Grant Robertson
Grant Murray Robertson (born 30 October 1971) is a New Zealand politician and member of the Labour Party who has served as the minister of finance since 2017 and served as the 19th deputy prime minister of New Zealand from 2020 to 2023. He has been the member of Parliament (MP) for Wellington Central since 2008.
Grant Robertson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Robertson in 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 6 November 2020 – 25 January 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Winston Peters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Carmel Sepuloni | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
42nd Minister of Finance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 26 October 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Steven Joyce | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12th Leader of the House | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 1 February 2023 Acting: 25 January 2023 – 1 February 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Chris Hipkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11th Minister for Sport and Recreation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 26 October 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Jonathan Coleman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wellington Central | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 8 November 2008 – 14 October 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Marian Hobbs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Tamatha Paul | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour party list | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Grant Murray Robertson 30 October 1971 Palmerston North, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Alf Kaiwai (m. 2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Northland, Wellington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | University of Otago | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | grantrobertson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robertson maintained and competed for several leadership positions during the party's stint in opposition following the end of the Fifth Labour Government. He was elected Labour's deputy leader in 2011 under leader David Shearer, and contested the leadership of the party in both 2013[1][2] and 2014. Subsequently, Robertson was named the party's finance spokesperson and was ranked third on Labour's party list. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern appointed him to the finance portfolio in the Sixth Labour Government. As finance minister, Robertson has been prominent in the government's economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.
Following the 2020 general election he was appointed the 19th Deputy Prime Minister by Prime Minister Ardern. Robertson assumed the role on 6 November, becoming the first openly gay deputy prime minister.[3]
Early life
Robertson was born in Palmerston North, the youngest of three boys. His Presbyterian family lived in Hastings before settling in South Dunedin. His mother initially stayed at home before later becoming a teacher. His father was an accountant, who was imprisoned in 1991 for stealing around $120,000 from the law firm he worked for.[4] His grandfather Bob Wilkie ran unsuccessfully for Labour in the Wairarapa electorate in 1954 and 1957.[4] He had a paper round as a boy and at 16 he got his first job at a New World supermarket in Dunedin in the fruit and vegetable department preparing fruit and vegetables for display and sale.[5]
Robertson attended King's High School in Dunedin, where he was head boy.[4] He then studied political studies at the University of Otago, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with honours in 1995.[6] His honours dissertation studied the restructuring of the New Zealand University Students' Association in the 1980s.[7] Robertson served as President of the Otago University Students' Association in 1993 and as co-president of the New Zealand University Students' Association in 1996.[4][8]
Professional life
Robertson joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1997 after leaving university. His overseas postings included the United Nations in New York. Robertson also managed the NZ Overseas Aid Programme to Samoa – a $7.7 million fund with projects in diverse areas such as basic education, healthcare, public sector capacity building, small business development and the empowerment of women. He left MFAT in 2001.[4]
Robertson returned to New Zealand during the first term of the Fifth Labour Government to work as a ministerial advisor to minister for the environment Marian Hobbs and, later, prime minister Helen Clark. During his time in Clark's office, Robertson was rumoured to have the nickname "H3" during the 2005 general election, with "H1" and "H2" being Clark and her Chief of Staff Heather Simpson respectively.[9]
After the 2005 election, Robertson left the Prime Minister's office to work as the Senior Research Marketing Manager for the University of Otago based at the Wellington School of Medicine.[10]
Political career
Campaign for Wellington Central: 2008
Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008–2011 | 49th | Wellington Central | 46 | Labour | |
2011–2014 | 50th | Wellington Central | 14 | Labour | |
2014–2017 | 51st | Wellington Central | 3 | Labour | |
2017–2020 | 52nd | Wellington Central | 4 | Labour | |
2020–2023 | 53rd | Wellington Central | 3 | Labour | |
2023–present | 54th | List | 4 | Labour |
In late 2006, sitting MP for Wellington Central Marian Hobbs announced that she would be retiring at the 2008 general election. Robertson was considered to be a front runner[11] and was subsequently selected unopposed.[12] Robertson ran a well-staffed campaign, based on local issues like the closure of the Crossways Community Centre and threats to the Public Service. He was also involved in the formation of a Wellington inner-city residents' association.[13]
The Labour Party list for the 2008 general election ranked Robertson at number 46.[14]
In the Wellington Central electorate, Robertson defeated National candidate Stephen Franks by 1,904 votes.[15] Robertson's plurality, although far less than the 6,180 vote difference held by his predecessor from the previous election,[16] reflected a large swing in party votes to the National Party from Labour in the electorate and Robertson's status as a non-incumbent candidate.
