Todd McClay

Todd Michael McClay (born 22 November 1968) is a New Zealand politician and former ambassador. He is the Member of Parliament for Rotorua. He was previously an ambassador for the Cook Islands and Niue to the European Union.

Early life

McClay was born in Rotorua in 1968. The son of former National MP Roger McClay, he was educated at Tauhara College in Taupō, Wesley College in Auckland and Wellington Polytechnic in Wellington. He gained a bachelor's degree in Politics.

European Union diplomatic career

McClay worked in the European Parliament as Head of Staff to Lord Plumb, President of the European Parliament and Leader of the British Conservatives in the European Parliament. He has also been active in European government affairs and lobbying and was a founder and CEO of a company, Political Relationship Management. McClay has been active in Pacific Islands, European and New Zealand diplomacy and politics since 1992, and was the Cook Islands' first accredited diplomat outside of the Pacific region. He remains the youngest-ever appointed Head of Mission to the European Union.

In 2000 the Cook Islands joined the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific states ( ACP) and he was appointed as special representative of the Cook Islands. In 2002 the Cook Islands government upgraded its representation to the level of diplomatic mission, at which time McClay was appointed Ambassador to the EU. He has represented the Cook Islands at many international meetings and conferences, including the WTO, FAO, ACP, EU and UN.

Member of Parliament

First term, 2008–2011

In 2008, McClay was selected as the National Party candidate to stand for the Rotorua electorate in the 2008 New Zealand general election, running against incumbent Labour MP Steve Chadwick. McClay won the seat of Rotorua on election night with a majority of 5,065 (15.43%). He was sworn in as a Member of Parliament on 8 December 2008.

In 2009 his Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 Repeal (Easter Sunday Local Choice) Amendment Bill was drawn from the ballot. The bill would have allowed local authorities to permit shops to open on Easter Sunday – something currently prohibited in most of New Zealand. The bill was narrowly defeated at its first reading.

Second term, 2011–2014

In 2011, McClay was reelected as the Member of Parliament for Rotorua increasing his majority to 7,357 votes.

In late June 2012, McClay announced his intention to bring a bill before Parliament to prohibit the display of gang insignia in all government premises, schools and hospitals in New Zealand. Modeled on the Whanganui Gang Insignia Act, McClay's announcement was met with strong public support. The Bill received Royal Assent on 12 August 2013 and became law the day after.

On 30 August 2012, McClay voted against the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand.

In 2013 he was appointed Minister of Revenue and Associate Minister of Health, serving outside of Cabinet.

In January 2014, he was appointed Associate Minister for Tourism.

Third term, 2014–2017

In September 2014, McClay was again elected as Member of Parliament for Rotorua with an increased majority of 7,418, after beating Labour candidate and former TV weatherman, Tāmati Coffey.

Following the 2014 election, McClay was promoted to Cabinet retaining his position as Minister of Revenue, while picking up the portfolios of State-Owned Enterprises, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Associate Minister of Trade.

Following the resignation of former Trade Minister Tim Groser, McClay became Minister of Trade on 14 December 2015. He retained State Owned Enterprises and Associate Foreign Affairs, while handing over Inland Revenue to Michael Woodhouse.

In late July 2016, McClay was rebuked by Prime Minister John Key for downplaying concerns that China would retaliate if New Zealand undertook an investigation of Chinese steel dumping.

In 2017, McClay represented his party in Beijing before a dialogue organised by the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). McClay also referred to the Xinjiang internment camps as "vocational training centers" in line with CCP talking points.

Fourth term, 2017–2020

During the 2017 general election, McClay retained Rotorua for National by a margin of 7,901 votes.

In late August 2019, former National MP Jami-Lee Ross alleged that McClay had helped to facilitate a NZ$150,000 to the National Party in his capacity as Trade Minister in 2016 from a company owned by Chinese millionaire Lin Lang. McClay and the National Party have denied these allegations.

Fifth term, 2020–2023

During the 2020 general election, McClay retained his seat in Rotorua by a final margin of 825 votes.

McClay was one of only eight MPs to vote against the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022. He voted against it at its first reading (which then-party-leader Judith Collins instructed her MPs to do), for it at its second reading, and against it at its third and final reading.

Following a reshuffle in party leader Christopher Luxon's shadow cabinet on 19 January 2023, McClay was given the new Hunting and Fishing portfolio. He retained his 16th place ranking within Luxon's shadow cabinet.

Following the announcement of Todd Muller's retirement from Parliament on 17 March 2023, McClay was given National's Agriculture portfolio and promoted to 12th place ranking within Luxon's shadow cabinet.

Sixth term, 2023–present

During the 2023 general election, McClay retained his seat in Rotorua by an increased margin of 8,923 votes.

In late November 2023, McClay was sworn in as a Minister taking responsibility of the Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing, and Trade portfolios. He was also appointed as the Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In mid December 2023, McClay accepted the role of Vice-Chair for the World Trade Organization's 13th Ministerial Conference at Abu Dhabi in 2024.

On 11 June 2024, McClay confirmed that the Government would exclude agriculture from the NZ emissions trading scheme (ETS). On 14 June, McClay announced that the Government would cancel the annual service charges for forestry under the country's emissions trading scheme, which amounts to NZ$30.25 per hectare.

On 30 July 2024, McClay apologised after telling Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March "you're not in Mexico now, we don't do things like that here" during a parliamentary sitting. March raised the matter with Speaker Gerry Brownlee, who ordered McClay to withdraw and apologise. On 31 July, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described McClay's remarks as inappropriate and said he would discuss the matter with McClay. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins described McClay's remarks as offensive towards migrant New Zealanders and questioned his suitability to remain as trade minister.

As Trade Minister, McClay played a role in New Zealand securing free trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates in late September 2024 and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council in late October 2024. These free trade agreements lifted duties on the vast majority of New Zealand's exports to these Gulf Arab states over the next three to ten years. On 13 January 2025, McClay signed the comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the United Arab Emirates, cutting tariffs on 98.5% of New Zealand exports to that country.

Personal life

He has four adult children with his wife, Nadene, and lives in Rotorua.

References

External links

National Party biography

{{DEFAULTSORT:McClay, Todd
1968 births
Living people
Ambassadors of New Zealand to the European Union
New Zealand National Party MPs
People from Rotorua
Ambassadors of the Cook Islands to the European Union
Ambassadors of Niue to the European Union
People educated at Wesley College, Auckland
Government ministers of New Zealand
Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates
Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand
People educated at Tauhara College
Candidates in the 2011 New Zealand general election
Candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election
Candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election
Candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election
Candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election
Ministers of agriculture of New Zealand
Ministers of trade of New Zealand