Biography

David Cunliffe's biography

David Cunliffe

New Lynn
MP for New Lynn, Minister for Communications and information Technology, Minister of Health

He is a member of the following Cabinet Committees:

Economic Development Committee
Legislation Committee
Policy Committee
Social Development
Government Expenditure and Administration
Appointments and Honours
Domestic and External Security Co-ordination

In the previous government, he held the Communications and Information Technology portfolios, along with associate roles in Revenue, Finance and State Owned Enterprises. He developed:

an innovative national digital strategy
anti-spam legislation
tax simplification for small businesses,
improvements to Child Support and
a series of owners' reviews of State Owned Enterprises.

Constituency MP

David Cunliffe is an active local MP in the New Lynn electorate, which he holds with a majority of 8,078. From 1999-2002 he was the MP for Titirangi. As a local MP, he has championed regional development, environmental protection, education and health care, and multiculturalism in a diverse and growing area of Auckland.

Before Parliament

1995-1999: Business economist and strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group, based in Auckland. He consulted in a wide range of industry sectors in New Zealand and Australia, including manufacturing, finance and agribusiness.

1994-1995: Fulbright Scholar and Kennedy Memorial Fellow at Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School. David graduated with a Master of Public Administration in 1995.

1988-1994: New Zealand diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade:

1990-94: Second/First Secretary (Political/Economic) in Washington DC
1988-89: Managed the Pacific Regional Development Assistance Programme
1988: Exchange Officer to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1983-1987: David worked as a farm labourer, shearing gang worker, barman, and painter to pay his way through the University of Otago, where he studied Politics, Economics and Law. He graduated with First Class Honours in Political Studies and subsequently completed a graduate Diploma in Social Science (Economics) with Distinction at Massey University. As a teenager he won a scholarship to study the International Baccalaureate at the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales and was also educated at Pleasant Point High School, South Canterbury.

Interests and family

David is married to Karen, an environmental lawyer. Together they have two sons, William, born 2001 and Cameron, born 2005. David's recreational interests beyond family and friends include keeping fit, sailing, gardening music and a love of the outdoors. He is an avid Auckland Blues fan.