Steve Maharey

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The Honourable
Steve Maharey
CNZM
File:Steve Maharey.jpg
Hon. Steve Maharey
Minister for Research, Science and Technology
In office
December 2004[1] – 31 October 2007[2]
Prime Minister Helen Clark
Preceded by New office
Succeeded by Pete Hodgson
42nd Minister of Education
In office
October 2005[3] – 31 October 2007[2]
Prime Minister Helen Clark
Preceded by Trevor Mallard, David Benson-Pope
Succeeded by Chris Carter
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Palmerston North
In office
1990–2008
Preceded by Trevor de Cleene
Succeeded by Iain Lees-Galloway
Personal details
Born (1953-02-03) 3 February 1953 (age 71)
Palmerston North,
 New Zealand
Political party Labour
Profession Lecturer

Steven "Steve" Maharey CNZM (born 3 February 1953) is a former Member of Parliament for Palmerston North in New Zealand, as a member of the Labour Party. He left politics and the party before the 2008 general election to become the Vice-Chancellor at Massey University.[4]

Formerly he held the roles of Minister of Education, Minister of Broadcasting, Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Minister for Crown Research Institutes and Minister responsible for the Education Review Office, Minister of Social Development and Employment, Minister of Housing and Minister of Youth Affairs. He stood down from his ministerial rolls in 2008 pending his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Massey University

Early life

Maharey was born in Palmerston North in 1953, the son of William Maharey and his wife Irene. He attended Freyberg High School in 1966–1969. After gaining an MA Hons in sociology from Palmerston North's Massey University (1972–1976), he was a lecturer at that institution from 1978, teaching both sociology and business administration. His particular speciality within sociology was social change and cultural studies.[5]

Political career

Palmerston North City Council

Maharey served one term on the Palmerston North City Council (1986–1989).[5]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
1990–1993 43rd Palmerston North Labour
1993–1996 44th Palmerston North Labour
1996–1999 45th Palmerston North none Labour
1999–2002 46th Palmerston North 3 Labour
2002–2005 47th Palmerston North 4 Labour
2005–2008 48th Palmerston North 5 Labour

In the 1990 election, Maharey stood as the Labour Party candidate for Palmerston North, replacing retiring MP Trevor de Cleene, and was elected to Parliament.[5] After Maharey left the Labour party, Iain Lees-Galloway successfully held the seat for Labour in the 2008 election.

Cabinet minister

Maharey immediately became Labour's spokesperson on broadcasting issues, and also gained associate responsibility for education. In 1994, he switched roles and became spokesperson on labour relations. In 1996, he became spokesperson on social welfare, employment, and tertiary education, and dropped the labour relations portfolio in 1997.

After the 1999 elections, a Labour-Alliance government was formed, Maharey became Minister of Social Services and Employment, having responsibility for social welfare, youth services, and the reduction of unemployment. In 2002 the title changed to Minister for Social Development and Employment. He also became Associate Minister of Education holding special responsibility for tertiary education. After the 2002 elections, in which Labour was re-elected, Maharey also became Minister of Broadcasting. In a December 2004 cabinet reshuffle, Maharey dropped the Associate Minister of Education portfolio and became Minister for Education, Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Minister for Crown Research Institutes, and Minister for Youth Affairs. He was officially ranked fourth in the Cabinet hierarchy.

Controversies

While former colleague John Tamihere described Maharey as 'smarmy' in an Investigate magazine interview, Maharey's personality publicly surfaced during the Christine Rankin Employment Court Hearing in 2001, where Rankin and Maharey publicly exchanged insults.[6] The New Zealand Herald quoted several exchanges between the two verbatim that were alleged to have occurred by Rankin.[7] The court did not uphold Rankin's claims.

In April 2007, Maharey came under criticism for saying 'fuck you' in parliamentary question time on 4 April.[8] He apologised shortly afterwards. The outburst was elicited when Maharey was questioned by Jonathan Coleman about the appropriateness of his actions as broadcasting minister threatening to complain to the Radio New Zealand board when he was displeased by a host Sean Plunket referring to a comment Maharey had made about the need for the Cambridge exam in Botswana as 'racist.'[9]

References

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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Political offices

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Palmerston North
1990–2008		 Succeeded by
Iain Lees-Galloway
Political offices
New title Minister for Research, Science and Technology
2004–2007		 Succeeded by
Pete Hodgson
Preceded by Minister of Education
2005–2007		 Succeeded by
Chris Carter
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