Editing David Cunliffe

{{short description|New Zealand politician}}
{{About|the New Zealand politician|other people named David Cunliffe|David Cunliffe (disambiguation)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = David Cunliffe
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|QSO|size=100}}
| image               = David Cunliffe QSO (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Cunliffe in 2018
| office              = 34th [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| primeminister       = [[John Key]]
| deputy              = [[David Parker (New Zealand politician)|David Parker]]
| term_start          = 15 September 2013
| term_end            = 27 September 2014
| predecessor         = [[David Shearer]]
| successor           = [[Andrew Little (New Zealand politician)|Andrew Little]]
| office1             = 15th [[Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party|Leader of the Labour Party]]
| deputy1             = [[David Parker (New Zealand politician)|David Parker]]
| term_start1         = 15 September 2013
| term_end1           = 27 September 2014
| predecessor1        = [[David Shearer]]
| successor1          = [[Andrew Little (New Zealand politician)|Andrew Little]]
| office2             = 37th [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Minister of Health]]
| primeminister2      = [[Helen Clark]]
| term_start2         = 31 October 2007
| term_end2           = 19 November 2008
| predecessor2        = [[Pete Hodgson]]
| successor2          = [[Tony Ryall]]
| office3             = 51st [[Minister of Immigration (New Zealand)|Minister of Immigration]]
| primeminister3      = [[Helen Clark]]
| term_start3         = 19 October 2005
| term_end3           = 11 November 2007
| predecessor3        = [[Paul Swain (politician)|Paul Swain]]
| successor3          = [[Clayton Cosgrove]]
| office4             = Minister of Communications and Information Technology
| primeminister4      = [[Helen Clark]]
| term_start4         = 15 August 2002
| term_end4           = 19 November 2008
| predecessor4        = [[Paul Swain (politician)|Paul Swain]]
| successor4          = [[Steven Joyce]]
| office5             = [[Member of parliament#New Zealand|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[New Lynn (New Zealand electorate)|New Lynn]]<br />{{small| [[Titirangi (New Zealand electorate)|Titirangi]] (1999–2002)}}
| term_start5         = 27 November 1999
| term_end5           = 23 April 2017
| predecessor5        = Electorate re-established
| successor5          = [[Deborah Russell]]
| birth_name          = David Richard Cunliffe
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1963|4|30|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Te Aroha]], New Zealand
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]]
| spouse              = Karen Price (1984–2015)<ref name=Price>{{cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/relationships/news/article.cfm?c_id=41&objectid=11421917 |title=David Cunliffe confirms he and wife Karen Price have separated |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |first=Audrey |last=Young |date=24 March 2015 |access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref>
| children            = 2
| relations           = [[Richard Seddon]] (great-great uncle)
| alma_mater          = {{unbulleted list|[[University of Otago]]|[[Massey University]]|[[John F. Kennedy School of Government|Harvard University]]}}
}}
'''David Richard Cunliffe''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|QSO}} (born 30 April 1963) is a New Zealand management consultant and former politician who was [[Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party]] and [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]] from September 2013 to September 2014. He was [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Titirangi (New Zealand electorate)|Titirangi]] and then [[New Lynn (New Zealand electorate)|New Lynn]] for the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]] between 1999 and 2017. He served as the [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Minister of Health]], Minister for Communications and Information Technology and Minister of Immigration for the [[Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand]] from October 2007 until November 2008.

After the defeat of the Labour Party in the [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008 general election]], and the resignation of [[Helen Clark]] as the party leader, Cunliffe was appointed the party's finance spokesman and number three on the [[front bench]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10542499 |title=Goff plans radical shake-up at the top|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |first=Audrey |last=Young|date=12 November 2008|access-date=12 November 2008}}</ref> After Labour lost the [[2011 New Zealand general election|2011 general election]] and [[Phil Goff]] stood down as party leader, Cunliffe [[2011 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election|ran for the leadership]], but narrowly lost to [[David Shearer]].

