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Peter McCardle
Biography
BiographyPeter McCardle was born on 28 September 1955. He originally worked for the New Zealand Employment Service, and was prompted to enter politics by a desire to make a significant contribution to unemployment and welfare policy.
He was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 elections as the National MP for the Heretaunga electorate, defeating the Labour MP Bill Jeffries, and was re-elected 1993.
McCardle, however, found his party colleagues unwilling to adopt his radical employment policies, which were primarily based around the idea of "workfare". In February 1995 a 'Listener' article said that the United Progressive Party had suggested that Peter was one of two National members who might join it; Peter said he would not join it or Christian Heritage. In 1996, after being involved in failed discussions with Mike Moore to form a new party, he left National on April 4, and joined the New Zealand First party, where he hoped to have greater influence. Many of the party's employment policies were based on his.
He was re-elected to Parliament as a New Zealand First list MP in the 1996 elections, and also unsuccessfully contested the Rimutaka seat. In the coalition government formed by National and New Zealand First, Peter became Minister of Employment, and set about implementing some of his proposals. When the coalition began to collapse, he joined the group that broke from New Zealand First to continue supporting the government. He did not retain his Employment portfolio, but was given other ministerial roles. He remained an independent for the duration of the parliamentary term, but did not choose to seek re-election.
Soon after the 1999 election Dr. Muriel Newman, the ACT Welfare Spokesman, hired him as a of head of the ACT Parliamentary Research Unit. He left his ACT Parliamentary Office role before the 2005 election, to write his memoirs.
In the 2001 local body elections and district health board elections Peter was elected as an Upper Hutt City councillor and Hutt Valley District Health Board member, both roles he successfully defended in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
He had a quintuple-bypass heart operation on March 30, 2005.
He was re-elected to the Upper Hutt council in 2010 He served as deputy mayor from 2007 to 2013 but stood down at the 2013 election, to campaign against local-body amalgamation in the Wellington region.
Peter resigned from the Hutt Valley District Health Board in 2008, when he became senior advisor to the new National Party Minister of Health, Tony Ryall.
Information from Wikipedia
He was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 elections as the National MP for the Heretaunga electorate, defeating the Labour MP Bill Jeffries, and was re-elected 1993.
McCardle, however, found his party colleagues unwilling to adopt his radical employment policies, which were primarily based around the idea of "workfare". In February 1995 a 'Listener' article said that the United Progressive Party had suggested that Peter was one of two National members who might join it; Peter said he would not join it or Christian Heritage. In 1996, after being involved in failed discussions with Mike Moore to form a new party, he left National on April 4, and joined the New Zealand First party, where he hoped to have greater influence. Many of the party's employment policies were based on his.
He was re-elected to Parliament as a New Zealand First list MP in the 1996 elections, and also unsuccessfully contested the Rimutaka seat. In the coalition government formed by National and New Zealand First, Peter became Minister of Employment, and set about implementing some of his proposals. When the coalition began to collapse, he joined the group that broke from New Zealand First to continue supporting the government. He did not retain his Employment portfolio, but was given other ministerial roles. He remained an independent for the duration of the parliamentary term, but did not choose to seek re-election.
Soon after the 1999 election Dr. Muriel Newman, the ACT Welfare Spokesman, hired him as a of head of the ACT Parliamentary Research Unit. He left his ACT Parliamentary Office role before the 2005 election, to write his memoirs.
In the 2001 local body elections and district health board elections Peter was elected as an Upper Hutt City councillor and Hutt Valley District Health Board member, both roles he successfully defended in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
He had a quintuple-bypass heart operation on March 30, 2005.
He was re-elected to the Upper Hutt council in 2010 He served as deputy mayor from 2007 to 2013 but stood down at the 2013 election, to campaign against local-body amalgamation in the Wellington region.
Peter resigned from the Hutt Valley District Health Board in 2008, when he became senior advisor to the new National Party Minister of Health, Tony Ryall.
Information from Wikipedia
Photos
Details
Date of Birth28th September 1955SexMale
SexMaleMarriage
WifeAnna
Family
ChildElizabeth, 10 June 1991Emma Louise, December 1994
Emma Louise, December 1994Connections
Peter McCardle. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 19/03/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24106