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The Minister of Agriculture was a ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand. It existed from 1889 until 2012, when the Ministry got merged into the larger Ministry of Primary Industries.
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George Richardson was the first holder of the office, and David Carter of the New Zealand National Party was the last. In the end, there was no Associate Minister of Agriculture, although the position had existed in the past. Carter became the first Minister of Primary Industries.
Responsibilities and powers
Since 1998, the Minister of Agriculture was the Responsible Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, commonly known as MAF. Related portfolios included Minister for Biosecurity, Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Forestry, and in the past, Minister for Lands.
History
John McKenzie established the Department of Agriculture on 31 March 1892, and the first minister was appointed on 17 October 1889.
Between 1972 and 1977 the portfolio was titled "Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries"; it was changed on 1 September 1972 when Douglas Carter held the position, and it reverted when Duncan MacIntyre was in office. It was also briefly titled "Minister of Food, Fibre and Biosecurity", but responding to farmers' demands Labour returned it to "Minister of Agriculture" after winning the 1999 election.
Prior to Keith Holyoake receiving it in 1949, the portfolio "had become notorious as a political graveyard".