David Farrar (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
David Peter Farrar is a New Zealand
political activist, blogger, and pollster. He is a frequent commentator in the media on Internet issues. Farrar has held many roles within the New Zealand National Party
and has worked in Parliament
for four National Party leaders.
His blog, Kiwiblog
, is the most widely read, and commented on, New Zealand blog
. Farrar also maintains a presence on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. The National Business Review
has stated that "Any realistic "power list" produced in this country would include either Farrar or his fellow blogger and opinion leader Russell Brown
." In August 2006, the then National Party leader Don Brash
posted a comment on Kiwiblog.
The New Zealand Listener
2009 Power List, named Farrar the 4th most powerful person in the New Zealand media saying "Kiwiblog has become part of the daily routine for Beltway insiders and others with an interest in politics and public policy."
Farrar writes weekly columns for the National Business Review and the iPredict futures site, and is a regular commentator on Radio New Zealand
and Newstalk ZB
.
and Rongotai College
.
He studied at the University of Otago
and later at Victoria University of Wellington
. Farrar served on the Council of Otago University as a student representative, was President of the Commerce Faculty Students' Association and chaired the Student Representative Council. While he was at the University of Otago, he was the Otago correspondent for Campus News an alternative student newspaper published by a group in Auckland but which was distributed nationwide. The newspaper was published between 1984 and 1988, and David's involvement ran from 1985 to 1987.
, and is a frequent commentator in both broadcast and print media on Internet issues.
company Curia. Farrar is a member of the Market Research Society of New Zealand.
Previously Farrar worked as a staff member of the Leader of the Opposition
(1999–2004), a staff member at National Party Head Office (1999 and 2004), a staff member in Ministerial Services under Jim Bolger (1996–1997) and in the Prime Minister's Office
under Jenny Shipley (1997–1999).
, due to his many years of service to the organisation.
He survived some media calls for his resignation as National Secretary when he was arrested for his part in a joke press release, along with fellow Young National Michael P Moore, announcing that maverick National MP Michael Laws
had been assassinated and that the Prime Minister was one of over 10,000 suspects. The joke press-release was made with the New Zealand Police
logo. Farrar and Moore were subsequently arrested, but not convicted of any crime as they chose to participate in a diversion scheme for first time offenders of minor crime. The infamous fax and related media items are now displayed at the Backbencher Bar on Molesworth Street in Wellington, across the road from the Parliament.
Farrar was the volunteer Campaign Manager for National's Wellington Central
candidate Mark Blumsky
. Blumsky was defeated in his attempt to become an electorate MP, but succeeded in entering parliament via the party list.
and the creation of Civil union
s in New Zealand. Farrar supports a New Zealand republic
, and is on the National Council of the New Zealand Republican Movement
. Economically his views are more classically right-wing and he has often supported policies advocated by parties identified to the right of National, such as ACT.
Farrar often appears before Parliamentary select committees on a range of issues - most recently the Electoral Finance Bill
. He often publishes his submissions on his blog.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
political activist, blogger, and pollster. He is a frequent commentator in the media on Internet issues. Farrar has held many roles within the New Zealand National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
and has worked in Parliament
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
for four National Party leaders.
His blog, Kiwiblog
Kiwiblog
Kiwiblog is a popular New Zealand right of centre politics blog written by David Farrar.Kiwiblog is one of the most widely read blogs in New Zealand...
, is the most widely read, and commented on, New Zealand blog
New Zealand blogosphere
New Zealand's blogosphere is a small community of around 600 blogs that comment largely on New Zealand politics, society and occurrences.- Political blogs :There are a considerable number of blogs that focus on the politics of New Zealand...
. Farrar also maintains a presence on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. The National Business Review
National Business Review
The National Business Review is a weekly New Zealand newspaper aimed at the business sector. The paper is owned by Barry Colman who also publishes the Grocers Review and several other small trade publications....
has stated that "Any realistic "power list" produced in this country would include either Farrar or his fellow blogger and opinion leader Russell Brown
Russell Brown (New Zealand)
Russell Brown is a well-known New Zealand media commentator, and the owner of the Public Address community of blogs, and writes Hard News Hard News the blog is based on the Hard News radio slot spoken by Brown from 1991 to 2002 on bFM, an Auckland student radio station...
." In August 2006, the then National Party leader Don Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
posted a comment on Kiwiblog.
The New Zealand Listener
New Zealand Listener
The New Zealand Listener is a New Zealand magazine. First published in 1939 and edited by Oliver Duff and the Monte Holcroft it originally had a monopoly on the publication of of upcoming television and radio programmes. In the 1980s it lost its monopoly on the publication of upcoming television...
2009 Power List, named Farrar the 4th most powerful person in the New Zealand media saying "Kiwiblog has become part of the daily routine for Beltway insiders and others with an interest in politics and public policy."
Farrar writes weekly columns for the National Business Review and the iPredict futures site, and is a regular commentator on Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
and Newstalk ZB
Newstalk ZB
Newstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talk radio network operated by The Radio Network of New Zealand . It is available in almost every radio market in the country, and has news reporters based in many of them...
.
