Todd Muller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Todd Muller
Muller in 2023
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
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Waikato

Todd Michael Muller (born 23 December 1968) is a New Zealand former politician. He was 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 retired from politics in the 2023 general election. In 2020, he became the leader of the National Party. However, he resigned after 53 days because of challenges with his mental health.

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 Becoming an MP

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

After that, Muller worked for several companies. He was with the kiwifruit company Zespri from 2001 to 2006. He then became the chief executive of Apata Ltd in 2006. Apata is a company that helps process fruit after it's harvested. His father helped start this company in 1983.

Later, Muller worked at the dairy company Fonterra from 2011 to 2014. He was involved in the company's response to a product recall in 2013. He also served on the boards of other businesses, including Plant and Food Research and the Sustainable Business Council.

In June 2014, Muller left his business roles to focus on becoming a Member of Parliament. He was chosen as the National Party candidate for the Bay of Plenty area.

Time as a Member of Parliament

Todd Muller became an MP in 2014, representing the Bay of Plenty. 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 childhood.

During his first term, the National Party was in government. Muller served on several important committees. He was deputy chair of the local government and environment committee in 2015. He also chaired the foreign affairs, defence, and trade committee in 2017.

After the 2017 New Zealand general election, the National Party became the opposition. Muller was given 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.

In November 2019, Muller made a comment during a speech by Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick about climate change. Swarbrick responded with "OK boomer," a phrase that became widely known.

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

Third Term in Parliament

In the 2020 New Zealand general election in October, Todd Muller successfully kept his Bay of Plenty seat. He continued to serve as an MP. In the new shadow cabinet, he was responsible for internal affairs and trade. After his experience, Muller also became an advocate for mental health.

Muller worked on a special law called the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Bill. This bill aimed to make sure that sunscreens sold in New Zealand actually provide the protection they promise. If a sunscreen didn't work as advertised, companies could be fined. This bill passed into law in March 2022. Muller said this law would help New Zealanders trust the sunscreen products 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 Beliefs

Todd Muller holds socially conservative views. This means he has traditional opinions on certain social issues. .....

He has also called for more action on climate change. He worked with the government on the Zero Carbon Bill, showing his commitment to environmental issues.

Muller has an interest in American politics. He has spoken about the importance of one person, one vote in a democracy. He also believes that political institutions should change to reflect the country's diversity. He has expressed concern about growing disagreements on issues related to Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi, hoping for more unity.

Personal Life

Todd Muller is married and has three children. He is a practicing Catholic.

Muller has had several skin cancers removed from his body. This personal experience led to his strong interest in creating the law to regulate sunscreens in New Zealand.