Sir Trevor Mallard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2ndAmbassador of New Zealand to Ireland | |
| In office 16 February 2023 – 19 August 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins Christopher Luxon |
| Preceded by | Brad Burgess |
| 30thSpeaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives | |
| In office 7 November 2017 – 24 August 2022 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governors-General | Patsy Reddy Cindy Kiro |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Deputy | Anne Tolley (2017–2020) Adrian Rurawhe (2020–2022) |
| Preceded by | David Carter |
| Succeeded by | Adrian Rurawhe |
| 13thMinister for the Environment | |
| In office 31 October 2007 – 19 November 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| Preceded by | David Parker (acting) David Benson-Pope |
| Succeeded by | Nick Smith |
| 2ndMinister for Economic Development | |
| In office 19 October 2005 – 2 November 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| Preceded by | Jim Anderton |
| Succeeded by | Pete Hodgson |
| 12thMinister for State Owned Enterprises | |
| In office 19 October 2005 – 19 November 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| Preceded by | Paul Swain |
| Succeeded by | Simon Power |
| 41stMinister of Education | |
| In office 10 December 1999 – 19 October 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| Preceded by | Nick Smith |
| Succeeded by | Steve Maharey |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forLabourparty list | |
| In office 23 September 2017 – 20 October 2022 | |
| Succeeded by | Soraya Peke-Mason |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forHutt South Pencarrow (1993–1996) | |
| In office 6 November 1993 – 23 September 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Sonja Davies |
| Succeeded by | Chris Bishop |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forHamilton West | |
| In office 14 July 1984 – 27 October 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Minogue |
| Succeeded by | Grant Thomas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1954-06-17)17 June 1954 (age 71) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Stephanie (divorced) |
| Relations | Beth Mallard (daughter) |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Sir Trevor Colin Mallard[1]KNZM (born 17 June 1954) is a New Zealand politician and diplomat. Since 2023, he has served asAmbassador of New Zealand to Ireland. He was a Member of Parliament from 1984 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 2022. He served asSpeaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2017 until 2022.
Mallard was aCabinet minister in theFifth Labour Government of New Zealand (1999 to 2008). For six years, he wasMinister of Education andMinister of State Services and held additional appointments asMinister for the Environment,Minister of Labour,Minister of Broadcasting,Minister for State Owned Enterprises,Minister for Sport and Recreation andAssociate Minister of Finance. He has represented the electorates ofHamilton West,Pencarrow andHutt South, and was a list member of Parliament between 2017 and 2022.
Mallard's five-year term as Speaker completed his parliamentary career. His move into a presiding officer role was likened to "the poacher turned gamekeeper." Mallard had had a reputation as an "attack dog" and "political battler" (he was once convicted of fighting in a public place after punching National MPTau Henare at Parliament).[2][3][4] His speakership was remarked on for its contribution to parliamentary culture change, including promoting a more family-friendly environment and removing the requirement for male MPs to wear ties.[2][5][6][7] However, some of Mallard's comments and actions attracted criticism including in relation to the2022 Wellington protests.[8][9][10]
In February 2023, Mallard took up the role ofNew Zealand ambassador to Ireland.[11] In mid August 2025, he was recalled as Ambassador byForeign MinisterWinston Peters.[12]
Mallard was born inWellington, and attendedOnslow College.[13] After gaining aBachelor of Commerce and Administration degree fromVictoria University of Wellington in 1974, he trained as a teacher at theWellington College of Education, gaining a Diploma in Teaching in 1976. He subsequently held a number of teaching jobs in Wellington and theKing Country.[14]
