Speaker of the House and MP for Rodney, Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith, is one of New Zealand’s most experienced parliamentarians and has represented the Kaipara and now Rodney electorate since 1984.
During the 1990s, Dr Smith served as a senior minister in the various National-led Governments. As Minister of Education, his most important achievements included the first comprehensive redevelopment of the school curriculum in a generation, the industry skills training strategy that remains in place today and the development of the unified qualifications framework. Later he became Minister of Agriculture, and began the process of encouraging producer boards to develop new industry structures to enable them to better compete in global markets.
As Trade Minister, it was Dr Smith’s privilege to lead APEC Trade Ministers through 1999 and to initiate the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore. He was also the driving force behind a concept known as P5 which has since evolved into the Trans-Pacific Partnership linking the Americas through NZ into East Asia.
Dr Smith also served as Deputy Minister of Finance, Minister of Forestry, Minister of Tourism, Minister Responsible for Contact Energy Ltd, Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office and Minister Responsible for the National Library. As Minister of Tourism he initiated the 100% Pure NZ campaign, which continues today.
He is currently the Speaker of the House of Representatives and has made a significant impression in managing conduct in the House, particularly during question time with his insistence on Ministers answering clear questions. The Speaker also administers entitlements for members of Parliament through the Speaker's Directions and Hon Dr Smith has promoted greater accountability in MP spending through the public disclosure of expenses.
Prior to entering politics, Dr Smith was the New Zealand Dairy Board’s Marketing Manager for Central and South East Asia. He had previously been a university lecturer and also hosted educational children’s television shows in Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Smith was born in November 1948 and educated at Matakohe Primary School, Ruawai District High School and Auckland Grammar School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Massey University in 1970, winning a Massey Scholarship. He was appointed a junior lecturer and, after completing his Masterate in 1973, he was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship, completing his PhD in Animal Science at Adelaide Univeristy in 1979. Dr Smith was recently honoured with a 2010 Massey University Distinguished Alumni Award.
As a keen sportsman Dr Smith was an Adelaide University and South Australian rowing representative, winning five state championships, and serving as Captain of the Adelaide University Boat Club.
Lockwood lives on his farm in Ruawai with his wife, Alexandra, and breeds champion Belgian Blue cattle.
