Dr the Rt Hon Lockwood Smith

Lockwood Smith

List MP

Ministerial Portfolios

Speaker of the House

Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith is one of New Zealand’s most experienced MPs. Dr Smith entered Parliament in 1984 as MP for Kaipara. In 1996 as a result of boundary changes he became MP for Rodney until 2011.

Following the formation of a National-led Government in 2008, Dr Smith was elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives. In December 2011 he was unanimously re-elected as Speaker of the House.

Dr Smith has held a number of positions during his time at Parliament. During the 1990s he served as a senior minister in the various National-led Governments.

As Minister of Education, he led the first comprehensive re-design of the school curriculum in a generation and developed the qualifications framework that made possible the huge expansion of tertiary education.

Later he became Minister of Agriculture, and began the process of encouraging producer boards to develop new industry structures to enable to them to better compete in global markets.

As Trade Minister, it was Dr Smith’s privilege to lead APEC Trade Ministers through 1999 and initiate with Singapore, New Zealand’s first Free Trade Agreement in Asia.

Dr Smith also served as Deputy Minister of Finance, Minister of Forestry, Minister of Tourism, Minister Responsible for Contact Energy Ltd, Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office, and Minister Responsible for the National Library.

Prior to entering politics, Dr Smith was the New Zealand Dairy Board’s marketing manager for Central and South East Asia. He had previously been a university lecturer and also hosted educational children’s television shows in Australia and New Zealand.

Born in November 1948, Dr Smith was educated at Matakohe Primary School, Ruawai District High School, Auckland Grammar School and Massey University. A Commonwealth Scholar, he graduated from Adelaide University with a PhD in Animal Science in 1980.

He remains a keen sportsman having represented Adelaide University and South Australia in rowing, winning five state championships. He served as captain of the Adelaide University Boat Club and Chairman of the Lyall Bay Surf Lifesaving Club in Wellington.

Lockwood lives in Ruawai with his wife, Alexandra where they run a beef farming operation.

Contact Details:

Email: lockwood.smith@national.org.nz
Website: www.lockwoodsmith.co.nz
Phone: (04) 817 8234 (Parliament)