Labour MP David Parker maintains tax policy disputes within the party are not behind his decision to leave politics.
Parker, an MP since 2002, today confirmed he would resign in early May after contemplating his future since Labour was kicked out of Government in the 2023 election.
In the months ahead of the election, Parker stepped down as Revenue Minister after then-Prime Minister Chris Hipkins ruled out introducing a wealth tax or capital gains tax under his leadership ahead of the 2023 election.
Parker, one of the chief architects of Labour’s tax proposals, had publicly expressed his disappointment following Hipkins’ decision not to progress work on a potential wealth tax and CGT as part of a tax switch in Budget 2023.
Labour was yet to announce the tax policy it would run on in 2026. Hipkins had stated previously considered policies were back on the table.
Speaking to reporters today, Parker said his decision had “nothing” to do with Labour’s tax policy and said he was happy with how tax discussions within the party had been progressing.
He did acknowledge there was “unfinished business” in New Zealand addressing the disparity in the tax paid by the wealthy.
Parker suspected he would remain “active” in party debates over tax as a Labour member but it wouldn’t extend to public political debate.
A former Cabinet minister, Parker held several portfolios while in Government, including trade, revenue, transport, energy and climate change. He also occupied the role of Attorney-General.
More recently, he had been vocal as Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman as the Government grappled with several complex geopolitical issues, including Russia’s war with Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
After 23 years in Parliament, which he described as “two life sentences without parole”, Parker said he hadn’t wanted to participate in another term in Government.
He had told party leader Hipkins about his thoughts about a year ago and confirmed his final decision this morning.
Asked why now, Parker recalled returning from a recent trip to the United Kingdom with jetlag before having to catch a 5am flight to Parliament.
“It occurred to me that 50 years earlier, when I was 15, I had a milk run and I had to get up at 5am every morning. I thought 50 years later, do I really want to be doing this forever?”
He pointed to his work concerning the Emissions Trading Scheme, improving the national quality of freshwater, promoting civil liberties during the Covid pandemic and overseeing interest deductibility changes as highlights.
Parker said he didn’t have another job lined up. He would give his valedictory speech in the House early next month.
Hipkins, citing Parker’s time as Labour’s deputy leader, said his outgoing colleague had “achieved an awful lot” as an MP.
“He’s been a principled, outspoken Member of Parliament, and we’ll certainly miss him.”
Hipkins also dismissed suggestions Parker’s departure had been prompted by disagreements over tax policy.
“David and I have had a number of discussions, particularly around things like tax, those have never been personal, we’ve actually had really constructive conversations about those, so that’s nothing to do with his decision at all.”
He also rebuffed the notion Parker didn’t back him as party leader, claiming Parker had been “incredibly supportive” after the election.
Parker first entered Parliament in 2002 as MP for Otago, beginning a career that spanned eight Parliaments.
Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.