Grant Robertson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Grant Robertson
Robertson in 2023
10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 2024
Chancellor	Stephen Higgs
Preceded by	David Murdoch
19th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office 6 November 2020 – 25 January 2023
Prime Minister	Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by	Winston Peters
Succeeded by	Carmel Sepuloni
29th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 11 November 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime Minister	Chris Hipkins
Preceded by	Nanaia Mahuta
Succeeded by	Winston Peters
12th Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control
In office 11 November 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime Minister	Chris Hipkins
Preceded by	Nanaia Mahuta
Succeeded by	Office abolished
42nd Minister of Finance
In office 26 October 2017 – 27 November 2023
Prime Minister	Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins
Preceded by	Steven Joyce
Succeeded by	Nicola Willis
12th Leader of the House
In office 1 February 2023 – 27 November 2023 Acting: 25 January 2023 – 1 February 2023
Prime Minister	Chris Hipkins
Preceded by	Chris Hipkins
Succeeded by	Chris Bishop
11th Minister for Sport and Recreation
In office 26 October 2017 – 27 November 2023
Prime Minister	Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins
Preceded by	Jonathan Coleman
Succeeded by	Chris Bishop
Other government and opposition roles 2011–⁠2023 4th Minister for Infrastructure In office 6 November 2020 – 1 February 2023 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins Preceded by Shane Jones Succeeded by Megan Woods 13th Minister for Racing In office 6 November 2020 – 14 June 2022 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Preceded by Winston Peters Succeeded by Kieran McAnulty 19th Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission In office 27 June 2019 – 6 November 2020 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Preceded by Megan Woods Succeeded by David Clark Deputy Leader of the Opposition In office 13 December 2011 – 17 September 2013 Leader David Shearer Preceded by Annette King Succeeded by David Parker Deputy Leader of the Labour Party In office 13 December 2011 – 17 September 2013 Leader David Shearer Preceded by Annette King Succeeded by David Parker
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wellington Central
In office 8 November 2008 – 14 October 2023
Preceded by	Marian Hobbs
Succeeded by	Tamatha Paul
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour party list
In office 14 October 2023 – 22 March 2024
Succeeded by	Glen Bennett
Personal details
Born	Grant Murray Robertson (1971-10-30) 30 October 1971 (age 53) Palmerston North, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Alf Kaiwai ​ (m. 2009)​
Residence	Northland, Wellington
Alma mater	University of Otago

Grant Murray Robertson (born 30 October 1971) is a New Zealand politician who has now retired. He was a member of the Labour Party. From 2017 to 2023, he served as the Minister of Finance. He was also the 19th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2020 to 2023.

Robertson was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Wellington Central from 2008 to 2023. He also held other important roles in government. After leaving politics, he became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago in July 2024.

Early Life and Education

Grant Robertson was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand. He was the youngest of three brothers. His family lived in Hastings before moving to South Dunedin. His mother was a teacher, and his father was an accountant.

Robertson went to King's High School, Dunedin in Dunedin. He was the head boy there, which is a leadership role. After high school, he studied political science at the University of Otago. He earned a Bachelor of Arts with honours in 1995. While at university, he was the President of the Otago University Students' Association in 1993. He also co-led the New Zealand University Students' Association in 1996.

Professional Career Before Politics

After university, Robertson joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in 1997. This meant he worked for the New Zealand government on international matters. He worked at the United Nations in New York. He also helped manage New Zealand's aid program to Samoa. This program supported education, healthcare, and small businesses. He left MFAT in 2001.

Robertson then worked as an advisor for the government in New Zealand. He advised Marian Hobbs, who was a minister, and later Helen Clark, who was the Prime Minister. He helped create Labour's policy for interest-free student loans. This policy was very popular and helped Labour win an election. After the 2005 election, he worked for the University of Otago in Wellington.

Political Journey

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 2006, the MP for Wellington Central, Marian Hobbs, announced she would retire. Grant Robertson decided to run for the position. He ran a strong campaign focused on local issues. In the 2008 New Zealand general election, he won the Wellington Central seat. He defeated National Party candidate Stephen Franks.

