Maurice Williamson
| The Honourable Maurice Williamson MP |
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| Maurice Williamson at the NZ Open Source Awards | |
| Minister of Customs | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Nanaia Mahuta |
| Minister for Building and Construction | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Shane Jones |
| Minister of Statistics | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Darren Hughes |
| Minister for Small Business | |
| In office 19 November 2008 – 12 December 2011 |
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| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Clayton Cosgrove |
| Succeeded by | John Banks |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Pakuranga |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Neil Morrison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 March 1951 Auckland,  New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Profession | Computer programmer |
Maurice Donald Williamson (born 6 March 1951) is a New Zealand politician, representing Pakuranga in the House of Representatives as a member of the National Party. He holds several ministerial portfolios outside the Cabinet: Building and Construction, Customs, Statistics and Land Information .[1]
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[edit] Before politics
Williamson was born in Auckland but spent nearly all his school years in Matamata. After graduating with qualifications in computer science and applied mathematics from the University of Auckland, he worked for twelve years developing airline planning software for mainframe computers.
Williamson is married to Raewyn and has three children. He is an Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Computer Society (HFNZCS).
[edit] Member of Parliament
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| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1987–1990 | 42nd | Pakuranga | National | |
| 1990–1993 | 43rd | Pakuranga | National | |
| 1993–1996 | 44th | Pakuranga | National | |
| 1996–1999 | 45th | Pakuranga | 20 | National |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | Pakuranga | 14 | National |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | Pakuranga | none | National |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | Pakuranga | 17 | National |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | Pakuranga | 8 | National |
| 2011–present | 50th | Pakuranga | 19 | National |
Williamson is a member of Parliament for the National Party, a centre-right political Party in New Zealand, and has been MP for Pakuranga since the 1987 elections. He has held a number of ministerial posts, including Minister of Communications, Minister of Broadcasting, Minister of Transport, and Minister Research, Science and Technology, and associate Minister of Health (1990-6). He was a strong supporter of reform of prostitution law.
His 2005 election campaign saw one of the strongest results for National across New Zealand.
[edit] Suspension
He was suspended from caucus on 22 July 2003, after refusing to curtail his criticism of the National Party leader, Bill English, who he blamed for poor performance in the polls.[2] After English was replaced by Don Brash, Williamson was reinstated. Since his return after suspension, Williamson has played an active role in National, and was elevated up the ranks to eighth position in the National lineup in 2008.[3]
[edit] 49th and 50th New Zealand Parliaments
After the 2008 general election the National Party formed a minority government with 3 Confidence and Supply partners. Despite his high list placing, Williamson was not selected for cabinet due in part to a series of gaffes during the election campaign relating to the party's policy on road tolls.[4] He was given ministerial responsibilities outside of cabinet for Customs, Building and Construction, Statistics and Small Business. One of the major matters under his governance is the ongoing Leaky homes crisis in the country, which he noted as having the government "stumped" due to its enormousness.[5]
In June 2009, Dr Richard Worth left Parliament after Prime Minister John Key losing confidence in him as a Minister over sexual allegations[6][7] Williamson was made the acting Minister of Worth's portfolios of Internal Affairs, National Library and Archives New Zealand which were subsequently passed on to Nathan Guy.
After the election of the 50th Parliament of New Zealand Williamson was returned to his seat and re-appointed as a minister in the second term of the National-led government. Williamson retained his 2008 portfolios of Customs, Land Information and Building and Construction but lost the role of Small Business Minister to John Banks as part of the new National-ACT Confidence and Supply deal. Williamson remains outside cabinet being joined by Jo Goodhew, Chester Burrows and Chris Tremain.
[edit] References
- ^ "New Zealand Member of Parliament Page: Maurice Williamson". New Zealand Government. 27 December 2011. http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/7/4/7/50MP13031-Williamson-Maurice.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
- ^ "National caucus suspends Williamson". New Zealand Herald. 22 July 2003. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3513980. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- ^ "Party List: National Party". New Zealand Herald. 6 October 2008. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10536061. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- ^ "Williamson's political career on the skids after snub". The New Zealand Herald. 17 November 2008. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10543513. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- ^ Laxon, Andrew (27 February 2010). "Govt stumped as leaky home bill skyrockets". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10628835. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0906/S00028.htm
- ^ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0906/S00167.htm
[edit] External links
- Profile at National party
- Profile at New Zealand Parliament
- Releases and speeches at Beehive.govt.nz
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.co.nz
- Voting record at CommoNZ (conscience votes)
- Maurice Williamson at Times Online
- Executive Government 1993-6: Maurice Williamson
- Executive Government 1996-9: Maurice Williamson
