Hon John Luxton

• Minister for Food, Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control
  [This portfolio includes responsibility for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,
  Ministry of Fisheries, Land Information New Zealand,
  and New Zealand Customs Service]
• Associate Minister of Immigration (Onshore Passenger Processing)
• Associate Minister for International Trade
• MP, Karapiro

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Cabinet Strategy Subcommittee on Appointments and Honours APH

John Luxton is a successful businessman who brings many years of commercial experience to his role as a Cabinet Minister.

Born in Morrinsville, New Zealand, in 1946 and educated in New Zealand, Mr Luxton graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor and Post-graduate Diploma in Agricultural Science.

Before entering politics in 1987 as the MP for Matamata, Mr Luxton used his agricultural tertiary background as a successful farmer and international agricultural consultant.

He was also the Chairman of the Tatua Dairy Company and Deputy Chairman of Wallford Meats Ltd, both of which are considered to be innovators in their sectors.

He was promoted to Cabinet Minister in only his second Parliamentary term in 1990 holding the Energy and Housing portfolios with Associate Education, responsible for early childhood education and school property. During this period the electricity sector was deregulated and the Housing Corporation restructured into Housing New Zealand.

With the 1993 re-election of the National Government, Mr Luxton became Minister of Maori Affairs and Police whilst continuing as Associate Minister of Education.

The 1996 Cabinet re-shuffle extended Mr Luxton's ministerial responsibilities to the Commerce and Industry portfolios, through to late 1998.

In January 1996, Mr Luxton participated in the Advanced Management Programme of Templeton College, Oxford, in the United Kingdom.

Following the 1996 general election and the subsequent formation of a coalition government between the National and NZ First parties, Mr Luxton assumed the portfolios of Commerce, Industry, Lands, Fisheries and was Associate Minister of Agriculture.

As Minister of Lands, Mr Luxton took responsibility for the administration of Crown land and the Land Title Office, together with maintaining quality databases for survey, mapping, hydrographic and property activities.

New Zealand Fisheries management systems are considered to be amongst the best in the world but still need to be improved to take account of the changing pressures in the sector.

Agriculture has long been the main export base to the New Zealand economy. In August 1998, Mr Luxton was appointed Minister for Food, Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control; which encompasses the portfolios of Agriculture, Land, Forestry, Fisheries, Customs and Biosecurity. He is also the Associate Minister for International Trade and an Associate Minister Immigration. Mr Luxton is able to bring his own background and experience to encourage innovation and change to agriculture in New Zealand.

Mr Luxton enjoys keeping fit. He is a member of the New Zealand Parliamentary Rugby team, proud holders of the World Parliamentary Rugby Cup and took up marathon running at age 50.

(As at 19 February 1999)