Biography

Chris Carter's biography

Chris Carter

Te Atatu
MP for Te Atatu, Minister of Education, Minister for Ethnic Affairs, Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office

Chris Carter was elected as the Labour MP for Te Atatu in 1993. During his first term, he served as the Labour Spokesperson on Ethnic Affairs and a Member of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee.

In the 1999 General Election, Chris contested the newly re-formed seat of Te Atatu and won with a 9,262 majority. In 2002 Chris won 16,821 votes in Te Atatu and was honoured to be elected by the Labour caucus into Cabinet. He is currently the Minister for Conservation; Local Government; and Ethnic Affairs.

During the first term of the 5th Labour led Government, he was the Junior Labour Whip and Deputy Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee. He also chaired the Labour Caucus Foreign Affairs and Immigration Committees. As a Member of Parliament from a very diverse urban constituency, Chris maintains a keen interest in ethnic affairs, immigration, international relations, and global security issues.

Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Chris worked as a secondary school teacher. He holds a Masters Degree in History (with Honours) and a teaching qualification. Chris was a very successful poultry farmer for many years before entering Parliament. He and his partner bred and sold pedigree chicken. His efforts in this area were recognised when he was appointed as the Government Representative to the New Zealand Poultry Board and a Director of the New Zealand Egg Marketing Corporation between 1986-1990. He was also a Member of the Film and Video Board of Review between 1990 and 1993. He is a Justice of the Peace.

Chris is New Zealand’s first openly gay Member of Parliament. He has campaigned for the advancement of gay, lesbian and transgender rights since the early 1970s and was instrumental in the formation of Rainbow Labour, the Labour Party’s gay, lesbian and transgender branch. Chris acts as a vocal advocate for the Rainbow Communities in Parliament on human rights, family, legal, social services and immigration issues.

Chris lives in Te Atatu South with his partner of 29 years, Peter Kaiser, who is a school principal.