David Parker ‘just decided it’s time’, will exit politics in May
Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Outgoing MP David Parker said his decision to leave Parliament was because he thought “it was probably time to leave”.
“I just about didn't stand again in the 2023 election, but I had some things that I wanted to push along, which have been pushed along and will stay alive for the future.
“But I also knew that I didn't want to do a long period in opposition, having done nine years in opposition and been through two governments.”
Parker went to Labour leader Chris Hipkins a year ago and said he had not decided if he would stand again, but would let him know at least a year before election 2026.
“You're never finished in this job. You got to call it quit sometime. I've come to sort of an end point in the resetting of the Labour Party's Foreign Affairs position, and my big push into trying to control what I think is a very important issue, which is irresponsible social media ruining the mental health of our young people, and scamming people out of their life savings and things.
“So I thought it was good time as any to call it.”
He laughed when asked if there were any other decisions to leave.
“I went to the UK recently, and I arrived back with jet lag. I had to get up at 4:30am to head to the airport at five to get a plane down here. And it occurred to me that 50 years earlier, when I was 15, I had a milk run that I had to get up at 5am every morning. I thought, 50 years later, do I really want to be doing this forever?”
In his political career he was most proud of his work in the environment, “I know it sounds pointy headed, but internalising environmental externalities economic transactions”, the Covid Response Act, and his work on interest deductibility.
“I've had a very fulfilling time here. It's been hard work, but I've loved it.“
He ruled out going into local government.
Hipkins said Parker’s resignation from Parliament had nothing to do with disagreements over tax policy, or because of his leadership.
“We had really constructive conversations about [tax policy], that’s nothing to do with his decision at all,” Hipkins said.
“I think he’s just decided it’s the right time for him. That’s certainly what he’s indicated to me, and I absolutely accept that at face value.”
Parker announced on Tuesday he was standing down from Parliament, having first entered 23 years ago, in 2002. He will give his valedictory in May.
Hipkins said Parker had told him last week he was “giving some thoughts to his own future”, having signalled the same after the last election. “I said it’s entirely his decision to make,” said Hipkins of their post-election conversation.
Parker had confirmed his decision to him this morning, and Hipkins paid tribute to Parker’s time in politics.
“He has achieved an awful lot during his time [in Parliament]. No-one’s work in politics is ever finished, and I’m sure David steps away with that same sense as well. But I think he has made a difference. He has contributed to a higher quality of life for New Zealand. We will certainly miss him.”
Hipkins said their tax conversations were never “personal” and Parker had been “incredibly supportive” of his leadership.
“I don’t think that was part of David’s decision He’s just decided that it’s time. Twenty-three years as a Member of Parliament is a pretty long innings for anybody. I think David’s decided that it’s time for him to go and do some other things. He wants to have another iteration of his life before retirement, and I respect that, that’s totally understandable.”
In mid-2023, Parker said it was “untenable” for him to remain in his role as then revenue minister. Parker had been pushing his colleagues to agree to tax reform and had voiced his concern that the wealthiest Kiwis were paying about half the tax rate of the average Kiwi.
Asked if he made the request to relinquish the portfolio because of his disagreement with Hipkins over wealth tax, Parker said at the time: “Look, you know, my views on those things. I thought it was untenable for me to continue, so I suggested to Chris that it was in the best interest of him and the party that someone else take that role.”
He had proposed a “tax switch”, alongside former-finance minister Grant Robertson. They wanted to deliver tax cuts to almost everyone, with a 0% tax rate for income under $10,000.
To afford that, they proposed a 1.5% tax on accumulated net wealth over about $5 million. That would mean about 46,000 people would have to pay the wealth tax, in their “tax switch” proposal which Hipkins, then prime minister, rejected.
Announcing his resignation, Parker said, “It has been a privilege to be elected by the people of New Zealand to represent their interests in Parliament for the last 23 years.
“I leave enthusiastic for New Zealand and for the New Zealand Labour Party. I want to thank my Parliamentary colleagues and wish them well for the hard work ahead.
“I was a serial entrepreneur before coming to Parliament and have been an agent for change while here. I will return to the private sector and continue building a prosperous and egalitarian nation.”
In 2002 Parker held the seat of Otago for a term, and remained a list MP for the rest of his time in Parliament.
In Parker’s 2002 maiden speech, he said he felt like “Harry Potter arriving at Hogwarts School of Wizardry”.
“I have had no trouble identifying Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid; I am still a little scared of them. My fellow MPs have suggested many candidates for Voldemort, but I will reserve judgment.”
He also touched on the Dunstan Hospital’s need for an upgrade, keeping inflation under control, the then-proposed Supreme Court and criticising the Reserve Bank “for imposing inappropriate monetary policy”.
“My background is in business and law. My interest in constitutional law dates back to my days as a young lawyer, when I challenged the vires of the rent freeze regulations,” he said at the time. “I lost, but the subsequent Labour Government did not, and properly curbed the excessive powers of the executive.”
During his time in Government, Parker was attorney-general in 2005-2006 and also 2017-2023.
Parker held a range of ministerial portfolios in 2005-2008 and 2017-2023, in the areas of finance, revenue, environment, climate change, energy and transport.