Jonathan Hunt (New Zealand politician)

The Right Honourable Jonathan Lucas Hunt ONZ
Jonathan Hunt in 2006, in the penthouse in New Zealand House, London
26th Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 5 December 1999 – 3 March 2005
Prime Minister	Helen Clark
Preceded by	Doug Kidd
Succeeded by	Margaret Wilson
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for New Lynn
In office 1966–1996
Preceded by	Rex Mason
Succeeded by	Phil Goff
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour Party list
In office 1996–2005
Succeeded by	Lesley Soper
Personal details
Born	(1938-12-02) 2 December 1938 (age 78) Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Profession	High school teacher

Jonathan Lucas Hunt, ONZ (born 2 December 1938) 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 in Parliament. Hunt is a member of the Order of New Zealand, New Zealand's highest civilian honour. Hunt was given the nickname the "Minister for Wine and Cheese" after his well-known liking of the combo.

Hunt was born in Lower Hutt, but grew up in Palmerston North. He had a twin brother, David, who died four days after they were born. Hunt's father was a child welfare officer, reassigned to the Manawatu in 1942. Hunt was educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School and later Auckland Grammar School, later he enrolled at the University of Auckland, where he gained a BA (Hons) degree in history.

In 1958 Hunt was elected editor of the Auckland University Students' Association's (AUSA) Craccum magazine for the 1959 year. While at University Hunt is also credited with founding the Princes Street Labour branch.

After graduating, Hunt became a History, English and Latin teacher from 1961 to 1966 at Kelston Boys High School in West Auckland where he also coached cricket. He was then a university tutor. Hunt also has a long-standing relationship with the Department of Political Studies at the University, which for many years has collected and archived Hunt's personal and professional papers.