with the Economic and Regional Development, Forestry, and Tourism portfolios, while retaining Small Business.[21]
In mid November 2021, Nash claimed that farming advocacy group Groundswell NZ's website promoted racism and vaccine hesitancy in response to a question by ACT Member of Parliament Mark Cameron. When Cameron reiterated his question, Nash told Cameron to avoid posing with someone holding an anti-vaccination sign at a Groundswell protest. In response to Stuart's remarks, Groundswell co-founder Bryce McKenzie emphasised the group's efforts to combat racism and vaccine hesitancy among its ranks. McKenzie added that the group had accepted the resignation of Groundswell member and Tatua Dairy board of directors member Ross Townshend for posting an offensive image depicting Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta as a gang member.[22]
2023 ministerial indiscretions and resignation
In mid–March 2023, Nash resigned as Minister of Police following revelations that in 2021 he asked the Police Commissioner Andrew Coster if he would consider appealing a judicial decision on a Firearms Law conviction - a law that Nash had shepherded through parliament - Nash felt was too light (despite the fact that at the time Nash was not Police Minister and Commissioner Coster viewed the discussion as 'a friend venting'. Prime Minister Hipkins considered this a breach of the expectation that the Government remains neutral in regards to operational Police matters.[23] On 16 March, Nash faced further calls from the opposition National and ACT parties to resign from his remaining portfolios after revelations that the Attorney-General David Parker had discussed with Nash remarks he had made during a 2020 Newstalk ZB interview calling for murder suspect Eli Epiha to be imprisoned for his actions during the murder of Matthew Hunt. At the time, Epiha was facing trial and had not yet been convicted for murdering Hunt.[24] Nash subsequently admitted to a third incident where he contacted the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) - of which he was the lead Minister - to advocate for the expedited processing of the resident visas of two surgeons at his local hospital who were departing due to the inability of immigration officials to process their visas in a timely manner. Nash's intervention meant the surgeons visas were granted and they ended up staying, but despite this, Hipkins demoted Nash to the bottom of the Cabinet rankings as a "final warning" but declined to strip him of his remaining cabinet portfolios.[25]
On 3 April, Nash announced that he would not be contesting the 2023 New Zealand general election. In a statement published on Facebook, he stated while his work as a minister in the Ardern Cabinet "has been rewarding, and both intellectually and professionally stimulating, it has also been incredibly taxing on relationships with family and friends." On 26 April 2023 Nash was granted the use of the prefix "The Honourable" for life, in recognition of his term as a Member of the Executive Council.[26]
On 16 June, a Cabinet Office report cleared Nash of confidentiality breaches.[27]
Post-politics
In late February 2024, Nash criticised his former Labour Party colleagues's legislation targeting gang assets, claiming that it did not go far enough. In March 2023, the Labour government had passed the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2023, which allowed Police to seize gang leaders' properties, cars, bikes and bling valued at NZ$30,000 or above in compliance with the New Zealand Bill of Rights. Nash argued that there should be no limit on the amount of gang assets seized. Nash claimed that former Justice Minister Kiri Allan had blocked efforts to introduce tougher anti-gang legislation on the grounds that it targeted Māori people. Nash pressed for the National-led coalition government to do away with the $30,000 limit on the seizure of gang assets.[28]
Immediately following the 2023 election it was announced that Nash would take up a position as Robert Walters NZ Commercial Director based in Wellington but covering New Zealand. In 2024 Nash, along with close friend Andrew Kelly, Launched Nash Kelly Global - a consultancy targeting ultra-high net worth and high net worth investor migrants who want to immigrate, invest, or visit New Zealand. nashkellyglobal.com
References
- ^ "Stuart Nash: Realism, balance needed on adoption". The New Zealand Herald. 11 February 2005.
- ^ "Former MPs – Stuart Nash". NZ Parliament.
- ^ Moroney, Roger. "Stuart Nash: My dream is to end up in a Labour Cabinet". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ Sharpe, Marty (10 March 2024). "Stuart Nash buys historic Napier building to turn into family home". Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Official Count Results – Epsom". Wellington: Chief Electoral Office. 2005. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Battle for Napier". Newstalk ZB. 3 December 2007. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008.
- ^ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Elections New Zealand. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ "Five newcomers to Labour's frontbench". Stuff. 20 November 2008. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008.
- ^ "Labour Party List 2011" (Press release). New Zealand Labour Party. Scoop. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
- ^ Laing, Doug (28 November 2011). "Nash sees the positive side". Hawke's Bay Today.
- ^ Watkins, Tracy (13 April 2012). "Shearer's right-hand man poised to go". The Dominion Post.
- ^ "Labour confirms Nash as candidate for Napier seat". Hawke's Bay Today. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Election Results – Napier". Electoral Commission. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- ^ Hendery, Simon (20 September 2014). "Napier returns to Labour, Nash returns to Parliament". Hawke's Bay Today. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ Wills, Bruce (22 September 2014). "Bruce Wills: Crucial factors show the best team won". Hawke's Bay Today. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Official Count Results (2017) – Napier". Electoral Commission. 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Who's in? Who's out?". Radio NZ. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "Ministerial List". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
- ^ "Napier – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Ministerial List for Announcement on Monday" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ Kelly, Rachael (18 November 2021). "Nash says Groundswell stands for 'racist, anti-vax' sentiment". Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ "Stuart Nash has resigned as police minister, PM Hipkins says". Radio New Zealand. 15 March 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023.
- ^ Wade, Amelia (16 March 2023). "Stuart Nash back under fire: Solicitor-General considered charging minister over 2020 cop killer comments". Newshub. Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Stuart Nash demoted to bottom of Cabinet, now on his 'final warning' – Hipkins". Radio New Zealand. 17 March 2023. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Retention of the title "The Honourable"". New Zealand Gazette. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ Smith, Anneke (16 June 2023). "Stuart Nash did not share confidential information with other donors, probe finds". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Moir, Jo (26 February 2024). "Stuart Nash claims Labour Cabinet softened its gang asset seizure policy". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