On 26 August 2013, Cunliffe announced a second leadership bid after David Shearer's departure from the leadership and was [[2013 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election|elected]] on 15 September 2013. Following Labour's defeat at the [[2014 New Zealand general election|general election in September 2014]], he resigned as leader of the Labour Party.<ref name="resignation as leader">{{cite news|last1=Howie|first1=Cherie|title=David Cunliffe resigns as leader|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11332599|access-date=27 September 2014|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=27 September 2014}}</ref>

==Early life==
Cunliffe was born in [[Te Aroha]] on 30 April 1963.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11285307 |title=Unauthorised biography of David Cunliffe: The man who would be PM |first=Phil |last=Taylor |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=5 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705221942/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11285307 |archive-date=5 July 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> His family moved to [[Te Kūiti]], then to [[Pleasant Point, New Zealand|Pleasant Point]]. His father, Bill, an [[Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|Anglican]] minister, was active in the Labour Party.<ref name=taylor_2012>{{cite news |title=The other David |first=Phil |last=Taylor |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10849606 |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=24 November 2012 |access-date=24 November 2012}}</ref> As a teenager he won a scholarship to study the International Baccalaureate at the [[United World College of the Atlantic]] in [[Wales]]. Cunliffe studied politics at the [[University of Otago]], where he was a member of the [[Otago University Debating Society]], and gained a BA with first-class honours. He worked as a diplomat from 1987 to 1994 and gained a Diploma in Social Sciences (Distinction) in economics from [[Massey University]] in 1993. He was a [[Fulbright Scholar]] and Kennedy Memorial Fellow at [[Harvard University]]’s [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]], including some courses at [[Harvard Business and Law School]] in 1994 and 1995, earning a [[Master of Public Administration]]. He worked as a management consultant with [[The Boston Consulting Group]] in [[Auckland]] from 1995 to 1999.<ref name=parl>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/1/6/b/50MP30551-Cunliffe-David.htm |title=Hon David Cunliffe |work=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=18 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017053312/http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/1/6/b/50MP30551-Cunliffe-David.htm |archive-date=17 October 2012  }}</ref>

==Member of Parliament==
{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox|term=46th|start={{NZ election link year|1999}}|end=2002
|electorate=[[Titirangi (New Zealand electorate)|Titirangi]]|party=New Zealand Labour Party
|list=52}}
{{NZ parlbox|term=47th|start={{NZ election link year|2002}}|end=2005
|electorate=[[New Lynn (New Zealand electorate)|New Lynn]]|party=New Zealand Labour Party
|list=37}}
{{NZ parlbox|term=48th|start={{NZ election link year|2005}}|end=2008
|electorate=New Lynn|party=New Zealand Labour Party
|list=31}}
{{NZ parlbox|term=49th|start={{NZ election link year|2008}}|end=2011
|electorate=New Lynn|party=New Zealand Labour Party
|list=8}}
{{NZ parlbox|term=50th|start={{NZ election link year|2011}}|end=2014
|electorate=New Lynn|party=New Zealand Labour Party
|list=3}}
{{NZ parlbox|term=51st|start={{NZ election link year|2014}}|end=2017
|electorate=New Lynn|party=New Zealand Labour Party
|list=1}}
{{End}}
Cunliffe was first elected to [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] in the [[1999 New Zealand general election|1999 election]], standing as the Labour candidate for the [[Titirangi (New Zealand electorate)|Titirangi]] seat. Labour formed [[Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand|a new Government]] and Cunliffe served as Chair of the Commerce Select Committee and sat on the Finance and Expenditure and Regulations Review select committees.

Due to boundary changes for the [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002 election]] Cunliffe contested the seat of [[New Lynn (New Zealand electorate)|New Lynn]], which he won. Cunliffe's party continued in Government for its second term and he was made a [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the Ministers of Commerce, Finance and Revenue before being elevated to the [[Executive Council of New Zealand|Executive Council]] as a Minister outside of Cabinet in 2003. At the [[2005 New Zealand general election|2005 election]], Cunliffe was returned in New Lynn with 18,087 votes (8,000 more than his nearest opponent) or 55% of the electorate vote,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://2005.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-31.html |title=Official Count Results – New Lynn |access-date=24 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614043512/http://2005.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-31.html |archive-date=14 June 2007  }}</ref> and also promoted into [[Cabinet of New Zealand|Cabinet]].

