John Luxton
Encyclopedia
Murray John Finlay Luxton, QSO
(born 1946) is a former New Zealand National Party
politician, and a son of Jack Luxton
who had previously held the same seat of Matamata. He was a National Party MP from 1987 to 2002.
and Massey University
(BAgSc, DipAgSc, DipBusSc, MMgt).
as the MP for Matamata
. He replaced his father Jack Luxton
, who held the seat of Piako
then Matamata for 21 years from 1966, and had been Chairman of Committees in Parliament.
Luxton held Matamata until the 1996 elections
, when a boundary change caused him to stand in the seat of Karapiro. In the 1999 elections
, he opted to become a list MP, leaving the Karapiro seat to newcomer Lindsay Tisch
.
, and Jim Bolger
became Prime Minister
, Luxton was appointed to Cabinet
. His ministerial roles have included Minister of Energy, Minister of Housing, Minister of Maori Affairs
, Minister of Police, Minister of Commerce, and Minister of Agriculture. Luxton was regarded by many as one of the more economically liberal members of the National Party.
. More recently he was one of the founders of the Open Country Cheese Company and the Kaimai Cheese Company, located near Matamata, in the Waikato.
He holds a number of directorships in the agribusiness sector, has farming interests and is currently chair of DairyNZ. He is married to Mary Scholtens, QC.
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(born 1946) is a former 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:...
politician, and a son of Jack Luxton
Jack Luxton
John Finlay "Jack" Luxton, QSO was a dairy farmer and New Zealand politician. He entered Parliament in 1966 as the National Party member for Piako and then, after boundary changes, Matamata. He represented the predominantly rural electorate for 21 years, to 1987.Luxton was a dairy farmer in...
who had previously held the same seat of Matamata. He was a National Party MP from 1987 to 2002.
Early life
He was educated at Hamilton Boys' High SchoolHamilton Boys' High School
Hamilton Boys' High School is a boys' secondary school in Hamilton, New Zealand. The school was established as Hamilton High School in 1903 but was later split into separate boys' and girls' schools. The school crest features a lion, sash and star, and bears the motto "Sapiens Fortunam Fingit Sibi"...
and Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
(BAgSc, DipAgSc, DipBusSc, MMgt).
Member of Parliament
Luxton was first elected to Parliament in the 1987 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1987
The 1987 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 43rd sitting of the New Zealand Parliament. The governing New Zealand Labour Party, led by Prime Minister David Lange, was re-elected for a second term, although the Opposition National Party made gains...
as the MP for Matamata
Matamata (New Zealand electorate)
Matamata was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate in the Waikato, from 1978 to 1996. It was a rural and safe National electorate, held by Jack Luxton from 1978 to 1987, and then by his son John Luxton from 1987 to 1996.-Population centres:...
. He replaced his father Jack Luxton
Jack Luxton
John Finlay "Jack" Luxton, QSO was a dairy farmer and New Zealand politician. He entered Parliament in 1966 as the National Party member for Piako and then, after boundary changes, Matamata. He represented the predominantly rural electorate for 21 years, to 1987.Luxton was a dairy farmer in...
, who held the seat of Piako
Piako
Piako was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It was held by Lindsay Tisch MP from 2002 to 2008.-Population centres:The electorate included the population centres of Matamata, Cambridge, Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Waharoa, Waitoa, Waharoa, Huntly, Ngaruawahia, and Ohaupo.-History:Piako was a rural...
then Matamata for 21 years from 1966, and had been Chairman of Committees in Parliament.
Luxton held Matamata until the 1996 elections
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, when a boundary change caused him to stand in the seat of Karapiro. In the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, he opted to become a list MP, leaving the Karapiro seat to newcomer Lindsay Tisch
Lindsay Tisch
William Lindsay Tisch, known as Lindsay Tisch, JP, is a New Zealand politician, and member of the National Party.-Member of Parliament:...
.
Minister
The National Party won the 1990 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
, and Jim Bolger
Jim Bolger
James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
became Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
, Luxton was appointed to Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
. His ministerial roles have included Minister of Energy, Minister of Housing, Minister of Maori Affairs
Minister of Maori Affairs
The Minister of Māori Affairs is the minister of the New Zealand government with broad responsibility for government policy towards Māori, the first inhabitants of New Zealand. The current Minister of Māori Affairs is Dr. Pita Sharples.-Role:...
, Minister of Police, Minister of Commerce, and Minister of Agriculture. Luxton was regarded by many as one of the more economically liberal members of the National Party.
After Politics
Luxton did not seek re-election in the 2002 electionsNew Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
. More recently he was one of the founders of the Open Country Cheese Company and the Kaimai Cheese Company, located near Matamata, in the Waikato.
He holds a number of directorships in the agribusiness sector, has farming interests and is currently chair of DairyNZ. He is married to Mary Scholtens, QC.