Robertson retires from politics
Former Deputy Prime Minister appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago
Former Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson is retiring from politics and has taken up the role of ViceChancellor of the University of Otago. Robertson, speaking to media, thanked his family in the Labour Party, saying he wouldn’t have entered politics without the party.
He also thanked Kiwis for the six years as a minister and 15 years as an MP. He highlighted his “friend” Chris Hipkins, saying it was one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do to tell Hipkins he was thinking about moving on.
“Fifteen years is a decent stretch here [in Parliament].”
“I gave every single inch of myself ... arguably maybe a little bit more than that,” Robertson said, admitting he knew he didn’t have much left to go any further in politics after the last election.
Robertson said he felt his greatest achievement was to steer the country’s economy through the pandemic. He recalled how forecasts predicted unemployment would breach 10 per cent and how he’d said he wouldn’t let that happen.
On dealing with the stress in the early days of the pandemic in 2020, Robertson said he went into it with no playbook, operating on values and instinct.
“I don’t regret saving lives and livelihoods.”
He said the toughest time he’d had in Parliament was during the occupation, given he was also the Wellington Central MP.
Robertson singled out his former colleague, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern “who led our country through the unchartered waters of a terrorist attack and a global pandemic”.
“I was so fortunate to serve alongside Jacinda and Chris Hipkins as Prime Ministers and have huge admiration for how they performed their roles.”
He acknowledged his friends and family, in particular his husband Alf.
Robertson said the Vice Chancellor role was “a very special one”, as he had once been a student at Otago.
“The staff at the University are incredible. The work they do teaching and researching and running the University is world class. I am relishing the opportunity to work with them, iwi, students, alumni and friends of Otago to build on 154 years of excellence and make everyone in the community proud of this institution,” Robertson said.
He alluded to funding challenges in the tertiary sector.
“There is no doubt that there are challenges ahead for Otago and the wider tertiary sector, but I am looking forward to being a constructive player in addressing those for the good of all New Zealanders,” he said.
The university announced Robertson’s new role in a statement at midday.
“Grant has a long history with Dunedin, and the University, starting with his own experience as a student at the University of Otago and as OUSA President,” the statement read.
“We are delighted to welcome an alumnus of his calibre to this key leadership role.”
Robertson will finish at Parliament in March and take up the new role in July.
Hipkins congratulated Robertson on his new appointment and said he was confident he would be a good leader at the university.
Hipkins said Robertson lead the country through a time which included some of the most challenging circumstances any finance minister would have faced.
He said New Zealand’s debt level was low in comparison to many other countries and as such, had a exemplary legacy.
“Grant leaves with our very, very best wishes, he has made a huge contribution to New Zealand,” Hipkins said.
Hipkins said Mana MP Barbara Edmonds will take over as finance spokesperson.
Of Edmonds, Robertson said she was a great person to become the party’s first female and Pasifika finance spokesperson.
“Barb is an enormously capable person,” Robertson said.
Hipkins said Edmonds’ background as a tax lawyer and experience as a minister as well as a staffer in ministerial offices gave her the necessary skills.
“Barb is not only incredibly clever with a broad knowledge-base, she also has the interpersonal skills to work with people from every background across all sectors.
“She will be a fantastic Finance Spokesperson and I’m looking forward to working closely with her in this role.”
Edmonds said she wouldn’t go into what Labour’s tax policies would be in the future, except to say it would be fully costed.
Other new roles include Ginny Andersen in the Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations portfolio and Peeni Henare for the Ma¯ori Crown Relations portfolio following Kelvin Davis’ departure from politics.
Shanan Halbert — who recently returned as a List MP after Davis’ resignation — will take over Auckland Issues and a newly created Rainbow Issues portfolio.
Tracey McLellan will pick up the Corrections portfolio and Associate Health.
Glen Bennett — who will return on the list to replace Robertson- will be Labour’s spokesperson for Economic Development and Associate Energy.
Land Information and Racing will be picked up by Damien O’Connor and Tangi Utikere respectively.
The promotion sees Edmonds leap in the shadow Cabinet rankings from 11 to four — after Hipkins, his deputy Carmel Sepuloni and Megan Woods. Robertson was the third ranked when he was in finance.
The other Labour MPs’ rankings remain unchanged in the reshuffle, which was primarily to fill the portfolios left by the resigning MPs.