Cunliffe retained his seat in the {{NZ election link year|2008}}, {{NZ election link year|2011}}, and {{NZ election link|2014}}s, during which the Labour Party was in Opposition. He served various senior roles, including as Finance Spokesperson, but was regarded as "a destabilising force" undermining the leadership of Labour Party leaders [[Phil Goff]] and [[David Shearer]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Manhire|first=Toby|date=2016-11-01|title=David Cunliffe is quitting politics. These are his Kodak moments|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/01-11-2016/david-cunliffes-kodak-moments/|access-date=2020-06-10|website=[[The Spinoff]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Vance|first=Andrea|date=29 July 2014|title=Cunliffe: 'I'm going to let people in'|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/10296677/Cunliffe-I-m-going-to-let-people-in|access-date=2020-06-10|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> Cunliffe was eventually elected as [[Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party Leader]] and [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]] for twelve months in 2013 and 2014, including at the 2014 general election where the party received its worst result in 100 years.

Cunliffe's intention to retire from politics was announced by his successor, [[Andrew Little (New Zealand politician)|Andrew Little]], on 1 November 2016. Cunliffe officially resigned from Parliament in April 2017, near enough to the [[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 election]] to avoid the need for a [[List of New Zealand by-elections|by-election]].<ref>{{cite web|date=1 November 2016|title=David Cunliffe to retire from politics|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11739785|access-date=1 November 2016|publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref>

===Cabinet minister (2005–2008)===
Cunliffe was appointed to the [[Cabinet of New Zealand]] in 2005 for the third term of the [[Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand|Fifth Labour Government]], initially as the [[Minister of Immigration (New Zealand)|Minister of Immigration]], Minister of Communications, Minister for Information Technology, and Associate Minister for Economic Development. He had previously held the Communications and Information Technology portfolios outside of Cabinet. A Cabinet reshuffle in 2007 saw him lose the Immigration portfolio in exchange for the more senior position as [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Minister of Health]].

==== Immigration ====
[[File:David Cunliffe.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cunliffe closing the 2005 Auckland [[BioBlitz]]]]
As Immigration Minister in 2006, Cunliffe initiated a major review of the Immigration Act 1987 which, under the oversight of his successors, resulted in the eventual replacement of that Act with the new Immigration Act 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4157379a10.html|title=Immigration Act to drop 'Zaoui' law|publisher=[[NZPA]]|date=8 August 2007|access-date=22 March 2008|archive-date=23 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823104920/http://www.stuff.co.nz/4157379a10.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Immigration law change takes New Zealand forward|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/immigration-law-change-takes-new-zealand-forward|access-date=2020-06-10|website=The Beehive|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Immigration Bill reported back|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/immigration-bill-reported-back|access-date=2020-06-10|website=The Beehive|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A new Act – a new era for immigration|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-act-new-era-immigration|access-date=2020-06-10|website=The Beehive|language=en}}</ref>

==== Communications and Information Technology ====
Cunliffe served as an Associate Minister for Communications and Associate Minister for Information Technology from 2003 before being promoted to the primary portfolios in 2004. The two portfolios were merged into a single ministerial role in 2007.

As Minister for Communications and Information Technology he announced extensive pro-competitive reform of the telecommunications sector, including [[Unbundling#New Zealand|local loop unbundling]] and operational separation of then Telecom New Zealand.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00543.htm|access-date=22 March 2008|title=Cunliffe: Vision 2011 – Roadmap to the Top|publisher=New Zealand Government|date=28 June 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920195505/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00543.htm|archive-date=20 September 2012}}</ref>

In May 2006 Cunliffe was referred to the [[Securities Commission of New Zealand|Securities Commission]] by the [[NZX]] for commenting on [[Telecom New Zealand|Telecom]]'s future dividend plans,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.techday.co.nz/telecommunicationsreview/news/nzx-reports-cunliffe-to-securities-commission/8867/ |title=NZX reports Cunliffe to Securities Commission |first=David |last=Dickens |work=techday |date=17 May 2006 |access-date=6 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223024950/http://www.techday.co.nz/telecommunicationsreview/news/nzx-reports-cunliffe-to-securities-commission/8867/ |archive-date=23 February 2013  }}</ref> causing Telecom's stock price to drop. The Securities Commission found that no law had been breached and no action was taken.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10382932 |title=Cunliffe won't be reprimanded for Telecom comments, says PM |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=22 May 2006 |access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>

