George Hawkins (politician)

George Warren Hawkins QSO (born 1946) is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party.

The Honourable

George Hawkins

QSO
33rd Minister of Police
In office
10 December 1999 – 19 October 2005
Prime MinisterHelen Clark
Preceded byClem Simich
Succeeded byAnnette King
29th Minister of Internal Affairs
In office
13 November 2000 – 19 October 2005
Prime MinisterHelen Clark
Preceded byMark Burton
Succeeded byRick Barker
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Manurewa
In office
27 October 1990 – 26 November 2011
Preceded byRoger Douglas
Succeeded byLouisa Wall
Personal details
Born
George Warren Hawkins

1946 (age 73–74)
Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
ProfessionSchoolteacher

Early life

Hawkins was born on 15 May 1946 in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden.[1] He attended Dominion Road Primary School,[2] Mount Albert Grammar School (1960–1963) and then Auckland Teachers' College.[3]

He joined the Labour Party and became chair of Labour's Papakura branch. In early 1977 he stood as a candidate for the Labour Party nomination in the Mangere by-election, but he lost out to future Prime Minister David Lange.[4]

Political career

Papakura

Hawkins was a councillor for Papakura City 1980–1983. He was elector Mayor of Papakura in 1983, and held that position until 1992.[3] He was succeeded by his brother David Hawkins. In 1989, Papakura City became Papakura District as part of the local government reforms.

Member of Parliament
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
1990–1993 43rd Manurewa Labour
1993–1996 44th Manurewa Labour
1996–1999 45th Manurewa none Labour
1999–2002 46th Manurewa none Labour
2002–2005 47th Manurewa 15 Labour
2005–2008 48th Manurewa none Labour
2008–2011 49th Manurewa none Labour

Hawkins has served as MP for Manurewa since he was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 elections. He served as Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Police, Minister of Civil Defence, and Minister of Veterans' Affairs in the 2002–2005 parliamentary term. He has previously held office as mayor of Papakura. Before entering politics, he was a teacher.

Disappointed at being ranked 25th on the 2005 Labour Party list, he withdrew his name from the list, and won the Manurewa seat with a comfortable margin of over 12,000 votes (a similar majority to his 2002 election win). Although Hawkins was criticised over his handling of police issues, in particular 111 calls, he remained a Minister until he made the decision not to seek a new position in Cabinet after the 2005 election.

In the 2008 general election he again chose not to be placed on the party list, and again won his Manurewa seat. However his majority was cut by more than half.

In the 2013 New Year Honours, Hawkins was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services as a member of Parliament.[5]

References
  1. Temple, Philip (1994). Temple's Guide to the 44th New Zealand Parliament. Dunedin: McIndoe Publishers. p. 68. ISBN 0 86868 159 8.
  2. "Who am I?". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  3. "Hon George Hawkins". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  4. "16 now chase Labour nod for Mangere". Auckland Star. 15 February 1977. p. 48.
  5. "New Year honours list 2013". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by
Jack Farrell		 Mayor of Papakura
1983–1992		 Succeeded by
David Hawkins
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Roger Douglas		 Member of Parliament for Manurewa
1990–2011		 Succeeded by
Louisa Wall
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