First term in Parliament: 2008–2011
Helen Clark's government was defeated at the 2008 election. Robertson was appointed as the opposition's spokesperson for State Services, and associate spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Foreign Affairs by new Labour leader Phil Goff.[17]

In May 2010 Robertson's Ethical Investment (Crown Financial Institutions) Bill was drawn from the member's ballot.[18][19][20] According to Robertson, the Bill "sought to have clear and consistent criteria for ethical investment in the legislation that govern our major investment funds such as the Super Fund and ACC."[21] Although the Bill gained support from MPs in the Green and Māori parties, the Bill was defeated at its first reading.[22]
On 15 June 2010, Opposition Leader Phil Goff appointed Robertson to be Portfolio Spokesperson for Tertiary Education and the 20th-ranked Labour MP, the highest of the 2008 intake of Labour MPs to be promoted at that point.[23] In the election year reshuffle, on 2 February 2011, Robertson was further promoted to the front bench to take the Health portfolio.[24] Commenting on the promotion, Phil Goff said that Robertson has "made a very strong impact in a very short time" and that he "has a promising future ahead of him."[25]
At the 2011 general election, Robertson re-contested Wellington Central against eleven other candidates. He was re-elected with 49.2 percent of the electorate vote, increasing his majority to 6,376 over National Party candidate Paul Foster-Bell.[26] However, the National Government was returned.
Second term: 2011–2014
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Following the election and Annette King's resignation as Labour deputy leader, Robertson was elected by the Labour caucus as the new deputy leader under David Shearer. In Shearer's shadow Cabinet, Robertson also served as Spokesperson for Employment, Skills and Training, and Arts, Culture and Heritage. Following Shearer's resignation from the leadership in 2013, Robertson contested the party-wide leadership election. Although Robertson achieved the plurality support from his colleagues in Caucus, David Cunliffe garnered more support from party members and affiliates to win the overall vote.[2] Under Cunliffe's leadership, Robertson was the third-ranked Labour MP and held various portfolios including Spokesperson for Economic Development and Shadow Leader of the House.[27][28]
Throughout 2014, Robertson was critical of National Party minister Judith Collins, after she was accused of having a conflict of interest in regards to her visiting the dairy products company Oravida in China. He repeatedly called for her to resign during the Oravida saga, and when Collins later released information to the media about One News journalist Katie Bradford, he reiterated his call for her to resign, claiming she had "lost all perspective".[29]
Third term: 2014–2017
Robertson was re-elected in the Wellington Central electorate in the September 2014 general election. The Labour Party performed poorly and leader David Cunliffe immediately came under pressure to resign. He was seen by some in the party as taking insufficient blame for the defeat. The leading challengers for the leadership were Robertson and David Shearer. Media reports suggest that some of the Labour caucus were trying to get Cunliffe to resign so Robertson and Jacinda Ardern could replace the current leadership unopposed.[30] On 26 September, the voting record in the previous leadership race of unions affiliated to Labour was released, showing Cunliffe had won very strong union support in the previous race, and highlighting the challenge for Robertson's bid.[31]
On 28 September, after Cunliffe had signalled his intention to resign, Robertson put his name forward to run for the Labour Party leadership. Robertson pointed to Labour's poor performance in the election as leading him to run: "I couldn't stand by and see the party poll at 24 per cent and not do something now that David's triggered the contest. That's why I've put my name forward." He also argued that the Labour Party needed unity, and he would be a unifying figure, with the support of most of the Labour caucus. Because there were four candidates for the leadership, the Labour Party held a leadership election.[32]
Robertson lost the leadership election to Andrew Little by a small margin, Little receiving 50.52 per cent of the vote to Robertson's 49.48 per cent after the votes from the other unsuccessful candidates had been reallocated. However Robertson once again won the support of most of the caucus, as well as a majority of the membership. After the results were announced, Robertson said he would not seek the Labour Party leadership again in the future.[33]
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In Andrew Little's shadow cabinet reshuffle of November 2014, Robertson received the finance portfolio, and was ranked number 3 on the Labour list.[34]
As part of his finance portfolio, he was engaged in researching international economic policy, and was responsible for the Labour Party's "Future of Work Commission."[35] His aims for the portfolio were to cut down on the number of policies, and "humanise" the policy.[36]