On 30 June 2008 Cunliffe was conferred the title of ''Honorary Fellow of the NZCS'' (HFNZCS) by the [[New Zealand Computer Society]], the [[professional body]] of the [[information communication technology|ICT]] profession in recognition of his significant contribution to the ICT sector.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/7A0A42B6729524E6CC2574730081E642 |title=Computerworld > Cunliffe to be honorary NZCS Fellow |access-date=9 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018055502/http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/7A0A42B6729524E6CC2574730081E642 |archive-date=18 October 2008  }}</ref><ref>[http://www.nzcs.org.nz/tools/events/event.asp?SECT=wellington&ID=3061]{{dead link|date=April 2017}}</ref>

====Health====
Cunliffe was promoted to the Health portfolio in 2007, replacing [[Pete Hodgson]]. He received some attention when, early in the portfolio, he said to his opposition counterpart [[Tony Ryall]], "Mr Ryall, why don't you stay in your box. I'm running this show."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Noted|title=David Cunliffe: politician and poet – a 2008 profile|url=https://www.noted.co.nz/archive/archive-listener-nz-2013/david-cunliffe-politician-and-poet-a-2008-profile|access-date=2020-06-10|website=www.noted.co.nz|language=en|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610042200/https://www.noted.co.nz/archive/archive-listener-nz-2013/david-cunliffe-politician-and-poet-a-2008-profile|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=17 December 2007|title=Pollies for wallies and winners|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-dominion-post/20071217/282037617827342|access-date=2020-06-10|via=PressReader|publisher=Dominion Post}}</ref>

In February 2008, as the Minister of Health, Cunliffe dismissed the [[Hawke's Bay Region|Hawke's Bay]] [[District Health Board (New Zealand)|District Health Board]] over political, monetary and conflict of interest troubles.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4418090a10.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912053334/http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4418090a10.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2012|access-date=22 March 2008|title=Health Minister fires Hawke's Bay DHB|date=27 February 2008|author=Martin Kay|newspaper=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]}}</ref> [[Napier, New Zealand|Napier]] Mayor Barbara Arnott and a number of members of the district voiced opposition to Cunliffe's move as many of the board members were democratically elected.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411416/1608329|publisher=[[TVNZ]]|date=29 February 2008|title=Locals back sacked Health Board|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404115101/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411416/1608329|archive-date=4 April 2008}}</ref>  Following the release of a Health Ministry-commissioned independent report into the matter, Cunliffe referred to the board as a "nasty little nest of self-perpetuating provincial elites".<ref>{{cite speech|title=Hawke's Bay District Health Board—Conflicts of Interest Report|author=David Cunliffe|date=18 March 2008|url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/Speeches/d/a/7/48HansS_20080318_00000880-Cunliffe-David-Urgent-Debates-Hawke-s-Bay.htm|location=Debating Chamber of the New Zealand House of Representatives|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301212505/http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/Speeches/d/a/7/48HansS_20080318_00000880-Cunliffe-David-Urgent-Debates-Hawke-s-Bay.htm|archive-date=1 March 2012}} [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/multimedia/video.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10498982&content_media_id=4974100 Speech video on nzherald.co.nz]</ref>

===In Opposition (2008–2013)===
[[File:David Cunliffe, 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|Official portrait, 2008]]
After the [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008 general election]] defeat of the Labour Party, Cunliffe was made Labour's spokesman for finance, shadowing National's [[Finance Minister (New Zealand)|Finance Minister]], [[Bill English]]. Cunliffe had been touted as a future leader of the party, and party insiders had suggested he seriously considered challenging [[Phil Goff]] as leader in the aftermath of the 2008 election. Speculation of a leadership challenge again arose during the June 2010 expenses scandal and again after [[Chris Carter (New Zealand politician)|Chris Carter]]'s resignation from the party.

