The Minister of Agriculture is a ministerial

Minister (government)

A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....

 portfolio in the government of New Zealand.

the Minister of Agriculture is David Carter

David Carter (politician)

David Cunningham Carter is a New Zealand politician, currently a government cabinet minister. He is a member of the National Party.-Early life:...

, of 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:...

. There is no Associate Minister of Agriculture although the position has existed in the past.

Responsibilities and powers

The Minister of Agriculture is the Responsible Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (New Zealand)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is the state sector organisation of New Zealand which deals with matters relating to agriculture, forestry and biosecurity...

. Related portfolios include Minister for Biosecurity, Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Forestry, and in the past, Minister for Lands.

History

John McKenzie

John McKenzie (New Zealand)

Sir John McKenzie KCMG was a New Zealand politician. He served as Minister of Lands and Agriculture in the Liberal Government of John Ballance.-Early life:...

 established the Department of Agriculture on 31 March 1892, and the first minister was appointed on 17 October 1889.

Between 1972 and 1977 the portfolio was titled "Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries". It was also briefly titled "Minister of Food, Fibre and Biosecurity", but responding to farmers' demands Labour returned it to "Minister of Agriculture" after winning the 1999 election

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...

.

Prior to Keith Holyoake

Keith Holyoake

Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...

 receiving it in 1949, the portfolio "had become notorious as a political graveyard".

