Clayton Cosgrove
Labour List MP

MEDIA STATEMENT

10 April 2016

Clayton Cosgrove not standing as a candidate at next election

Labour List Member of Parliament, Clayton Cosgrove, today announced that he would not be standing as a candidate in the next General Election.

“This is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have discussed it with Andrew Little who understands this is about new challenges and opportunities for me.

“I was elected to Parliament when I was 30 and now at 46, it is the right time to take the next step in my career.

“Before entering politics I held senior executive positions in business both in New Zealand and Australia, and so I feel extremely fortunate to have gained so much experience in both the private and public sector.

“It has been an absolute honour serving the community as a Member of Parliament and I owe the voters and my party a huge debt of gratitude.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that being a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister has given me. The job has allowed me to interact with and learn from many senior business people and stakeholders both domestically and internationally.

“I am grateful to Andrew Little for promoting me into his Shadow Cabinet and to the two Prime Ministers I worked for and with – my close friend and mentor Mike Moore and Helen Clark, in whose Government I served as a Cabinet Minister.

Mr Cosgrove held a number of Ministerial Portfolios including: Minister of Building and Construction, Associate Minister of Finance, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Small Business, Minister for the Rugby World Cup and Associate Minister of Justice.

“I consider my biggest achievements as a Minister included: the reforming of the real estate and property sector, lifting quality in the construction sector through the licencing of building practitioners and leading the development of the business case for the redevelopment of the Rugby World Cup flagship venue – Eden Park which led to Cabinet approval of $190 million for the project.”

In Opposition Mr Cosgrove’s Shadow Ministerial Portfolios included: Trade, Associate Finance, State Owned Enterprises, Commerce, Revenue and Tourism.

ENDS

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