After Labour lost the [[2011 New Zealand general election|2011 general election]] and Goff stood down, Cunliffe [[2011 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election|ran for the party leadership]] with [[Nanaia Mahuta]] on a ticket for deputy leader. [[Grant Robertson]] and [[David Parker (New Zealand politician)|David Parker]] also entered the race, but subsequently backed [[David Shearer]], who won the high-profile race. Robertson became deputy leader, while Parker took Cunliffe's finance spokesmanship. Shearer retained Cunliffe in a senior role on the front bench, with the economic development and associate finance roles.<ref>{{cite web |title=David Cunliffe |url=http://www.labour.org.nz/davidcunliffe |work=New Zealand Labour Party |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503041252/http://www.labour.org.nz/davidcunliffe |archive-date=3 May 2012  }}</ref>

In November 2012 during a Labour Party conference, there was much media speculation Cunliffe would launch a challenge against David Shearer for leadership of the party.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Labours-Shearer-still-under-pressure/tabid/1607/articleID/277129/Default.aspx | work= 3 News NZ | title= Labour's Shearer still under pressure | date= 18 November 2012 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173931/http://www.3news.co.nz/Labours-Shearer-still-under-pressure/tabid/1607/articleID/277129/Default.aspx | archive-date= 14 October 2013 | df= dmy-all | access-date= 18 November 2012 }}</ref> On the morning of 19 November, Cunliffe confirmed he was not challenging Shearer, and would indeed back him if a vote was taken.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Cunliffe-Im-backing-Shearer/tabid/1607/articleID/277142/Default.aspx| archive-url= https://archive.today/20130222232330/http://www.3news.co.nz/Cunliffe-Im-backing-Shearer/tabid/1607/articleID/277142/Default.aspx| url-status= dead| archive-date= 22 February 2013| work= 3 News NZ| title= Cunliffe: I'm backing Shearer| date= 19 November 2012}}</ref> However, Cunliffe was accused of demonstrating disloyalty and subsequently stripped of his front bench position and his portfolios.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trevett |first1=Claire |title=Shearer stays leader; Cunliffe punished |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/labour-mps-vote-for-shearer-cunliffe-demoted/YNU3B526K323OPRNSOW7227ZTM/?c_id=1&objectid=10848698 |access-date=15 October 2023 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=15 October 2023 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

====Labour Party leadership contest, 2013====
On 22 August 2013, Shearer announced his resignation as leader of the Labour Party. Cunliffe was expected to make another bid for the leadership but did not confirm his candidacy immediately.<ref>Stuff.co.nz "David Shearer quits as Labour leader." (22/08/13, retrieved 23/08/13)</ref> Victoria University of Wellington's [[iPredict]] online predictions market showed the probability of Cunliffe becoming the next leader of the Labour Party at 66%, compared to under 26% support for Shearer's deputy [[Grant Robertson]]; social development spokesperson [[Jacinda Ardern]] polled at 5%, and list MP [[Andrew Little (New Zealand politician)|Andrew Little]] was on 2%.<ref>MSN NZ.co.nz "Cunliffe leading iPredict stakes." (23/08/13, retrieved 23/08/13).</ref>

Cunliffe formally entered the [[2013 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election]] during a press conference in his New Lynn electorate office<ref>Cunliffe announces Labour bid. [[Stuff.co.nz]] (26/08/13, retrieved 26/08/13).</ref>  His announcement came in the wake of a ONE News Colmar Brunton poll released by the current affair programme Q+A which showed Cunliffe winning the support of 29% of the eligible voters asked, and 32% of those polled who support Labour. Challengers Shane Jones and Grant Robertson were on 11% and 10%, respectively.<ref>Grant Robertson confirms bid for Labour leadership. [[One News (New Zealand)|One News]], (26/08/13)</ref> After the first public Labour Party leadership selection process in New Zealand history, Cunliffe was elected leader on 15 September 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cunliffe wins Labour leadership|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9166765/Cunliffe-wins-Labour-leadership|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |publisher=Fairfax NZ|access-date=19 September 2013|author=Tracy Watkins|author2=Michael Fox|author3=Andrea Vance|date=15 September 2013|name-list-style=amp}}</ref> He won with the support of 32% of the Labour Party [[caucus]], 60% of Labour Party members, and 70% of affiliated unions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/09/cunliffe_wins.html | title=Cunliffe wins | publisher=Kiwiblog | date=15 September 2013 | access-date=5 December 2013 | author=Farrar, David | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122075343/http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/09/cunliffe_wins.html | archive-date=22 November 2013 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Leader of the Opposition (2013–2014)===
[[File:David Cunliffe, CTU Biennial Conference 2013 (10162753034).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Cunliffe addressing the [[New Zealand Council of Trade Unions|CTU]] Conference in October 2013]]
Cunliffe received strong backing from the party's [[grassroots]] membership, although his leadership bid was supported by only one-third of the caucus.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Solutions|first1=EIU Digital|title=New Labour leader chosen|url=http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=200964404&Country=New%20Zealand&topic=Politics&subtopic=Forecast&subsubtopic=Election+watch&u=1&pid=2024544386&oid=2024544386&uid=1|website=country.eiu.com|access-date=4 September 2016|date=17 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924082128/http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=200964404&Country=New%20Zealand&topic=Politics&subtopic=Forecast&subsubtopic=Election+watch&u=1&pid=2024544386&oid=2024544386&uid=1|archive-date=24 September 2016}}</ref> Cunliffe's leadership was opposed by many Labour MPs; several of his colleagues came to see him as "divisive, ambitious, self-absorbed and self-confident to a messianic level".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vowles |first1=Jack |last2=Coffé |first2=Hilde |last3=Curtin |first3=Jennifer |title=A Bark But No Bite: Inequality and the 2014 New Zealand General Election |date=2017 |publisher=ANU Press |isbn=978-1-76046-136-2 |page=133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mX44DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA133 |access-date=18 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref> He was described as a "polarising" politician,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vance |first1=Andrea |title=Loved and loathed: the polarising politician |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/editors-picks/9164503/Loved-and-loathed-the-polarising-politician |access-date=8 May 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=14 September 2013 |language=en}}</ref> however his election as leader resulting in an initial increase in support for Labour; it rose to 37% in opinion polls.<ref name="herald2" />

