David MacLeod | |
|---|---|
.png.webp) MacLeod in 2023 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for New Plymouth | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Glen Bennett |
| 3rd Chair of Taranaki Regional Council | |
| In office 2007–2022 | |
| Preceded by | David Walter |
| Succeeded by | Charlotte Littlewood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1967 or 1968 (age 55–56) Hāwera, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse | Leasa |
| Children | 3 |
David Nigel MacLeod[1] (born 1967 or 1968)[2] is a New Zealand businessman, politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party. He previously served as chair of the Taranaki Regional Council from 2007 to 2022.
Early life and career
MacLeod, of Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāi Tahu, and Ngāti Porou descent, was born in Hāwera and raised in Manaia. He attended Hawera College and then completed a electrician apprenticeship. He eventually bought out the electrical company he worked for.[2] His godfather was National Party minister Venn Young.[3]
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | New Plymouth | 67 | National | |
In 2000, MacLeod was elected to the Taranaki Regional Council in a by-election following the death of councillor Ralph Latta. He served as chair from 2007 to 2022, when he stepped down.[4] After his re-election in 2019, a rival candidate complained to the Auditor-General that council advertising featuring MacLeod's image had given him an unfair advantage.[5] The Auditor-General advised the council that it may wish to reconsider its policy on pre-election advertising.[6]
On 31 October 2022, MacLeod was selected as National's candidate for New Plymouth at the 2023 New Zealand general election.[2] MacLeod also ran afoul of signage rules during his 2023 election campaign, by placing his signs outside the designated timeframe, and using incorrect font sizes.[7] MacLeod was listed low on the party list at 67 out of 74, due to the expectation he would win his electorate; it was a placement that former MP and political editor Claudette Hauiti said should have McLeod "fuming", but which he said was "irrelevant" as it showed the party was confident he would win the electoral seat.[8][9]
On election night MacLeod beat incumbent Labour MP Glen Bennett by a margin of 6,991 votes.[10][11]
Views and positions
When his campaign was announced, MacLeod identified Taranaki roads, increasing the number of immigrants available to the workforce, and the oil and gas industry as areas he was keen to work on when in parliament.[3]
References
- ↑ "Taranaki Regional Council candidate expense declarations" (PDF). Taranaki Regional Council.
- 1 2 3 "David MacLeod Selected As National's Candidate In New Plymouth". Scoop.co.nz. New Zealand National Party. 31 October 2022.
- 1 2 McLean, Glenn (1 November 2022). "David MacLeod confirmed as National Party candidate for New Plymouth". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ McLean, Glenn (29 June 2022). "Taranaki Regional Council chairman and deputy stepping down". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.
- ↑ "Taranaki Regional Council chair David MacLeod under fire for 'unfair' ads". RNZ. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ Watson, Mike (21 January 2020). "Regional council told it 'may wish to reconsider' its approach to pre-election advertising after complaint". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ McLean, Glenn (5 June 2023). "New Plymouth National candidate's tsunami of billboards must come down after falling foul of new council signage rules". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ Joseph Los'e (20 October 2023). "Hauiti: If National were new and innovate about their candidates, those three would be listed higher". NZ Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ McLean, Glenn (21 August 2023). "Near bottom party ranking 'irrelevant' for National's New Plymouth candidate". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ Lana Andelane (15 October 2023). "NZ election 2023 live electorate results". Newshub. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ "New Plymouth - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.