Todd Muller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Todd Muller
38th Leader of the Opposition
In office 22 May 2020 – 14 July 2020
Prime Minister	Jacinda Ardern
Deputy	Nikki Kaye
Preceded by	Simon Bridges
Succeeded by	Judith Collins
13th Leader of the National Party
In office 22 May 2020 – 14 July 2020
Deputy	Nikki Kaye
Preceded by	Simon Bridges
Succeeded by	Judith Collins
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Bay of Plenty
In office 20 September 2014 – 14 October 2023
Preceded by	Tony Ryall
Succeeded by	Tom Rutherford
Majority	3,415
Personal details
Born	Todd Michael Muller (1968-12-23) 23 December 1968 (age 56) Te Aroha, New Zealand
Political party	National
Spouse	Michelle Muller
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Waikato

Todd Michael Muller (born 23 December 1968) is a New Zealand politician who used to be the leader of the New Zealand National Party and the Leader of the Opposition for a short time in 2020.

Muller became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 2014 general election. He represented the Bay of Plenty area until he decided to retire from politics in the 2023 general election. During his time in Parliament, he became the leader of the National Party. However, he faced challenges with his mental health, including panic attacks, and stepped down from the leadership after only 53 days.

Early Life and Education

Todd Muller was born in Te Aroha on 23 December 1968. He grew up in Te Puna, where his parents had a kiwifruit orchard. He went to St Josephs, Te Puna primary school and then to Tauranga Boys' College.

He later studied at the University of Waikato. He earned a master's degree, studying English, history, and politics.

Career Before Politics

Todd Muller joined the New Zealand National Party in 1989. From 1994 to 1997, he worked as an assistant to Jim Bolger, who was the Prime Minister at the time.

After that, Muller worked in the business world. He was with the kiwifruit company Zespri from 2001 to 2003. He also worked at Apata Ltd, a company that handles kiwifruit after harvest, which his father helped start. He was the chief executive there from 2006.

Later, Muller joined the dairy company Fonterra in 2011. He managed relationships with local governments and regions. He was also part of the team that responded to the 2013 Fonterra product recall.

Muller also served on the boards of several agribusiness companies. He was a director for Plant and Food Research, a science institute, and the Sustainable Business Council. He left these roles in 2014 to focus on becoming a Member of Parliament.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Todd Muller became an MP in 2014, taking over from Tony Ryall in the Bay of Plenty area. He won by a large number of votes. In his first speech in Parliament, he said that becoming an MP was a dream he had since he was a child.

During his first term, the National Party was in government. Muller held various roles on parliamentary committees, including chairing the foreign affairs, defence, and trade committee.

After the 2017 election, National became the opposition party. Muller was given important roles as a spokesperson for areas like agriculture, climate change, and food safety. He worked with the government on the Zero Carbon Bill, which aims to reduce carbon emissions. His work on this bill earned him respect from other politicians, including Green Party climate change minister James Shaw.

National Party Leadership in 2020

Becoming Leader

In May 2020, Todd Muller decided to challenge Simon Bridges for the leadership of the National Party. He teamed up with Nikki Kaye as his deputy. This challenge happened after some polls showed low support for the current leader.

Muller won the vote on 22 May 2020 and became the leader of the National Party and the Leader of the Opposition. Many MPs supported him, hoping for a fresh start for the party.

Time as Leader of the Opposition

As leader, Muller announced his team of spokespeople, known as the shadow cabinet. He tried to bring the party together after the leadership change.

One notable moment was when he planned to display a "Make America Great Again" cap in his office as part of his collection of American political items. Some people found this controversial, and he later decided not to display it.

Muller's first major speech as leader focused on the economy. He talked about making New Zealand's economy stronger and greener. He also spoke about the Treaty of Waitangi as the nation's "founding document."

However, his time as leader was very short. On 14 July 2020, Muller resigned from the leadership, saying that he was "not the best person" for the role at that time. He explained that the job had a negative impact on his mental health. He later shared that he experienced severe anxiety and panic attacks. At just 53 days, Todd Muller holds the record for the shortest-serving leader of any political party in New Zealand's history.

After the Leadership Role

Continuing as an MP

In the 2020 New Zealand general election held in October, Muller was re-elected as the MP for Bay of Plenty. He continued to serve in Parliament and took on new roles, including being a spokesperson for internal affairs and trade. He also became an advocate for mental health, sharing his own experiences.

One of his notable achievements was working on the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Bill. This bill aimed to make sure that sunscreens provide the protection they promise. It passed into law in 2022, meaning sunscreen companies can be fined if their products don't meet their label claims. Muller said this law would give New Zealanders more confidence in the sunscreens they buy.

Retirement from Politics

In 2021, Muller announced he would not stand for re-election in the next general election. He later changed his mind when Christopher Luxon became the new leader of the National Party in December 2021. Muller was asked to stay on and took on new spokesperson roles, including agriculture and climate change.

However, in March 2023, Muller announced again that he would indeed leave politics at the 2023 general election. He explained that he didn't have enough energy for the job and wanted to spend more time with his family. He also mentioned that he didn't think his mental health could handle the pressures of a ministerial role.

Political Views

Todd Muller has often spoken about the need for greater action on climate change. He worked with the government on the Zero Carbon Bill, showing his commitment to this issue.

He has also expressed concern about increasing disagreements on issues related to Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi. He believes that this can harm society and has called for more unity on these important topics. Muller also believes that while "one person, one vote" is key to democracy, it's important to be open to new ways to ensure all voices are heard in political representation.

Personal Life

Todd Muller is married to Michelle Muller, and they have three children. He is a practicing Catholic. Muller has had several skin cancers removed from his body, which led to his interest in creating laws to regulate sunscreens in New Zealand.