Fourth term: 2017–2020
Following Labour's formation of a government with New Zealand First and the Greens,[37] Robertson was elected as a Cabinet minister by the Labour Party caucus. He was given the key role of finance minister by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, along with the portfolios of minister for sport & recreation and associate minister for arts, culture & heritage.[38]
On 27 June 2019, Robertson was appointed as Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission, succeeding Megan Woods.[39][40]
As finance minister, Robertson has been a close confidant of Ardern. During the New Zealand government's COVID-19 response, Robertson would sometimes deputise for Ardern at her daily press conferences. Their close working relationship led some commentators to describe him as her "de facto political deputy," over Labour Party deputy leader Kelvin Davis.[41][42]
Fifth term and deputy prime minister: 2020–present
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Robertson was re-elected for a fifth term as Wellington Central MP at the 2020 general election, at which the Labour Party won an outright majority.[43] Robertson retained Wellington Central by a margin of 18,878 votes.[44]
In a cabinet reshuffle announced on 2 November, he was appointed to be the next Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand. Robertson retained his portfolios as minister of finance and minister for sport & recreation, and added the ministerial portfolios for infrastructure and racing. The preceding deputy prime minister was New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who had lost his seat in the recent election. Robertson became deputy prime minister after deputy party leader Kelvin Davis declined the position.[45][46]
In mid-February 2021, Robertson pulled out of his weekly interview slots with Peter Williams' Magic Talk radio show after Williams questioned him about his views on the implications of the World Economic Forum's Great Reset for New Zealand. Robertson reportedly stated that he would no longer appear on the show since he did not want to "shoot down conspiracy theories."[47][48]
In December 2022 commentator Morgan Godfery lauded his handling of the finance portfolio. [49]
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation on 19 January 2023. Robertson immediately responded that he would not be seeking election as her successor but that he would contest the 2023 general election.[50][51] Carmel Sepuloni replaced Robertson as Deputy Prime Minister.[52]
Personal life
Robertson lives in Northland, Wellington, with his partner Alf, whom he met through playing rugby together for the Wellington-based Krazy Knights, New Zealand's first gay rugby team.[53] After 10 years in a relationship, they held a civil union ceremony in January 2009.[54]
In his maiden statement (given on 9 December 2008), Robertson alluded to his sexuality as a part, but not the whole, of his identity:
I am proud and comfortable with who I am. Being gay is part of who I am, just as is being a former diplomat, a fan of the mighty ... Wellington Lions, and a fan of New Zealand music and New Zealand literature. My political view is defined by my sexuality only inasmuch as it has given me an insight into how people can be marginalised and discriminated against, and how much I abhor that. I am lucky that I have largely grown up in a generation that is not fixated on issues such as sexual orientation. I am not—and neither should others be.[53][55][56]
In a 2012 interview with Guyon Espiner, he hit out at the suggestion that being gay could prevent him from understanding the concerns of ordinary New Zealanders:
That’s one of the things that irritates me the most. How can you say that? That someone won’t understand New Zealanders because they’re gay. I understand all sorts of things about being a New Zealander. I understand what happens when your dad goes to prison. I understand what it’s like when the All Blacks lose. You know? I understand what it’s like when you’re trying to work out if you’ve got enough money to do [renovation] to the house? It’s bullshit.[4]
See also
References
- "Grant Robertson to contest leadership". The New Zealand Herald. 25 August 2013.
- "Cunliffe wins Labour leadership". Stuff.co.nz. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- Mishra, Stuti (2 November 2020). "Jacinda Ardern appoints first openly gay deputy PM and foreign minister with Maori face tattoo". The Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- Espiner, Guyon (3 March 2012). "Profile: Labour deputy Grant Robertson". New Zealand Listener. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- Sowman-Lund, Stewart (14 March 2023). "What jobs did our MPs do before they were in parliament?". Stuff. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- Gibb, John (13 April 2010). "Concern over archives restructuring". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- Robertson, Grant (1994). "A step to the right" : the restructuring of the New Zealand University Students Association in 1986 (Bachelors with Honours thesis). OUR Archive, University of Otago. hdl:10523/2712.
