Rick Barker
Rick Barker | |
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Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hastings | |
In office 1993–1996 | |
Preceded by | Jeff Whittaker |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Tukituki | |
In office 1996–2005 | |
Succeeded by | Craig Foss |
Personal details | |
Born | 27 October 1951 |
Political party | Labour |
Richard John Barker[1] (born 27 October 1951) is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was a middle-ranking Cabinet minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand.
Early life
Barker was born in the town of Greymouth, on New Zealand's West Coast. He attended Greymouth High School and then the University of Otago. After working as a shop assistant, bartender, storeworker, farmhand, driver, factory worker, and quarrier, he became involved in the trade unions, primarily those relating to the service sector. He eventually became National Secretary of the Service Workers' Union.[2]
Member of Parliament
Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993–1996 | 44th | Hastings | Labour | ||
1996–1999 | 45th | Tukituki | 28 | Labour | |
1999–2002 | 46th | Tukituki | 31 | Labour | |
2002–2005 | 47th | Tukituki | 24 | Labour | |
2005–2008 | 48th | List | 21 | Labour | |
2008–2011 | 49th | List | 34 | Labour |
Barker became a member of the Labour Party in 1973, and served for a time as the Industrial Representative on the party's National Council. In the 1993 elections, he successfully stood as the Labour Party candidate for the Hastings electorate, winning a seat that was previously held by the National Party. He was re-elected in 1996, 1999, and 2002 for the reconfigured seat of Tukituki. In 2005 he lost the seat in what was a large swing against the sitting Labour government in the provincial areas and returned to Parliament as a list MP. In 2008 Barker tried unsuccessfully to regain the seat of Tukituki and for the second time was returned to parliament as a Labour list MP. He stood in one of the safest National seats, Taranaki-King Country, in 2011 and was not high enough on the Labour list to remain an MP.[3]
Cabinet minister
In 2002 Labour was re-elected for a second term and Barker was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Customs, Minister for Courts, Associate Minister of Justice, and Associate Minister of Social Services and Employment. During the 2002-2005 term, he was given additional responsibility as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector and Minister for Small Business.
In 2005, Barker was re-appointed to Cabinet[4] as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Courts, Minister of Civil Defence and Minister of Veterans' Affairs. Barker lost his ministerial warrants following Labour's defeat in the 2008 election; however, Barker was appointed by the House of Representatives to the role of Assistant Speaker for the 49th New Zealand Parliament for the session 2008-11.
As a cabinet minister, Barker was entitled to the title of The Honourable and became The Hon. Rick (Richard) Barker[5] which is a title he was granted for the rest of his life[6] after his term of office.
Regional Councillor
Barker was elected to the regional council in 2013, representing the Hastings constituency. In 2016 he was appointed deputy chair of the council.
References
- ^ "New Zealand Hansard - Members Sworn Volume:651;Page:2". New Zealand Parliament.
- ^ "Barker joins cabinet". NZ Herald. 13 May 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2007.
- ^ http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/Former/c/f/4/49PlibMPsFormerRickBarker1-Barker-Hon-Rick.htm
- ^ "Members of Executive Council Appointed". The New Zealand Gazette. The Department of Internal Affairs: 4528. 21 October 2005. 7115. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
- ^ "Members of Executive Council Appointed". The New Zealand Gazette. The Department of Internal Affairs: 2948. 20 August 2002. 5519. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
- ^ "Retention of the Title "The Honourable"". The New Zealand Gazette. The Department of Internal Affairs: 5156. 18 December 2008. 9578. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
External links
- [1] at the New Zealand Parliament website
- 1951 births
- Living people
- Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand
- New Zealand Labour Party MPs
- University of Otago alumni
- People from Greymouth
- New Zealand list MPs
- Unsuccessful candidates in the New Zealand general election, 2011
- Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- People educated at Greymouth High School
- 21st-century New Zealand politicians