David Butcher

David John Butcher (born 1948) is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

He represented the electorate of Hastings in Parliament from 1978 to 1990, when he was defeated by Jeff Whittaker: one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government. He was a Cabinet minister, and Minister of Energy.

He attended Karamu High School in Hastings with broadcaster Paul Holmes, and Victoria University of Wellington. While attending Victoria University he was President of the Victoria University Labour Club. From 1972-74 He worked as an economist in the Labour Department, Wellington. During 1974-75 he travelled overseas to Malaysia, Austria, UK, Sweden, Finland, Romania, Spain, Portugal and France. From 1976 until 1978 he was a Field Officer for the Wellington Clerical Workers' Union and the New Zealand Labourers' Union in Hawke's Bay. He stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Hawkes Bay three times, in the 1969 election, 1972 election and 1975 election, before becoming an MP for the seat of Hastings in the 1978 election.

As a Minister, David Butcher had responsibility for ensuring that privatised utilities operated in a competitive environment, or were subjected to appropriate regulation. Since 1990 he has worked on assignments in more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Since 1990 he has been the Manager of David Butcher and Associates.

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