First Term in Opposition (2008–2011)

After the 2008 election, the Labour government was defeated. Robertson became part of the opposition. He was appointed as the Labour Party's spokesperson for state services. He also spoke on arts, culture, heritage, and foreign affairs.

In 2010, Robertson introduced a bill about ethical investment. This bill aimed to make sure major investment funds invested ethically. The bill did not pass, but it showed his interest in responsible finance. He was promoted to spokesperson for tertiary education. By 2011, he was promoted again to the front bench, taking on the health portfolio.

Deputy Leader and Leadership Bids (2011–2017)

Robertson speaking to a rally at the University of Otago, October 2013

In the 2011 New Zealand general election, Robertson won his Wellington Central seat again. After Labour lost the election, he was elected as the new deputy leader of the Labour Party. He worked alongside leader David Shearer. In this role, he was a spokesperson for employment and arts.

After Shearer resigned in 2013, Robertson ran for the party's leadership. He had strong support from his fellow MPs. However, David Cunliffe won the overall vote from party members. Under Cunliffe, Robertson was a top-ranked Labour MP. He was a spokesperson for economic development.

Robertson at Government House, Wellington, in 2015

Robertson won his seat again in the 2014 New Zealand general election. After the election, he ran for the Labour Party leadership once more. He wanted to unite the party after a difficult election. He lost to Andrew Little by a small margin. After this, Robertson said he would not seek the leadership again.

In November 2014, he became the Labour Party's finance spokesperson. He was ranked number 3 on the Labour list. He also led a two-year project called the "Future of Work Commission." This project looked into how work might change in the future.

Key Government Roles (2017–2023)

In the 2017 New Zealand general election, Robertson again won his Wellington Central seat. Labour formed a government with other parties. Robertson was chosen by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to be the Minister of Finance. This is a very important job, managing the country's money. He also became the Minister for Sport and Recreation.

In 2019, he also became the Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission. As finance minister, he worked closely with Prime Minister Ardern. He played a big part in the government's economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.

Robertson with Prime Minister Ardern and Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy in November 2020

After the 2020 New Zealand general election, Labour won by a large amount. Robertson was appointed the 19th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand. He took on this role on 6 November 2020. He kept his finance and sport portfolios. He also gained new roles as Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Racing.

When Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigned in January 2023, Robertson announced he would not seek to replace her. He stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister. However, he continued as finance minister. He also became Leader of the House. After Cyclone Gabrielle, he became Minister for Cyclone Recovery. He briefly served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in November 2023.

Final Term in Parliament (2023–2024)

For the 2023 New Zealand general election, Robertson chose to run as a list-only candidate. This means he was on a party list rather than directly competing for a local seat. He was re-elected as a list MP.

In November 2023, he became the finance and racing spokesperson for the Labour Party in opposition. In December 2023, he was allowed to keep the title The Honourable. This was in recognition of his service in government.

On 20 February 2024, Robertson announced he would retire from politics in March. He was taking a new job as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago. His resignation led to some changes in the Labour Party's shadow cabinet. Glen Bennett also entered Parliament as a new Labour Party list MP.

University of Otago Vice-Chancellor

Grant Robertson officially became the Vice-chancellor of the University of Otago on 1 July 2024. The university's chancellor, Stephen Higgs, said that the university council fully supported his appointment.

In November 2024, Robertson announced that he would personally fund seven scholarships. These scholarships are worth NZ$7,000 each year. They will help first-year students at Otago who have an equity scholarship and need financial support.

Personal Life

Grant Robertson lives in Wellington City with his partner, Alf. They met while playing rugby for a team called the Krazy Knights. This was New Zealand's first gay rugby team. After being together for 10 years, they had a civil union ceremony in January 2009.

Robertson was one of New Zealand's first well-known openly gay politicians. He was also the country's first openly gay deputy prime minister.

See also

• Electoral history of Grant Robertson