National Party of New Zealand (original) (raw)

Dr Lockwood Smith is one of New Zealand’s most experienced parliamentarians having represented the Kaipara and now Rodney electorate since 1984. Following the 1999 election, he was given responsibility for the commerce, communications, and statistics portfolios as well as Associate Spokesman on Finance. He sees his role as working with contemporary New Zealand business to develop policy that will enable them to thrive in the new, technology-based, global economy.

As MP for Rodney, Dr Smith has signed a pledge that he will support policies that:

Lower taxes, not raise them

Promote workplace co-operation, not union control

Promote improved health, education and housing

Reduce costs for businesses, not tie them up in red tape

Deliver new opportunities for our exporters in overseas markets

During the 1990s, Dr Smith served as a senior minister in the various National-led Governments. As minister of Education, his most important achievement was leading the first comprehensive redevelopment of the school curriculum in a generation. Later he became Minister of Agriculture, and began the process of encouraging producer boards to develop new industry structures to enable them to better compete in global markets. As Trade Minister, it was Dr Smith’s privilege to lead APEC Trade Ministers through 1999 and to sign a Treaty with Singapore to steadily build a new Free Trade Agreement involving the most dynamic Asia Pacific economies. Dr Smith also served as Deputy Minister of Finance, Minister of Forestry, Minister of Tourism, Minister Responsible for Contact Energy Ltd, Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office and Minister Responsible for the National Library.

Prior to entering politics, Dr Smith was the New Zealand Dairy Board’s marketing manager for Central and South East Asia. He had previously been a university lecturer and also hosted educational children’s television shows in Australia and New Zealand. He continues to run a beef farming operation in Northland.

Dr Smith was born in November 1948 and educated at Matakohe Primary School, Ruawai District High School, Auckland Grammar School, Massey University and the University of Adelaide. In 1980, he graduated from Adelaide University with a PhD in Animal Science. He remains a keen sportsman, having represented Adelaide University and South Australia in rowing, winning five state championships, and served as captain of the Adelaide University Boat Club.