Duncan Webb | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Webb in 2023 | |
| 17thMinister for State Owned Enterprises | |
| In office 1 February 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | David Clark |
| Succeeded by | Paul Goldsmith |
| 15thMinister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs | |
| In office 1 February 2023 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | David Clark |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Bayly |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forChristchurch Central | |
| Assumed office 23 September 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Nicky Wagner |
| Majority | 14,098 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1966 or 1967 (age 58–59)[1] England |
| Political party | Labour (1999–present) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Canterbury |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | Labour Party profile |
Duncan Alexander Webb (born 1967) is a New Zealand politician, lawyer and academic. He was a law professor at theUniversity of Canterbury from 2000 to 2008, then became a partner at law firm Lane Neave. He was elected as a member of theNew Zealand House of Representatives forChristchurch Central, representing theLabour Party, in the2017 general election.
He wasChief Government Whip,Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs andMinister for State Owned Enterprises in theSixth Labour Government.
Webb moved toChristchurch fromLondon in 1974 when he was six years old.[1] His father had attended Bible college before becoming a pastor at the Māori Evangelical Fellowship Church inWainoni. After briefly living inAranui, Webb's family moved to South Brighton where he grew up along with his four siblings.[2]
He attendedShirley Boys' High School and left before finishing his final year, proceeding directly to theUniversity of Canterbury to study law.[1][2] Webb graduatedBachelor of Laws with Honours in 1989 before being awarded aDoctor of Laws in 2007.[3]
Webb currently lives in Christchurch. He lectured in law at Massey University and Victoria University in Wellington for eight years before being appointed as a professor at University of Canterbury in 2000. He continued in that role until 2008.[4] before joining Lane Neave. He also held visiting academic fellowships at the University of Exeter (1999) and the University of Cincinnati (2003), and was a Bell Gully University Fellow from 2001 to 2003.
Webb has also worked for the Public Interest Project, which seeks to get innocent people out of jail, and for theHoward League, which promotes prisoners’ rights.[5] He is a long-time member of the Labour party, joining in 1999.[6][2] He has three sons.[4] He split from his wife, Tania, in 2016.[1]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | Christchurch Central | 43 | Labour | |
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | Christchurch Central | 43 | Labour | |
| 2023–present | 54th | Christchurch Central | 20 | Labour | |
A long-time member of the Labour Party, Webb wasBrendon Burns' campaign chairman during the2011 election when Burns lostChristchurch Central toNational candidateNicky Wagner.[2] Labour had failed to regain the seat in the 2014 election and Webb was selected as the party's candidate for the2017 election.[7] Webb's campaign chair was the formermayor of ChristchurchGarry Moore.[1] Webb defeated Wagner by 2,871 votes.[8] After the election, Labour formed a coalition government withNew Zealand First and theGreen Party.
In Webb's first term of Parliament, he served on various select committees including Regulations Review (2017–2020), Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (2017–2018), Justice (2018–2019), Finance and Expenditure (2017–2020) and Environment (as chair, 2019–2020).[9][10] Webb's firstmember's bill, the Fair Trading (Oppressive Contracts) Amendment Bill, was introduced in March 2018 but was discharged that May without a first reading.[11]
During the2020 New Zealand general election, Webb was re-elected in Christchurch Central, defeating National candidate Dale Stephens by 14,098 votes.[12] On 2 November 2020, following the election, he became one of three junior whips for the Labour Party and was also appointed chair of theFinance and Expenditure select committee.[10] After a June 2022 Cabinet reshuffle, in which senior whipKieran McAnulty became a minister, Webb was promoted tosenior whip.[13]
A private Bill on behalf of theGirl Guides Association (New Zealand branch), which was concerned with the disposition of property held by the association inWaitākere, was introduced by Webb in 2021.[14] However, the social services committee recommended it not proceed.[15] Webb's second member's bill, the Companies (Directors Duties) Amendment Bill, was introduced to the House on 23 September 2021. The purpose of the Bill is to make it clear that company directors can take actions that take into account wider matters other than the company's finances.[16]
