Preceded by new constituency Children three Party New Zealand Labour Party Political party Labour Spouse Toni Reeves (m. 2003) | Preceded by Trevor Young Role New Zealand Politician Majority 8,277 (24.25%) Name Paul Swain Succeeded by Chris Hipkins | |
Born 20 December 1951 (age 72)
Palmerston North ( 1951-12-20 ) Education Victoria University of Wellington Books Tax and Charities: A Government Discussion Document on Taxation Issues Relating to Charities and Non-profit Bodies | ||
Paul Desmond Swain, QSO (born 20 December 1951) is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party.
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Early life
Swain was born in Palmerston North on 20 December 1951. He attended St. Patrick's College in Wellington. He has obtained a BA from Victoria University of Wellington.
Before entering politics, he worked in the social welfare sector, and has also been a bus driver in Wellington. Swain has a daughter with his wife Toni Reeves-Swain, and two sons from an earlier marriage.
Member of Parliament
He was MP for the seat of Eastern Hutt from the 1990 election until the 1996 election, when the electorate boundaries were changed and it became Rimutaka. He won Rimutaka in 1996 and held the seat until the 2008 election, which he did not contest, retiring from national politics.
Minister
Swain has held a number of ministerial portfolios, including Associate Minister of Finance, Minister of Commerce, Minister of Communications, Minister of Corrections, Minister of Immigration, Minister for Information Technology, Minister of Labour, Minister of Statistics, Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Minister of Transport, and Associate Minister for Economic Development.
After the 2005 election, Swain decided not to seek a Cabinet post in the new government.
Life after politics
Swain was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) in March 2009 for services as a Member of Parliament.
As of 2009 he was employed by the Crown as their lead negotiator for a settlement of historical grievances with Ngāti Porou.