Education
Farrar was educated in Wellington, attending St Mark's Church SchoolSt Mark's Church School
St Mark's Church School is the only independent Anglican co-educational school in Wellington, New Zealand for children aged from two to Year 8....
and Rongotai College
Rongotai College
Rongotai College is an all-boys state secondary school in the south-eastern suburb of Rongotai in Wellington, New Zealand. The students are aged 12 to 19.The decile 6 school has a roll of over 650 students...
.
He studied at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
and later at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
. Farrar served on the Council of Otago University as a student representative, was President of the Commerce Faculty Students' Association and chaired the Student Representative Council. While he was at the University of Otago, he was the Otago correspondent for Campus News an alternative student newspaper published by a group in Auckland but which was distributed nationwide. The newspaper was published between 1984 and 1988, and David's involvement ran from 1985 to 1987.
Internet advocacy
Farrar was Vice-President of the Internet Society of New Zealand, InternetNZInternetNZ
InternetNZ is a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting and promoting the Internet in New Zealand and fostering a coordinated, cooperative approach to its ongoing development.- Current Councillors :The elected InternetNZ council as at 2010-04-08 are Frank March ,...
, and is a frequent commentator in both broadcast and print media on Internet issues.
Career
Farrar is a director of New Zealand Domain Name Registry Ltd (.nz Registry Services), and manages his own market researchMarket research
Market research is any organized effort to gather information about markets or customers. It is a very important component of business strategy...
company Curia. Farrar is a member of the Market Research Society of New Zealand.
Previously Farrar worked as a staff member of the Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)
The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Parliament. In the debating chamber the Leader of the Opposition sits directly opposite the Prime Minister...
(1999–2004), a staff member at National Party Head Office (1999 and 2004), a staff member in Ministerial Services under Jim Bolger (1996–1997) and in the Prime Minister's Office
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of New Zealand is the department charged with supporting the Prime Minister of New Zealand and their Cabinet...
under Jenny Shipley (1997–1999).
Young Nationals
Farrar is an honorary life member of the Young NationalsNew Zealand Young Nationals
The New Zealand Young Nationals are the youth wing of the New Zealand National Party a centre-right political party in New Zealand. It is a member of the International Young Democrat Union.-History:...
, due to his many years of service to the organisation.
He survived some media calls for his resignation as National Secretary when he was arrested for his part in a joke press release, along with fellow Young National Michael P Moore, announcing that maverick National MP Michael Laws
Michael Laws
Michael Laws is a New Zealand politician, broadcaster and writer/columnist. He served two terms as a Member of the New Zealand Parliament, representing the National Party and New Zealand First . He was elected as Mayor of Wanganui in 2004, was re-elected in 2007 but announced his retirement from...
had been assassinated and that the Prime Minister was one of over 10,000 suspects. The joke press-release was made with the New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
logo. Farrar and Moore were subsequently arrested, but not convicted of any crime as they chose to participate in a diversion scheme for first time offenders of minor crime. The infamous fax and related media items are now displayed at the Backbencher Bar on Molesworth Street in Wellington, across the road from the Parliament.
Campaign Manager
At the 2005 general electionNew Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
Farrar was the volunteer Campaign Manager for National's Wellington Central
Wellington Central
rightWellington Central is a suburb of New Zealand's capital, Wellington, consisting of the flat, mostly reclaimed land, west of Lambton Harbour and the part of The Terrace immediately above it. It is bounded on the north by the suburb Pipitea and extends as far south as Civic Square...
candidate Mark Blumsky
Mark Blumsky
Mark Herbert Blumsky QSO is a New Zealand politician. He was Mayor of Wellington from 1995 to 2001, and Member of Parliament for the National Party from 2005 to 2008...
. Blumsky was defeated in his attempt to become an electorate MP, but succeeded in entering parliament via the party list.
Political views
Farrar tends to take a classical liberal approach to politics and ranks as a moderate centre-right on the political spectrum. He supported the decriminalisation of prostitutionProstitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and the creation of Civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
s in New Zealand. Farrar supports a New Zealand republic
Republicanism in New Zealand
Republicanism in New Zealand is a theoretical political concept, the implementation of which would result in changing New Zealand's current constitutional monarchy to that of a republic...
, and is on the National Council of the New Zealand Republican Movement
Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand is an organisation formed in 1994 whose object is to support the creation of a New Zealand republic . It is Chaired by Lewis Holden. The patron of the Movement is Keri Hulme, a New Zealand writer famous for her 1985 Booker Prize winning novel The Bone...
. Economically his views are more classically right-wing and he has often supported policies advocated by parties identified to the right of National, such as ACT.
Farrar often appears before Parliamentary select committees on a range of issues - most recently the Electoral Finance Bill
Electoral Finance Act
The Electoral Finance Act 2007 was a controversial act in New Zealand. The Electoral Finance Bill was introduced by the Fifth Labour Government partly in response to the 2005 New Zealand election funding controversy, in particular "third-party" campaigns....
. He often publishes his submissions on his blog.
See also
- New Zealand blogosphereNew Zealand blogosphereNew Zealand's blogosphere is a small community of around 600 blogs that comment largely on New Zealand politics, society and occurrences.- Political blogs :There are a considerable number of blogs that focus on the politics of New Zealand...