Peter McCardle

Peter McCardle (born 28 September 1955), is a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1990 to 1999, first as a member of the National Party, then as a member of New Zealand First, and finally as an independent. McCardle was deputy mayor of Upper Hutt from 2007 to 2013.

McCardle 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.

McCardle was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 elections as the National MP for the Heretaunga electorate, defeating the Labour MP Bill Jeffries. McCardle was re-elected in the 1993 elections, defeating Labour Party candidate Heather Simpson (now Helen Clark's Chief of Staff).

McCardle, however, found his party colleagues unwilling to adopt his radical employment policies, which were primarily based around the idea of "workfare". In 1996, after being involved in failed discussions with Mike Moore to form a new party, McCardle eventually decided to leave National and join the New Zealand First party, where he hoped to have greater influence.

McCardle was re-elected to Parliament as a New Zealand First list MP in the 1996 elections, also unsuccessfully contesting the Rimutaka seat. In the coalition government formed by National and New Zealand First, McCardle became Minister of Employment, and set about implementing some of his proposals. When the coalition began to collapse, McCardle 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.

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