Mark Burton
Encyclopedia
Richard Mark Burton (born 16 January 1956) is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party
. He served as Minister of Defence; Minister of Justice; Minister of Local Government; Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations; Deputy Leader of the House; and the Minister Responsible for the Law Commission in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
.
, England, but was brought to New Zealand by his family when ten years old. He attended high school in Wanganui
. He has been involved in a wide range of social and community organisations, including the Red Cross, the Department of Social Welfare, the Central Plateau Rural Education Activities Programme, the Council of Social Services, the Taupo
Employment Support Trust, and the Taupo
Sexual Abuse Counselling Service. He received a medal for his work in 1990.
, Burton stood as the Labour Party
's candidate for Tongariro
, an electorate in the central North Island
, defeating Ian Peters
. This later became the seat of Taupo
, which Burton retained.
Due to boundary changes to the Taupo
seat for the 2008 general election, including the incorporation of the National-leaning area of Cambridge
, his seat is now considered the most marginal in the country.
From 1996
to 1999
, he served as his party
's Senior Whip
.
, Burton became part of the new Cabinet
, assuming the roles of Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Defence
, Minister for State-Owned Enterprises
, Minister of Tourism, and Minister of Veterans' Affairs. In 2002
, Internal Affairs and Veterans' Affairs were transferred to George Hawkins
. In February 2005 he becomes the Minister of Treaty of Waitangi
Negotiations, and dropped the State-Owned Enterprises
portfolio.
In late 2004, with Jonathan Hunt
set to retire from politics, Burton was regarded by many as the Labour Party's
preferred choice to replace him as Speaker of the House of Representatives
. In the end, however, Labour decided to nominate Margaret Wilson
for the position.
Burton sponsored the introduction of the Electoral Finance Act, which made election funding more transparent and open by making anonymous donations illegal if they exceed the sum of $12,000. The Act capped the highest donation to the sum of $120,000 and increased public funding in elections to allow for more funding to go to a wider range of parties. The Act extended the regulated period classifying an election year to 1 January of the election year.
In November 2007 Burton resigned from his Cabinet
positions during Prime Minister Helen Clark
's portfolio renewal. When Labour's party list was written prior to the 2008 general election
, he was given a low placing of 39. He then lost his seat in a nation-wide swing to the National Party
, and due to his place on the list, was not returned to parliament.
After Darren Hughes
resigned his list seat in 2011, and the next MP on the Labour Party list, Judith Tizard
, declined to take it up, Burton was entitled to reenter Parliament for the remainder of the term, but also declined.
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. He served as Minister of Defence; Minister of Justice; Minister of Local Government; Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations; Deputy Leader of the House; and the Minister Responsible for the Law Commission in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand between 10 December 1999 and 19 November 2008.-Overview:The fourth National government, in power since 1990, was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms,...
.
Early life
Burton was born in NorthamptonNorthampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, England, but was brought to New Zealand by his family when ten years old. He attended high school in Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
. He has been involved in a wide range of social and community organisations, including the Red Cross, the Department of Social Welfare, the Central Plateau Rural Education Activities Programme, the Council of Social Services, the Taupo
Taupo
Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
Employment Support Trust, and the Taupo
Taupo
Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
Sexual Abuse Counselling Service. He received a medal for his work in 1990.
Member of Parliament
In the 1993 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1993
The 1993 New Zealand general election was held on 6 November 1993 to determine the composition of the 44th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Jim Bolger, win a second term in office, despite a major swing back towards the Labour Party. The new Alliance and New...
, Burton stood as the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
's candidate for Tongariro
Tongariro (New Zealand electorate)
Tongariro is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1984 to 1996.-History:The Tongariro electorate was created in 1984.In 1996, the first MMP election the electorate was included in the Taupo electorate.-Election results:-References:...
, an electorate in the central North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, defeating Ian Peters
Ian Peters
Ian Peters was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the Tongariro electorate in Parliament from 1990 to 1993, when he was defeated by Mark Burton...
