Steven Joyce
| The Honourable Steven Joyce MP |
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|---|---|
 |
|
| Minister for Economic Development | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 14 December 2011 |
|
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Gerry Brownlee |
| Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Training | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 27 January 2010[1] |
|
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Anne Tolley |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 19 November 2008 – 14 December 2011 |
|
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Annette King |
| Succeeded by | Gerry Brownlee |
| Minister for Communications and Information Technology | |
| In office 19 November 2008 – 14 December 2011 |
|
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | David Cunliffe |
| Succeeded by | Amy Adams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 April 1963 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand[2] |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse(s) | Suzanne |
| Children | two |
| Occupation | Broadcasting entrepreneur |
Steven Leonard Joyce (born 7 April 1963) is a New Zealand politician, who entered the New Zealand House of Representatives in 2008 as a member of the New Zealand National Party. In the same year he became Minister of Transport and Minister for Communications and Information Technology.
As a broadcasting entrepreneur with RadioWorks he became a self-made millionaire before he entered politics.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Broadcasting
Joyce's parents worked as grocers.[4] He went to school at Francis Douglas Memorial College, before enrolling at Massey University, applying to study veterinary science. However he "missed the cut",[5] graduating instead with a BSc in zoology. While at university he worked as a presenter and programme director on student radio.[6] After leaving university Joyce and a group of friends (including radio presenter Jeremy Corbett) started their own radio station, Energy FM, in New Plymouth.[5][6] With business partners, he built up RadioWorks over the next seventeen years, both organically and by acquisition, to a network of 22 radio stations and 650 staff. He retired as Managing Director of RadioWorks in April 2001, when CanWest purchased it, Joyce receiving $6 million for the sale.[6]
After RadioWorks he joined the National Party, working as their campaign manager in both the 2005 and the 2008 general elections. He also served as CEO of Jasons Travel Media for two years until 2008.
In 2010 while Minister of Transport, Joyce admitted to two prior driving convictions, careless driving resulting in a fine in 1988, and careless driving causing injury resulting in a fine and loss of licence in 1989.[7]
[edit] Member of Parliament
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| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | List | 16 | National |
| 2011–present | 50th | List | 13 | National |
After the National Party announced on 28 July 2008 that Joyce would stand as a National Party list-only candidate (16th on the party list), the then Prime Minister Helen Clark criticised him as a "Hollow Man" featuring as a key background player in Nicky Hager's 2006 book The Hollow Men.[8] With the formation of a National Party minority government in 2008, the new Prime Minister John Key appointed Joyce to two cabinet portfolios: Transport, and Communications and Information, in his first term as an MP.[9]
As Minister of Transport, he introduced several changes to road user regulations. In November 2009 a ban on using cellphones while driving came into effect.[10] In 2010 he announced his intentions that New Zealand's unique right-hand rule at intersections would be reverted, and the minimum driving age would rise from 15 to 16[11] - both measures were subject to cabinet approval and public consultation, and eventually passed into law.[12] This minimum driving age proposal was criticised by the editorial board of The New Zealand Herald for being too hesitant after experts and the public had favoured raising the driving age as high as 18 - but Joyce, in the opinion of the newspaper, had not shown the resolve to follow the recommendations.[13]
Joyce was also central to the introduction of Auckland Transport as a council-controlled organisation for the 'super city' of Auckland, a move that attracted widespread criticism. Joyce defended the move against accusations of excessive secrecy and lack of elected oversight by stating that "Auckland will need a good agency focused on delivering the projects that have been agreed by council" and noting that Council had a number of ways of ensuring that the entity was accountable.[14]
[edit] Private life
Joyce lives in Albany in the north of Auckland with his wife Suzanne and their two children, on a seven-acre lifestyle block.[2][5]
[edit] References
- ^ "John Key announces Cabinet reshuffle". The New Zealand Herald. 26 January 2010. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10622389. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ a b Young, Audrey (2010-03-20). "Steven Joyce becomes Govt's 'everywhere man'". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10633122&pnum=0. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
- ^ Gower, Patrick (3 October 2009). "Key lieutenant makes most of a fast start". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10600983. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ "Former campaign boss the bolter in Key's Cabinet". New Zealand Herald. 17 November 2008. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10543524. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ^ a b c Roughan, John (16 October 2008). "A word with... Steven Joyce". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10537678. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ^ a b c Dudding, Adam (16 November 2008). "Key's six million dollar man - Steven Joyce". Sunday Star Times. Archived from the original on 2009-01-21. http://www.webcitation.org/5dzDf0un9. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ^ Bennett, Adam (16 September 2010). "Minister admits driving offences". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10674071. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
- ^ "New National list candidate 'Hollow Man', says Clark". New Zealand Herald. 28 July 2008. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10523949. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ^ Thomas, Ben (17 November 2008). "Key gives business portfolios to safe hands". National Business Review. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/key-gives-business-portfolios-safe-hands-37892. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ^ Williams, David (14 August 2009). "Cellphone ban comes with fines". The Press. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2750905/Cellphone-ban-comes-with-fines. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ "NZ's right-hand rule set for change". The New Zealand Herald. 3 March 2010. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10629628&pnum=0. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ "Safer Journeys, First Actions". Wellington: Ministry of Transport. March 2010. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Documents/Safer%20Journeys%20First%20Actions.pdf. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ "Editorial: Cabinet keeps to slow lane on driving age". The New Zealand Herald. 3 March 2010. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10629519. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ Orsman, Bernard (11 March 2010). "Joyce adamant on city transport giant". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10631260. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
[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
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Annette King |
Minister of Transport 2008 – 2011 |
Succeeded by Gerry Brownlee |
| Preceded by David Cunliffe |
Minister for Communications and Information Technology 2008 – |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Anne Tolley |
Minister for Tertiary Education 2010 – |
|