While teaching, Mallard became involved in thePost Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA), the national secondary school teachers' union. He was secretary of the PPTA's King Country branch from 1979 to 1984.[citation needed] In 1984, he gained a Diploma in Continuing Education from theUniversity of Waikato.[14]
Mallard joined theLabour Party in 1972, while a university student.[citation needed] In 1977 he was arrested in Parliament's debating chamber during an anti-SIS bill protest, later appearing in court and the Supreme Court,[15][16] and was banned from Parliament buildings for a time.[17] He was arrested for disorderly behaviour outside theSpringbok rugby team's Rotorua hotel during protests againsttheir 1981 tour of New Zealand, but was found not guilty.[18][19][20] In 1983 he unsuccessfully contested the Labour nomination for the newTongariro electorate, losing toNoel Scott.[21]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–1987 | 41st | Hamilton West | Labour | ||
| 1987–1990 | 42nd | Hamilton West | Labour | ||
| 1993–1996 | 44th | Pencarrow | Labour | ||
| 1996–1999 | 45th | Hutt South | none | Labour | |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | Hutt South | 12 | Labour | |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | Hutt South | 12 | Labour | |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | Hutt South | 8 | Labour | |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | Hutt South | 14 | Labour | |
| 2011–2014 | 50th | Hutt South | 9 | Labour | |
| 2014–2017 | 51st | Hutt South | none | Labour | |
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | List | 33 | Labour | |
| 2020–2022 | 53rd | List | 11 | Labour | |
He held a number of internal party positions until theelection of 1984 when he defeatedMike Minogue to become the member of Parliament forHamilton West. In his first term of Parliament, the Labour Party formed anew government and Mallard served as a member off the Justice and Law Reform committee and Regulations Review committee.[22]
Mallard was re-elected in the1987 election and the Labour government won a second term. Mallard was appointed junior governmentwhip from 1987 to 1990, when he became senior whip.[22] He lost his seat in theelection of 1990.
After his election loss, Mallard returned to the Wellington area to live and work at parliament as an executive assistant toMike Moore in the office of the Leader of the Opposition.[23] He set up a new Labour Party branch inWainuiomata and recruited 70 new members to the party. He then contested the Labour Party nomination in the seat ofPencarrow afterSonja Davies announced her retirement, winning the selection over Eastbourne-based polytechnic lecturer Tricia Thompson.[24] At the1993 election he was successful in winning the seat and re-entered parliament. The electorate was renamedHutt South in 1996, and Mallard retained the seat until 2017 when he opted to become a list MP in a bid to become the Speaker of the House.[25][26]
As a newly returned member of Parliament, Mallard supported Helen Clark in the1993 Labour Party leadership contest.[27] He became a senior member of the Labour Party under Clark's leadership andMichael Cullen described him as a member of Clark's inner circle, which also includedPete Hodgson,Steve Maharey,Phil Goff andAnnette King.[28] Clark appointed Mallard to spokesperson roles in portfolios for which he would later hold ministerial responsibility, including sport, state services, and education. As an opposition member of Parliament, Mallard was reappointed to the Justice and Law Reform committee (1993–1994) and appointed to the Government Administration committee (1993–1999).[14]
When Labour won the1999 election, Mallard was appointed to Cabinet. He becameMinister of Education, Minister of State Services, andMinister for Sport and Recreation. In connection with his Education role, he also became Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office, and in connection with his Sport role, he also became Minister for the America's Cup (New Zealand held theAmerica's Cup at the time). In 2004, Mallard also became Co-ordinating Minister for Race Relations, andMinister of Energy.