In a speech to a women's symposium in July 2014, Cunliffe stated, "I am sorry for being a man".<ref name="herald2" /> He was commenting on [[domestic violence]] against women by men. His apology was regarded as insensitive, with Prime Minister [[John Key]] criticising the remark as "a bit insulting to imply that all men are abusive".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rutherford |first1=Hamish |last2=Dennett |first2=Kelly |title=David Cunliffe: I'm sorry for being a man |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10232457/David-Cunliffe-I-m-sorry-for-being-a-man |access-date=8 May 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=4 July 2014 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

With little time to make the structural changes needed to build a proper campaign and a party marked by continued infighting, Labour performed poorly in the [[Opinion polling for the 2014 New Zealand general election|public opinion polls]] during the run-up to the 2014 general election. It was, as Cunliffe was to say later, "the craziest and in some ways the most unfortunate campaign in recorded memory".<ref>{{cite news |author=Toby Manhire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/20/new-zealand-election-john-keys-national-party-on-course-for-victory |title=New Zealand election: John Key's National party on course for victory &#124; World news |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=1 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321172247/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/20/new-zealand-election-john-keys-national-party-on-course-for-victory |archive-date=21 March 2017  }}</ref>

====2014 general election====
Labour formally launched its campaign for [[2014 New Zealand general election|2014 general election]] in Auckland on 21 July. Cunliffe announced several flagship election policies, including a promise of free [[General practitioner|GP]] visits and prescriptions to pregnant women and those aged under 13 and over 65.<ref name="3news">{{cite news |title= Labour promises free GP visits |url= http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/labour-promises-free-gp-visits-2014081007 |publisher= 3 News |date= 10 August 2014 |access-date= 4 September 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150113053304/http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/labour-promises-free-gp-visits-2014081007 |archive-date= 13 January 2015 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> In a speech he stated, "We are basing our policies on a very old idea. That your healthcare is based on your health need, not on the size of your wallet."<ref name="3news" />

He was criticised for taking a three-day skiing holiday in [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]] at the start of the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cunliffe 'regrets' taking ski holiday |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/250362/cunliffe-%27regrets%27-taking-ski-holiday |access-date=8 May 2020 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=22 July 2014 |language=en-nz}}</ref>

His performance in the leadership debates was viewed as mixed. Key claimed a win in the 2 September ''[[The Press]]'' leaders' debate after Cunliffe could not answer whether family homes held in a trust would be exempt under Labour's [[capital gains tax]] policy,<ref>{{cite web|title=Key lands hit on Cunliffe over capital gains tax|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/archive/key-lands-hit-on-cunliffe-over-capital-gains-tax-6069749.html|publisher=Television New Zealand|access-date=4 September 2016|date=2 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921220152/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/archive/key-lands-hit-on-cunliffe-over-capital-gains-tax-6069749.html|archive-date=21 September 2016}}</ref> but then went on to recover in the second and third debates.<ref>{{cite web|author=Vernon Small |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10452464/Leaders-debate-reveals-more-even-contest |title=Leaders debate reveals more even contest |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=2 September 2014 |access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>

