Labour stalwart and former Cabinet Minister David Parker resigns from Parliament

Departing Labour MP David Parker says he will participate in the tax debate until the day he dies, but it is not his reason for leaving Parliament.

The long-serving MP has announced he will retire in May.

Parker, who has been an MP since 2002, twice held the role of Attorney General, from 2005-2006, and from 2017-2023.

He also held the Trade, Revenue, Economic Development, Associate Finance, Climate Change, Energy, Environment, State Services, Transport and Land Information ministerial portfolios.

Parker said he had approached Labour leader Chris Hipkins about a year ago, to tell him he had not decided whether he was going to stand at the next election, and would let him know at least a year out.

"Having thought about it, I really didn't think that I wanted to do another term through government. I'm an entrepreneur by nature. I will always be, in my view, creative, whether it's in business or in politics, or in business again, or whatever the future holds," he told media on Tuesday.

He said he had "three main threads" in politics: environment, civil liberties, and economics, and was proud of achievements in all three spaces.

In his first stint as environment minister he legislated the Emissions Trading Scheme, and in his second spearheaded the overhaul of the Resource Management Act (the latter was repealed by the current government).

As trade minister, Parker signed New Zealand up to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and ratified the PACER Plus agreement.

He resigned from his revenue portfolio ahead of the 2023 election, due to Labour ruling out a wealth tax policy.

Labour was looking at a "tax switch," where a $10,000 tax-free threshold would be paid for by an increased tax on the wealthiest New Zealanders.

But then-Prime Minister Chris Hipkins ruled the idea out, leading Parker to decide his position had become "untenable."

Parker said he would participate in the tax debate "til the day I die, I suspect," and while he would not participate in the political debate, he would remain a Labour member.

But he said it had nothing to do with his stepping down, and was happy with the direction of travel Labour was taking in developing its tax policy.

"It is true that I believe there's unfinished business for the country. Middle class people who earn their income through wages pay tax on every dollar they earn. But wealthy people, very wealthy people, pay tax on less than half what they earn."

While there would always be unfinished business, he said the "art of government" meant there were always improvements to be made.

"You're never finished in this job. You've got to call it quits sometimes."

First elected in 2002, after winning the Otago seat, Parker has been a list MP since 2005.

He was also Labour's Deputy Leader from 2013-2014, under David Cunliffe, and later ran to replace Cunliffe as leader but came third behind Andrew Little and Grant Robertson.

He currently serves as Labour's spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, and as Shadow Attorney General.

"I've come to sort of an end point in the resetting of the Labour Party's foreign affairs position, and my big push into trying to control what I think is a very important issue, which is irresponsible social media ruining the mental health of young people, and scamming people out of their life savings and things. So I thought it was as good a time as any to call it quits," Parker said.

He intended to deliver his valedictory speech in early May, subject to confirmation from the Business Committee.

'He has made a difference'

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Parker told him last week he was close to making a decision on his future, and informed him on Tuesday morning.

"He has made a difference. I think he has contributed to a higher quality of life for New Zealand. He's been a principled, outspoken member of Parliament and we'll certainly miss him," Hipkins said.

He said differences over tax policy were not responsible for Parker's departure.

"I think it's a matter of record that David and I have had a number of discussions, particularly around things like tax. Those have never been personal. We've actually had really constructive conversations about those, and so that's nothing to do with his decision at all. I think he's just decided it's the right time for him."

Vanushi Walters, who was MP for Upper Harbour from 2020-2023, is next on Labour's list, and will return to Parliament following Parker's departure.