In September 2006, Mallard was implicated in the resignation ofNational Party leaderDon Brash after interjecting with an allegation in the House that Brash had engaged in an extramarital affair.[29]
In an October 2007 cabinet reshuffle, he was reassigned to be the Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Broadcasting, the Minister for State Owned Enterprises and the Associate Minister of Finance.[30]
In October 2007, Mallard punched National Party MPTau Henare in a scuffle that took place outside the debating chambers. It is speculated that this was a result of comments Henare made regarding a new relationship Mallard had formed. Mallard quickly apologised for his part in the altercation.[31] He also publicly revealed that the woman with whom he had entered a new relationship was former world champion rowerBrenda Lawson.[32] Police declined to investigate butGraham McCready launched aprivate prosecution. Mallard pleaded guilty to fighting in a public place and agreed to pay $500 to the Salvation Army's Bridge drug and alcohol programme.[33]
In May 2008, Mallard was warned by New Zealand's Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden that signage on his electorate vehicle breached provisions of the controversialElectoral Finance Act and ordered him to update the signage to include an authorisation from party officials. However, the Chief Electoral Officer did not refer the matter to the New Zealand Police to prosecute as the matter was considered inconsequential.[34]
Mallard's handling of the education portfolio was strongly criticised by teachers' unions, including the PPTA. In his first term as minister, he was strongly criticised by teachers during a long-running strike action over salaries.[35]
In his second term, he was criticised for a programme of school closures, that involved almost 90 schools across the country.[36] The programme was eventually stopped after it faced heavy criticism from parents and teachers.[37][38]
In April 2002, Mallard made crude comments about inserting beer bottles into "uncomfortable places" ofInternational Rugby Board chairmanVernon Pugh and Australian Rugby bossJohn O'Neill during a radio interview following the withdrawal of co-hosting rights for the 2003Rugby World Cup. He later apologised saying he mixed up his passion for rugby with his role as Minister of Sport.[39]
In 2006, Mallard announced that the government would introduce a policy that encouraged state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to expand into new business areas and diversify in order to build wealth for the country.[40]
In 2007, Mallard said that the government was likely to be more stringent on state-owned enterprises in relation to social responsibility. Mallard explained that social responsibility is one of the core functions of SOEs but not enough was being done. The announcement was made following a number of incidents by SOEs, including a power disconnection by Mercury Energy that resulted in the death of Folole Muliaga, an individual who relied on an oxygen machine.[41]
In 2008, Mallard implemented a new tool to help small businesses manage hazards. The goal of the project was to improve workplace health and safety.[42]
In July 2008, Mallard was critical of a TVNZ report into an assault by sports broadcasterTony Veitch, saying that the report lacked key details, such as not mentioning that an assault took place.[43]
Returning to opposition after the ascent of theFifth National Government led byJohn Key in 2008, Mallard was Labour spokesperson for a range of portfolios including animal welfare (2014–2017), internal affairs (2013–2015) and education and labour (2008–2011). He was shadow leader of the House from 2011 to 2013 and was elected anassistant Speaker of the House in 2014.[44]
In February 2012, Mallard was accused ofticket scalping onTrade Me when he sold four tickets to theHomegrown music festival for a $246 profit. AsMinister of Economic Development in 2006, Mallard had initiated legislation, the Major Events Management Act 2007, prohibiting ticket scalping for major events (although Homegrown wasn't classified as a "major event" so wasn't covered). He later offered to refund the money he received for the tickets.[45]
In May 2012, Mallard and fellow Labour MPAndrew Little were sued by National MP and Minister for theAccident Compensation Corporation (ACC)Judith Collins for defamation over comments they made on the public broadcasterRadio New Zealand linking her to the leak of an e-mail fromMichelle Boag about an ACC privacy breach. After spending weeks avoiding Collins' legal team, Mallard received Collins' legal papers from a woman posing as a constituent.[46] The case was settled by the parties involved following a High Court hearing in November 2012.[47]
In December 2019, formerAuditor-GeneralMartin Matthews claimed that Mallard and other members of the Officers of Parliament committee, including then-SpeakerDavid Carter, had pressured him to resign prior to the release of a critical report by Sir Martin Wevers into Matthews' handling of a NZ$725,000 fraud perpetrated byMinistry of Transport employee Joanne Harrison. At the time, Matthews had served as the head of the Ministry of Transport. Wevers' report ruled that Matthews was unsuitable for the position of Auditor-General since he had failed to detect Harrison's fraud earlier. Matthews disputed the report, alleging that it was full of errors and did not meet the threshold for removing Officers of Parliament. Matthews claimed that Mallard and his fellow MPs had denied him natural justice by not allowing him to respond to alleged inaccuracies in Wevers' report.[48]