List of Ministers of Agriculture

#	Name	PM served	Took office	Left office	Party	Notes
1	George Richardson	Atkinson Harry Atkinson Henry Albert "Harry" Atkinson served as the tenth Premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years...	17 October 1889	24 January 1891	Liberal New Zealand Liberal Party The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
2	John McKenzie John McKenzie (New Zealand) Sir John McKenzie KCMG was a New Zealand politician. He served as Minister of Lands and Agriculture in the Liberal Government of John Ballance.-Early life:...	Ballance John Ballance John Ballance served as the 14th Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century, and was the founder of the Liberal Party .-Early life:... , Seddon Richard Seddon Richard John Seddon , sometimes known as King Dick, is to date the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded by some, including historian Keith Sinclair, as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders....	24 January 1891	27 June 1900	Liberal
3	Thomas Young Duncan Thomas Young Duncan Thomas Young Duncan was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.He represented the Waitaki electorate from 1881 to 1890 and then the Oamaru electorate from 1890 to 1911, when he was defeated by Ernest Lee.-References:...	Seddon Richard Seddon Richard John Seddon , sometimes known as King Dick, is to date the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded by some, including historian Keith Sinclair, as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders....	2 July 1900	10 June 1906	Liberal
	Robert McNab Robert McNab Dr Robert McNab was a New Zealand lawyer, farmer, historian, and politician of the Liberal Party.He represented the Mataura electorate from 1893 to 1896 when he was defeated by George Richardson. In 1898 Richardson was adjudged bankrupt...	Ward Joseph Ward Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...	6 August 1906	1908	Liberal
	Thomas Mackenzie Thomas Mackenzie Sir Thomas Noble Mackenzie GCMG was a Scottish-born New Zealand politician and explorer who briefly served as the 18th Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1912, and later served as New Zealand High Commissioner in London....	Ward Joseph Ward Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...	1 May 1909	<=May 1912	Liberal
	William Massey William Massey William Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular...	(himself)	10 July 1912	>=18 June 1915	Liberal
	William MacDonald William Donald Stuart MacDonald William Donald Stuart MacDonald was a New Zealand politician, Cabinet Minister, and briefly Leader of the Opposition.-Early life:MacDonald was born in Victoria in 1862). He emigrated to Poverty Bay in New Zealand in 1882...	Massey William Massey William Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular...	6 August 1915	1919	Liberal
	William Nosworthy William Nosworthy William Nosworthy was a New Zealand politician. He briefly served as Minister of Finance and then Minister of External Affairs in the Reform Government....	Massey William Massey William Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular... , Coates Gordon Coates Joseph Gordon Coates, MC and bar served as the 21st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928.- Early life :Born on the Hukatere Peninsula in Kaipara Harbour where his family ran a farm, Coates took on significant responsibility at a relatively early age because his father suffered from...	4 September 1919	>=21 January 1926	Reform New Zealand Reform Party The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
	Oswald Hawken Oswald Hawken Oswald James Hawken was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand, and was a cabinet minister 1926-28 in the Reform Government.He was elected to the Egmont electorate in the 1919 general election, but was defeated in 1928.-References:...	Coates Gordon Coates Joseph Gordon Coates, MC and bar served as the 21st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928.- Early life :Born on the Hukatere Peninsula in Kaipara Harbour where his family ran a farm, Coates took on significant responsibility at a relatively early age because his father suffered from...	<=23 February 1926	>= 20 March 1928	Reform
	George William Forbes George William Forbes George William Forbes served as the 22nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935. Few expected him to become Prime Minister when he did, and some believed him unsuitable, but he nevertheless remained in that office for five years...	Ward Joseph Ward Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...	10 December 1928	>=10 October 1929	United United Party (New Zealand) The United Party of New Zealand, a party formed out of the remnants of the Liberal Party, formed a government between 1928 and 1935, and in 1936 merged with the Reform Party to establish the National Party...
	Alfred Murdoch Alfred Murdoch Alfred James Murdoch was an New Zealand politician, first as an Independent Liberal then of the United Party, and from 1943 the National Party...	Forbes George William Forbes George William Forbes served as the 22nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935. Few expected him to become Prime Minister when he did, and some believed him unsuitable, but he nevertheless remained in that office for five years...	1930	1931	United
	David Jones David Jones (New Zealand) David Jones was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. From 1931 to 1932 he was Minister of Agriculture and Mines in the Liberal-Reform coalition Government....	Forbes George William Forbes George William Forbes served as the 22nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935. Few expected him to become Prime Minister when he did, and some believed him unsuitable, but he nevertheless remained in that office for five years...	1931	<=16 February 1932	Reform
	Charles MacMillan Charles MacMillan Charles Edward de la Barca MacMillan was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. He was a cabinet minister in the Liberal-Reform coalition government Charles Edward de la Barca MacMillan (1872–1941) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. He was a cabinet minister in...	Forbes George William Forbes George William Forbes served as the 22nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935. Few expected him to become Prime Minister when he did, and some believed him unsuitable, but he nevertheless remained in that office for five years...	1932	1935	Reform
	William Lee Martin William Lee Martin William Lee Martin, known as Lee Martin was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He was unsuccessful when he stood for Hamilton in 1925, but in the Raglan by-election 1927 won Raglan, which he held to 1931...	Savage Michael Joseph Savage Michael Joseph Savage was the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand.- Early life :Born in Tatong, Victoria, Australia, Savage first became involved in politics while working in that state. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1907. There he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, flax-cutter and...	1935	1941	Labour New Zealand Labour Party The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