. This later became the seat of Taupo
Taupo (New Zealand electorate)
rightTaupō is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Taupō is Louise Upston of the National Party. She has held this position since 2008.The current Taupō seat was created ahead of the introduction...
, which Burton retained.
Due to boundary changes to the Taupo
Taupo (New Zealand electorate)
rightTaupō is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Taupō is Louise Upston of the National Party. She has held this position since 2008.The current Taupō seat was created ahead of the introduction...
seat for the 2008 general election, including the incorporation of the National-leaning area of Cambridge
Cambridge, New Zealand
Cambridge is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. Situated 24 kilometres southeast of Hamilton, on the banks of the Waikato River, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champions".In the 1840s Cambridge had a Maori population but in the 1850's missionaries and...
, his seat is now considered the most marginal in the country.
From 1996
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
to 1999
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, he served as his party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
's Senior Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
.
Cabinet minister
When the Labour Party won power in the 1999 electionNew Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, Burton became part of the new Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
, assuming the roles of Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Defence
Minister of Defence (New Zealand)
The Minister of Defence is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand armed forces and the Ministry of Defence.The present Minister is Dr...
, Minister for State-Owned Enterprises
State-Owned Enterprises of New Zealand
State-owned enterprises in New Zealand are registered companies listed under Schedules 1 and 2 of the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986...
, Minister of Tourism, and Minister of Veterans' Affairs. In 2002
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
, Internal Affairs and Veterans' Affairs were transferred to George Hawkins
George Warren Hawkins
George Warren Hawkins is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:Hawkins was born in 1946 in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden. He attended Dominion Road Primary School, Mount Albert Grammar School and then Auckland Teachers' College.-Papakura:Hawkins was a...
. In February 2005 he becomes the Minister of Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
Negotiations, and dropped the State-Owned Enterprises
State-Owned Enterprises of New Zealand
State-owned enterprises in New Zealand are registered companies listed under Schedules 1 and 2 of the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986...
portfolio.
In late 2004, with Jonathan Hunt
Jonathan Hunt (New Zealand)
Jonathan Lucas Hunt, ONZ is a New Zealand politician, and was New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2005 to March 2008. He formerly served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was until recently the longest-serving MP...
set to retire from politics, Burton was regarded by many as the Labour Party's
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
preferred choice to replace him as Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
. In the end, however, Labour decided to nominate Margaret Wilson
Margaret Wilson
Dame Margaret Wilson DCNZM is a New Zealand academic and former politician. She was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives during the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand. She is a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:...
for the position.
Burton sponsored the introduction of the Electoral Finance Act, which made election funding more transparent and open by making anonymous donations illegal if they exceed the sum of $12,000. The Act capped the highest donation to the sum of $120,000 and increased public funding in elections to allow for more funding to go to a wider range of parties. The Act extended the regulated period classifying an election year to 1 January of the election year.
In November 2007 Burton resigned from his Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
positions during Prime Minister Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
's portfolio renewal. When Labour's party list was written prior to the 2008 general election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
, he was given a low placing of 39. He then lost his seat in a nation-wide swing to the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
, and due to his place on the list, was not returned to parliament.
After Darren Hughes
Darren Hughes
Darren Colyn Hughes was a New Zealand Member of Parliament between 2002 and 2011, first elected at the age of 24. He represented the Labour Party and was a Minister outside Cabinet in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand....
resigned his list seat in 2011, and the next MP on the Labour Party list, Judith Tizard
Judith Tizard
Judith Tizard is a former New Zealand politician. She was a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:Judith Ngaire Tizard was born in Auckland in 1956...
, declined to take it up, Burton was entitled to reenter Parliament for the remainder of the term, but also declined.
Political offices
Further reading
- Burton's contribution is a paper entitled: " New Zealand defence: playing our part as a responsible world citizen."
- Burton's contribution is a paper entitled: "Impact on government: a political perspective."