Following the formation of aLabour-led coalition government withNew Zealand First and theGreen parties in October 2017,[49][50] Mallard was elected as Speaker of the House on 7 November following some contention from the opposition National Party over whether several of the new MPs had been sworn in.[51][52] He also served as Chairperson of several committees including the Business and Officers of Parliament select committees, and the Parliamentary Services Commission.[22]
In November 2017, Mallard announced that the New Zealand Parliament would be becoming more "baby friendly" while posing for a photo with fellow Labour MPWillow-Jean Prime's baby Heeni.[53][54] Such policies have included opening an atrium near the parliamentary chamber accessible to MPs' children, giving carers and spouses the same security clearances as MPs, opening the Parliamentary swimming pool to the families of MPs and staff, updating the family room to have baby-feeding and changing facilities, and a proposed play area on Parliament's lawn.[55][56][57] On 22 August 2019, Mallard attracted media attention in New Zealand and abroad when he fed Labour MPTāmati Coffey's infant son Tūtānekai Smith-Coffey during a parliamentary debate.[58][59]
During the2020 New Zealand general election, Mallard was re-elected to Parliament on the Labour Party list.[60] When the new Parliament assembled on 25 November, he was re-elected as Speaker without opposition.[61]
After canvassing the views of Members of Parliament in late 2020, Speaker Mallard decided that Parliament would not revise its business attire dress code which required male Members to wear a jacket and tie,[62] as there was "very little support for a change," though he "personally loathed" ties.[63] On 9 February 2021, Mallard ejectedMāori Party Co-LeaderRawiri Waititi from parliamentary proceedings after he defied Parliament's business attire rule by wearing a Māori hei tiki neck tie instead of a formal necktie.[64][65] On 10 February, Mallard announced that ties were no longer compulsory in Parliament following a Standing Orders Committee meeting where the majority voted in favour of the Māori Party's submission calling for the elimination of neckties as part of Parliament's business attire.[66]
In late January 2020, Mallard was sued by a parliamentary staff member who alleged that the Speaker had defamed him by claiming in May 2019 that a rapist was working at Parliament. The staff member, who described these remarks as defamatory and untrue, hired Matthew McClelland QC and sought NZ$400,000 in general damages, NZ$50,000 in punitive damages and court costs. In response, Mallard hired the services of aQueen's Counsel from Kensington Swan.[67][68]
On 8 December 2020, Mallard apologised to the staff member and it was announced that both parties considered the matter closed.[69][70] On 11 December,The New Zealand Herald andStuff reported that the matter had cost public funds NZ$333,000 (including an NZ$185,000 ex-gratia payment to the former staff member and more than $175,000 on legal fees). In response, National Party leaderJudith Collins stated that her party had lost confidence in Mallard as Speaker of the House while theNew Zealand Taxpayers' Union called on Mallard to reimburse taxpayers.[71][72]
On 16 December 2020, Mallard appeared before the Governance and Administration Select Committee where he apologised for calling the former staff member a rapist. It was reported that the staff member was pursuing an employment case against theParliamentary Service, that had cost NZ$37,500 in legal fees so far. A member of the Taxpayers' Union dressed in a pig's mascot costume also held a mock invoice during the proceedings before being asked to leave due to an objection by Labour MP Duncan Webb.[73][74]
On 9 February 2021, the National Party unsuccessfully attempted to move a motion of no confidence in Speaker Mallard over the incident.[75] In early May 2021, Mallard drew controversy and media attention when he usedparliamentary privilege to claim that the parliamentary staff member whom he had falsely accused of rape committed sexual assault during an exchange with National MPsChris Bishop andMichael Woodhouse. Prime Minister Ardern criticised Mallard's actions as "totally inappropriate" but rejected calls by the National andACT parties to dismiss him from his position as Speaker.[76][77]
In mid–February 2022 a large group of mostly anti-mandate protesters established a makeshift camp outside the New Zealand Parliament toprotest the Government'sCOVID-19 mitigation and vaccination policies. As Speaker of the House, Mallard was unable to order the protestors to be dispersed by force, so instead responded to their refusal to vacate Parliament's grounds by turning sprinklers on full and setting up loud speakers playing copyrighted music and pro-vaccination messages.[78][79] Despite consulting local residents before he did so (to their approval), Mallard was criticised for his actions by the opposition National and ACT parties. National's COVID-19 spokespersonChris Bishop criticised Mallard for antagonising the protesters further while ACT leaderDavid Seymour remarked that Mallard "seems to be acting like a kid in a very adult situation."[8]
On 16 February, the National Party said that it intended to lodge a motion of no confidence in Mallard over his handling of the protests and occupation in Wellington.[9]