- "History". Students Aotearoa. New Zealand Union of Students' Associations. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- Clifton, Jane (1 November 2008). "Street party central". New Zealand Listener. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ""Ground-breaking" Appointment to Otago University". Archived from the original on 27 September 2006.
- "Marian Hobbs retires | Kiwiblog". 19 December 2006.
- "Grant Robertson Labour's pick for Wellington Central". Stuff. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- "Grant Robertson in the Media". Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- "Labour Party list for 2008 election announced". Scoop NZ. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- "Elections NZ 2008: Official Count Results – Wellington Central".
- "Official Count Results – Wellington Central". Electionresults.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- "Five newcomers to Labour's frontbench". Archived from the original on 25 December 2008.
- "Ethical Investment (Crown Financial Institutions) Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- "Ethical investment Bill drawn from ballot". New Zealand Labour Party. 6 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- Michael Dickison (6 May 2010). "'Bah! Humbug!' – Sheppard slams ethical spending Bill". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- "Govt shoots down member's bill for ethical investment". goodreturns.co.nz. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
- "Ethical investment bill fails". Radio New Zealand. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
- "Fresh look for Labour's shadow Cabinet". stuff.co.nz. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
- "Labour Caucus – 2011". Scoop.co.nz. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- "Labour Leader reveals new caucus line-up". Scoop.co.nz. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- "Wellington Central results, 2011". Electoral Commission. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- David Cunliffe (6 May 2014). "Fresh look for the incoming Government". Labour.org.nz. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
- Vernon Small (6 May 2014). "Hipkins drops in Labour reshuffle". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
- "Judith Collins has 'lost all perspective' – Robertson". TVNZ. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- Banas, Liz (26 September 2014). "Labour leader weighing up his future". Radio New Zealand. Wellington. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- Rutherford, Hamish (26 September 2014). "Does Grant Robertson have the numbers?". Stuff. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- "Labour out of options, Robertson says". Stuff. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- Small, Vernon; Gulliver, Aimee (18 November 2014). "Andrew Little new Labour Party leader – by a whisker". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- Davidson, Isaac (24 November 2014). "Winners, losers in Labour reshuffle". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- "Future of Work Commission". NZ Labour Party.
- Young, Audrey (4 May 2015). "Battling Bill: Grant Robertson's big job – creating an economic policy". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- "Who's in? Who's out?". Radio New Zealand. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- "Ministerial List for Announcement (for appointment on 26 October 2017)" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "Winners and losers – PM reveals first substantive Cabinet reshuffle". Radio New Zealand. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- Small, Zane (27 June 2019). "Jacinda Ardern's Cabinet reshuffle: Phil Twyford's Housing portfolio split into three". Newshub. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "Election 2020: Why Kelvin Davis will probably be the next deputy prime minister". Stuff. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- "Election 2020: Audrey Young – the awkward problem Labour could have over Deputy Prime Minister". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- Campbell, Georgina. "Election results 2020: Candidates in Wellington's hottest race, Hutt South, front". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- "Wellington Central – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- "Grant Robertson new Deputy Prime Minister as Jacinda Ardern reshapes Cabinet for new Government". Stuff. 2 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- "Ministerial List for Announcement on Monday" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- Forrester, Georgia (19 February 2021). "Grant Robertson axes weekly interview on Magic Talk radio show". Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- Small, Zane (19 February 2021). "The Great Reset: Grant Robertson pulls out of weekly slot on Magic Talk with Peter Williams after 'shooting down conspiracy theory'". Newshub. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- "Morgan Godfery top-performing minister but you wouldnt know it". Stuff/Fairfax. 2022.
- Robertson, Grant (19 January 2023). "Statement From Grant Robertson". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- "Grant Robertson says he will not stand for Labour leadership". 1 News. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- "Carmel Sepuloni: New Zealand's next Deputy Prime Minister". NZ Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- "Robertson, Grant: Maiden Statements – New Zealand Parliament". parliament.nz. 20 June 2023.
- "No 8 and halfback tie the knot". Stuff. 31 January 2009.
- "MP stands up for bureaucrats". The Dominion Post. Stuff. 11 December 2008.
- "New gay MPs debut in Parliament". gaynz.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
External links

- Robertson's Parliament profile
- Campaign website
- Video clips of speeches given by Robertson in Parliament at inthehouse.co.nz
- Robertson's page on the New Zealand Labour website (includes media statements issued by him)