Cunliffe's Labour Party received 25.1% of the party vote and 32 seats, its lowest share of the vote since 1922, while the National Party gained a plurality with 47.0% of the party vote, its best result since 1951.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vowles |first1=Jack |last2=Coffé |first2=Hilde |last3=Curtin |first3=Jennifer |title=A Bark But No Bite: inequality and the 2014 New Zealand general election |date=2017 |publisher=ANU Press |isbn=978-1-760461362 |page=3}}</ref> Cunliffe initially vowed to remain as the party leader, in spite of the poor election result. On 27 September Cunliffe formally resigned as leader but announced he was re-contesting in the [[2014 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election|2014 party leadership election]].<ref name="herald2">{{cite news|title=Labour leadership's turbulent ride|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11341685|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=13 October 2014|access-date=4 September 2016}}</ref> Later on 13 October, he announced he was pulling out of the leadership race.<ref name="herald2" />

===Political views===
[[File:Auckland pride parade 2016 50.jpg|thumb|Cunliffe marching with Labour members in a parade at the [[Auckland Pride Festival]], February 2016]]
Cunliffe is generally liberal when it comes to conscience issues. He voted in favour of the [[Prostitution Reform Act 2003|decriminalisation of prostitution]], the [[Civil Union Act 2004|establishment of civil unions]], and the [[Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007|criminalisation of parental corporal punishment]]. He voted against [[Same-sex marriage in New Zealand#Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill 2005|defining marriage as between one man and one woman]], and in 2013, he voted in favour of [[Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013|legalising same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Gay marriage: How MPs voted |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gay-marriage-how-mps-voted/WLPKK4734FBZEKJIDHBFO4MWFA/ |access-date=28 October 2021 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=17 April 2013 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> In 2006, he voted in favour of raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 20, but voted against it in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title= Parliamentary Conscience Votes Database – David Cunliffe |url= http://votes.wotfun.com/mp/David+Cunliffe/votes |access-date= 11 August 2014 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714175039/http://votes.wotfun.com/mp/David+Cunliffe/votes |archive-date= 14 July 2014 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

Cunliffe has expressed a view that New Zealand will [[Republicanism in New Zealand|become a republic]] in the future. During a debate after the [[speech from the throne]] on 4 September 2002, Cunliffe spoke of "Building a New Zealand ... where we journey together towards maturity as a nation, and to the [[Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth republic]] I personally believe we will become before [[Treaty of Waitangi|the Treaty]] turns 200".<ref name="republicquote">{{cite web|url=http://www.cunliffe.org.nz/6.news/articles/detail.asp?id=41 |title=David Cunliffe: Address-In-Reply speech |access-date=1 August 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009001351/http://www.cunliffe.org.nz/6.news/articles/detail.asp?id=41 |archive-date=9 October 2007  }}</ref>

== Life after politics ==
Following his retirement from Parliament on 21 April 2017, Cunliffe joined the New Zealand-based management consultancy firm Stakeholder Strategies as a partner, working for a range of public and private sector clients. He left the company in 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=David Cunliffe, Board Member, Selwyn Foundation |url=https://businessdesk.co.nz/people/david-cunliffe |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=businessdesk.co.nz |language=en}}</ref> Since 2020 he has been a director of the Polis Consulting Group.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Rebecca |date=2 March 2022 |title=North Otago |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/district-strategy-review-%25E2%2580%2598-track%25E2%2580%2599 |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[2018 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|2018 New Year Honours]], Cunliffe was appointed a [[Companion of the Queen's Service Order]], for services as a member of Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2018 |title=New Year honours list 2018 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=9 June 2018 |date=30 December 2017}}</ref>

In February 2020, Cunliffe was also appointed as chair of the Selwyn Foundation,<ref>{{cite web |title=Cunliffe appointed as Chair of The Selwyn Foundation BoT |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2002/S00026/cunliffe-appointed-as-chair-of-the-selwyn-foundation-bot.htm/ |work=[[Scoop.co.nz]] |date=3 February 2020}}</ref> one of New Zealand's largest independent charitable providers of services to older people and their families.