In early May 2022, Mallard, in his capacity as custodian of the parliamentary grounds, approved Parliament Security's issuing of 151trespass notices against individuals who had participated in the Wellington anti-vaccine mandate protest. Five of these trespass notices were issued to former Members of Parliament; namely former National MPMatt King,New Zealand First leaderWinston Peters, former ACT leaderRodney Hide, formerMāori Party co-leaderMarama Fox, and former NZ First list MPDarroch Ball. Following Peters' threat to seek ajudicial review of the trespass notices and media coverage, Mallard withdrew the trespass notices against the five former MPs.[80] In response to the trespass notices against the former MPs, the National and ACT parties renewed their calls for Mallard to be removed as Speaker of the House.[10]Attorney GeneralDavid Parker welcomed the withdrawal of the trespass notices against the MPs. Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern rejected calls to remove Mallard as Speaker and defended his decision to issue the trespass notices.[81]
In late June 2025, lawyer Tudor Clee sued Mallard and Attorney-General Judith Collins on behalf of a child who participated in the 2022 Wellington protest. The plaintiff has sought a declaration that their rights were breached when Mallard played repetitive "bad" music over loudspeakers as well as NZ$40,000 in damages for three separate breaches. These breaches included two breaches of theBill of Rights' right not to be subject to torture or cruel treatment, the right to freedom of association, and a thirdtort claim alleging that a public official abused their power. The case is expected to be heard at theWellington High Court on 7 July. Mallard declined to comment on the case.[82]
On 13 June 2022, Ardern confirmed that Mallard would resign from his position as Speaker of the House in mid-August 2022 to take up a diplomatic post in Europe. The Prime Minister also designated fellow Labour MP and Deputy SpeakerAdrian Rurawhe as his successor. His resignation, along with that of Immigration and Broadcasting MinisterKris Faafoi, triggered a cabinet reshuffle within the Labour Government.[83][84] Mallard's resignation announcement followed renewed criticism by the opposition National, Māori, and ACT parties over his decision to issue trespass notices against five former MPs.[85]
On 24 August 2022, Mallard's resignation as Speaker of the House took effect.[86] The day before,Foreign MinisterNanaia Mahuta formally announced his appointment as the second residentambassador of New Zealand to Ireland, which he assumed in January 2023.[87] Fellow Labour MP and Deputy SpeakerAdrian Rurawhe was elected as the new Speaker of the House. During speeches following Rurawhe's election, former Labour MPGaurav Sharma usedparliamentary privilege to accuse Mallard of ignoring his concerns about bullying in Parliament and refusing to provide legal support for his case. Sharma also alleged that Mallard had informed the Labour Whips office about Sharma's complaint against the party and whips. Mallard denied Sharma's allegations.[88][89]
Mallard gave his valedictory speech to Parliament on 20 October 2022, and his resignation as a list MP took effect at the end of that day.[90][91]
In mid October 2022,Newshub reported that Mallard's new position as New Zealand Ambassador to Ireland had a salary between NZ$180,000 and NZ$250,000. In addition, Mallard was entitled to accommodation and two trips home over the three-year appointment. In response, ACT Party leader David Seymour criticised Mallard's diplomatic appointment as an example of "bad behaviour" being rewarded.[92]
In the2024 New Year Honours, Mallard was appointed aKnight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a member of Parliament and as Speaker of the House of Representatives.[93]
On 19 August 2025, Foreign Minister Winston Peters recalled Mallard from his position as Ambassador to Ireland for undisclosed reasons. Peters criticised Jacinda Ardern for appointing former politicians to diplomatic positions. He announced Angela Hassan-Sharp as the new designated Ambassador to Ireland.[12]
Mallard announced his separation from wife Stephanie in June 2007 after 33 years of marriage.[94] He has three children, one of whom is aBlack Fern,Beth Mallard.[95] On 29 December 2014, Mallard married journalist Jane Clifton.[96] He is interested in outdoor recreation, includingrugby andmountain biking.
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Hamilton West 1984–1990 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Pencarrow 1993–1996 | Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Hutt South 1996–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Speaker of the House of Representatives 2017–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of Education 1999–2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for State Owned Enterprises 2005–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Economic Development 2005–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for the Environment 2007–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Senior Whip of the Labour Party 1990 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Brad Burgess | Ambassador of New Zealand to Ireland 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Father of the House 2021–2022 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
