Cabinet newcomer thrust into big roles

David Parker moves in to Parliament. Marty Melville / Getty Images

Low-profile Labour backbencher David Parker has come from nowhere to be thrust into big portfolios.

In a meteoric rise, the 45-year-old is the new Minister of Energy and Transport, and Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues.

The former lawyer and businessman also takes the role of Attorney-General from Finance Minister Michael Cullen.

Surrounded by packed boxes in his small Parliament office yesterday, Mr Parker said he was "chuffed" and his roles were a "dream come true".

It is also a big workload for the MP, elected in 2002 in the Otago seat with a slim majority. He lost the seat this election to National by 1995 votes.

Mr Parker could be considered a de facto minister of infrastructure. Previously Trevor Mallard had Energy and Pete Hodgson had Transport as well as being convenor of the ministerial group on climate change.

Mr Parker said he had not thought about the role that way but Energy, Transport and Climate Change were a good fit "given the current issues".

The importance of his new roles was underscored immediately by a National Party media release attacking him. Deputy leader Gerry Brownlee said Helen Clark had shown her "complete disregard" for the infrastructure crisis by giving the Cabinet newcomer the critical Energy and Transport portfolios.

Mr Brownlee said Mr Parker had been "rejected" by the Otago electorate and New Zealanders expected transportation and energy to be taken far more seriously.

Mr Parker said the Transport portfolio came to him in good shape as the Government had poured money into fixing roading and public transport over the last two terms.

But he acknowledged there were many issues to grapple with in the Energy portfolio, such as rising oil prices and new power generation.

Both new generation and moves to reduce demand were required.

"I think both make rational economic and environmental sense."

The Government also had to reconsider whether the country had real competition in the wholesale and retail electricity markets.

"We've got to look at whether the present model is delivering us the security of supply that we want. We also have to be careful we don't over-invest."

As well as his involvement in successful biotech and funds management business ventures, Mr Parker has had failures, one of which was Dunedin's St James Theatre. He was involved in restoring the building and setting up a business in it that failed financially.

While he hated failures, he said he was also aware that without them he would be a "more arrogant and less nice person".

Mr Parker's elevation shows he has the confidence of Helen Clark and Dr Cullen. He worked closely with Dr Cullen on the foreshore and seabed issue and chaired the Corngate select committee inquiry.

Perhaps tellingly, after the election he spent a week with Helen Clark, her husband Peter Davis, and MP Damien O'Connor on a skiing, climbing and tramping trip in the South Island's Mackenzie Country.

David Parker

* Labour list MP.

* Lives in Dunedin, married with three children.

* Was a managing partner at the South Island's largest law firm, Anderson Lloyd.

* Helped to establish agri-biotech companies and a funds management business.

* Became active in Labour in the 1990s.

- additional reporting NZPA