==Personal life==

===Family===
Cunliffe's domestic partner is Anna Kominik.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ex-national-deputy-nikki-kaye-on-her-next-big-challenge-outside-politics/FVQXQS3R2OYVASCMBJV7EY5Y7Y/|title=Weekend at Nikki's - life after politics and meeting famous singers and former rivals on Barrier|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=27 January 2022|first=Audrey|last=Young}}</ref> Kominik is the independent chair of the Electricity Retailers’ Association and the New Zealand Director of Zephyr Airworks.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1905/S00483/eranz-announces-new-chair-anna-kominik.htm |title=ERANZ announces new Chair Anna Kominik |publisher=Electricity Retailers Association of New Zealand|access-date=20 October 2020 |date=15 May 2019 |via=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]}}</ref> He has two sons from his previous marriage to Auckland lawyer Karen Price.<ref name=Price/> Cunliffe's father Bill was born in [[Ngahere]] in 1915 and worked at the railways. His great-grandfather, William Cunliffe, married Phoebe Seddon, the elder sister of [[Richard Seddon]], who would later become known as 'King Dick'. Seddon, New Zealand's [[List of Prime Ministers of New Zealand by term|longest serving]] prime minister, was thus Cunliffe's great-(great-)uncle.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.greystar.co.nz/content/cunliffe%E2%80%99s-great-uncle-dick|title=Cunliffe's great-uncle Dick|work=Grey Star|access-date=14 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123151158/http://greystar.co.nz/content/cunliffe%E2%80%99s-great-uncle-dick|archive-date=23 January 2015}}</ref>

===Religious views===
Cunliffe is the son of an [[Anglican]] minister, and was raised in the Church of England. He has described himself as a "liberal Anglican," and an "infrequent attender of church, but it's a big part of my life."<ref>David Cunliffe interview, "Vote Chat 2011." (26/08/11)</ref>

==See also==
*[[Shadow Cabinet of David Cunliffe]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite AV media |title = ICT leaders election forum 2005 [videorecording: DVD] |place = Wellington, [N.Z.] |publisher=InternetNZ |year = c. 2005 }}. This was a discussion forum about information technology policy – the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]]'s [[Maurice Williamson]] was also a participant.

==External links==
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110531213700/http://cunliffe.co.nz/ cunliffe.co.nz]
*[http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/1/6/b/50MP30551-Cunliffe-David.htm David Cunliffe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017053312/http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/1/6/b/50MP30551-Cunliffe-David.htm |date=17 October 2012 }} at the New Zealand Parliament
*[https://archive.today/20130222235900/http://www.3news.co.nz/David-Cunliffes-economic-vision---opinion/tabid/419/articleID/231803/Default.aspx 3news.co.nz interview with David Cunliffe ahead of 2011 election]

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|nz}}
{{s-new|rows=2|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Titirangi (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Titirangi]]|years=1999–2002}}
{{s-non|reason={{nowrap|Constituency abolished}}}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[New Lynn (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for New Lynn]]|years=2002–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Deborah Russell]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Pete Hodgson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Minister of Health]]|years=2007–2008}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tony Ryall]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Bill English]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Shadow Minister of Finance]]|years=2008–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Parker (New Zealand politician)|David Parker]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[David Shearer]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]]|years=2013–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Andrew Little (New Zealand politician)|Andrew Little]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[David Shearer]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party|Leader of the Labour Party]]|years=2013–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Andrew Little (New Zealand politician)|Andrew Little]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{NZ Labour Party}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunliffe, David}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Companions of the Queen's Service Order]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand diplomats]]
[[Category:New Zealand Labour Party leaders]]
[[Category:New Zealand Labour Party MPs]]
[[Category:New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates]]
[[Category:New Zealand republicans]]
[[Category:People educated at Atlantic College]]
[[Category:People educated at a United World College]]
[[Category:Politicians from Auckland]]
[[Category:University of Otago alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Te Aroha]]
[[Category:Massey University alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians]]
[[Category:Seddon family]]
[[Category:Ministers of health of New Zealand]]