On 31 January 2023, prime ministerChris Hipkins announced aCabinet reshuffle, in which Webb was appointed a Minister outside of Cabinet,[17] with the portfolios ofcommerce and consumer affairs andstate owned enterprises.[18] He held these positions until the government left office in November 2023. As commerce minister, Webb took responsibility for work regulating the supermarket industry. He appointed the first New Zealand Grocery Commissioner[19] and instituted unit pricing regulations.[20] Withfinance ministerGrant Robertson, he announced a market study of the banking sector.[21] As minister for state owned enterprises, he instituted reviews intoKiwiRail disruptions and weather forecasting.[22][23]
Webb was re-elected in Christchurch Central for a third time in October 2023, defeating Dale Stephens by a decreased margin of 1,841 votes.[24] He is currently the Deputy Shadow Leader of the House and holds the justice, regulation, Earthquake Commission, and Christchurch Issues portfolios in theShadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[25]
On 5 December 2023, Webb was granted retention of the titleThe Honourable, in recognition of his term as a member of theExecutive Council.[26]
Following a shadowcabinet reshuffle on 7 March 2025, Webb lost his Christchurch Issues portfolio but retained his other portfolios.[27] On 21 October 2025, Webb announced that he would retire from politics at thenext general election.[28]
In hismaiden speech, Webb identified himself as asocialist.[29] He voted in favour of theEnd of Life Choice Bill in 2019[30] andAbortion Legislation Bill in 2020.[31]
Dr Webb has stated that the Treaty of Waitangi is a fundamental part of New Zealand law, emphasising the importance of recognising and accepting the principles of the Treaty as integral to the nation's legal framework.[32]
Webb consistently advocates for government action to support those in need and for policies that promote a high-wage, low-carbon economy, reflecting his broader commitment to social justice and long-term planning for New Zealand’s future.[33]
As an MP and minister, Webb has played key roles in advancing climate change legislation and resource management reform, advocating for policies that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.[34]
Webb has also defended theBoycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign as a form of non-violent protest againstIsraeli policies towards thePalestinians.[35] In early June 2018, Webb also presented a petition on behalf of Palestinian solidarity activist Donna Miles that asked Parliament to request theNew Zealand Superannuation Fund to divest from "illegal" Israeli settlements in theWest Bank.[36] In August 2018, Webb hosted a meeting withUnite Union Director Mike Treen, who participated in the International Freedom Flotilla's attempt that year to breach the Israeliblockade of theGaza Strip.[37][38] Webb's Palestinian activism has drawn criticism from Zionist advocacy groups including the Israel Institute of New Zealand (IINZ), theAustralia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC),[39][40] and theNew Zealand Jewish Council.[41]
On 11 May 2021, Webb and 16 other New Zealand Members of Parliament donnedkeffiyeh to mark World Keffiyeh Day.[42]
Despite his vocal support for the Palestinians, Webb expressed disagreement with the use of the controversial chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." The chant has been alleged to be associated withanti-Semitism and support forHamas. Following controversy around Green MPChlöe Swarbrick's use of the phrase during a Palestinian solidarity rally held in response to theGaza war in November 2023, Webb said "he didn't participate if the chant started at rallies he attended."[43]
In early August 2024, Webb attracted controversy after posting anInstagram video where he spoke at a rally where protesters chanted "Hey,Luxon, what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?." Webb also gave a speech denouncing the "demonisation" of Palestinians, alleged "Israeli apartheid," and calling for an end to theGaza war. While Labour leaderChris Hipkins initially defended Webb, he subsequently expressed disagreement with the chants used during the protest. In response,National Party leader andPrime Minister Luxon denounced Webb's behaviour as "beyond the pale" and labelled Hipkins a hypocrite for not taking stronger action against Webb.[44]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central 2017–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for State Owned Enterprises 2023 | Succeeded by |
| Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs 2023 | Succeeded by | |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Senior Whip of the Labour Party 2022–2023 | Succeeded by |