	James Gillespie Barclay James Gillespie Barclay James Gillespie Barclay was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was a cabinet minister in the First Labour Government from 1941 to 1943; Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Marketing, and in 1943 Minister of Lands also....	Fraser	1941	>= 25 April 1943	Labour
	Benjamin Roberts Benjamin Roberts (politician) Benjamin Roberts was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was Cabinet Minister for Agriculture and Marketing from 1943 to 1946 in the First Labour Government.He represented the Wairarapa electorate from 1935, to 1946, when he retired....	Fraser	1943	20 December 1946	Labour
	Edward Luttrell Cullen Edward Luttrell Cullen Edward Luttrell Cullen M.M. was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and a cabinet minister in the First Labour Government....	Fraser	20 December 1946	13 December 1949	Labour
	Keith Holyoake Keith Holyoake Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...	Holland Sidney Holland Sir Sidney George Holland, GCMG, CH was the 25th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.-Early life:...	13 December 1949	20 September 1957	National 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:...
	Clarence Skinner Clarence Skinner (politician) Clarence Farrington Skinner, MC, was a Labour politician from New Zealand, former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and a Minister 1943 – 1949 and 1957 – 1960 in the First and Second Labour governments.-Personal information:Skinner was in the New Zealand Army in the Middle East in World War...	Nash Walter Nash Sir Walter Nash, GCMG, CH served as the 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960, and was also highly influential in his role as Minister of Finance...	1957	1960	Labour
	Brian Talboys Brian Talboys Sir Brian Edward Talboys, CH, KCB, AC, is a former New Zealand politician. He served as Deputy Prime Minister for the first two terms of Robert Muldoon's premiership. If the abortive "Colonels' Coup" against Muldoon had been successful, Talboys would have become Prime Minister himself.-Early...	Holyoake Keith Holyoake Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...	1962	1969	National
	Douglas Carter Douglas Carter Sir Douglas Julian Carter was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He represented the Raglan electorate from 1957 to 1975, when he retired. He was a cabinet minister.From 1976 to 1979 he was the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom....	Holyoake Keith Holyoake Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...	1969	1972	National
	Colin Moyle Colin Moyle Colin James Moyle, CBE is a former politician of the New Zealand Labour Party. He was a Government Minister in the Third Labour and Fourth Labour Governments. In the Fourth Labour Government he oversaw the removal of farming subsidies and the establishment of a fisheries quota system.-Early...	Kirk Norman Kirk Norman Eric Kirk was the 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He led the Parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1974. He was the fourth Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, but the first to be born in New Zealand... , Rowling Bill Rowling Sir Wallace Edward Rowling, KCMG , often known as Bill Rowling, was the 30th Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was in office for just over a year, having been appointed Prime Minister following the death of the highly popular Norman Kirk...	1972	1975	Labour
	Duncan MacIntyre Duncan MacIntyre (New Zealand) Brigadier-General Duncan MacIntyre, CMG, DSO, OBE, ED, PC was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1981 to 1984 under Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.-Member of Parliament:...	Muldoon Robert Muldoon Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...	12 December 1975	1984	National
	Colin Moyle Colin Moyle Colin James Moyle, CBE is a former politician of the New Zealand Labour Party. He was a Government Minister in the Third Labour and Fourth Labour Governments. In the Fourth Labour Government he oversaw the removal of farming subsidies and the establishment of a fisheries quota system.-Early...  (2nd time)	Lange David Lange David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a... , Palmer	1984	1990	Labour
	Jim Sutton Jim Sutton James Robert Sutton, CNZM , generally known as Jim Sutton, was a New Zealand politician from 1984–1990 and from 1993–2006. He has held a range of ministerial portfolios including Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Affairs, Biosecurity, and Trade Negotiations.-Biography:Sutton was born in...	Palmer, Moore	9 February 1990	2 November 1990	Labour
	John Falloon John Falloon John Howard Falloon was a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1977 to 1996, representing the National Party in the Pahiatua electorate....	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...	1990	1996	National
	Lockwood Smith Lockwood Smith Alexander Lockwood Smith is a New Zealand politician, the 28th and current Speaker of the House of Representatives. Smith is a member of the New Zealand National Party, who has served as a Member of Parliament since 1984...	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... , Shipley Jenny Shipley Dame Jenny Shipley, DNZM , served as the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999, the first woman to hold this office and the first, and to date only, woman to serve as parliamentary leader of the National Party of New Zealand.-Early life:Shipley was born as Jennifer...	29 February 1996	26 August 1998	National
	John Luxton John Luxton Murray John Finlay Luxton, QSO is a former New Zealand National Party politician, and a son of Jack Luxton who had previously held the same seat of Matamata...  (as Minister for Food, Fibre and Biosecurity)	Shipley Jenny Shipley Dame Jenny Shipley, DNZM , served as the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999, the first woman to hold this office and the first, and to date only, woman to serve as parliamentary leader of the National Party of New Zealand.-Early life:Shipley was born as Jennifer...	August 1998		National
	Jim Sutton Jim Sutton James Robert Sutton, CNZM , generally known as Jim Sutton, was a New Zealand politician from 1984–1990 and from 1993–2006. He has held a range of ministerial portfolios including Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Affairs, Biosecurity, and Trade Negotiations.-Biography:Sutton was born in...  (2nd time)	Clark Helen Clark Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...	10 December 1999	19 October 2005	Labour
	Jim Anderton Jim Anderton James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest...	Clark Helen Clark Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...	19 October 2005	19 November 2008	Progressive New Zealand Progressive Party Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
	David Carter David Carter (politician) David Cunningham Carter is a New Zealand politician, currently a government cabinet minister. He is a member of the National Party.-Early life:...	Key John Key John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....	19 November 2008	Incumbent	National

External links

• Agriculture portfolio at the New Zealand Government website
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry