Mark Cameron
MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for ACT party list
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Personal details
Born1972 or 1973 (age 51–52)[1]
Political partyACT
Children3
ProfessionFarmer

Mark Stuart Cameron[2] is a New Zealand politician and dairy farmer. He has been a member of Parliament for ACT New Zealand since the 2020 general election.

Early life and career

Mark Cameron is a dairy farmer from Ruawai in Northland.[3][4] Cameron has lived and farmed in the Northland region for 30 years, and is married with three children.[5]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–2023 53rd List 8 ACT
2023–present 54th List 7 ACT

In the 2020 New Zealand General Election, Cameron ran for the electorate of Northland, coming in at fourth place[6] via the ACT Party list.[7] In his first term, he was ACT Party spokesman for primary industries, regional economic development and biosecurity.[5]

Cameron is a prominent spokesman for issues in rural communities such as farming regulations and mental health.[3] Cameron has been critical of several climate change measures taken by the New Zealand government, stating that some scientists and politicians are "perpetuating an environment of fear" against rural farmers. Cameron advocates for more regional solutions to tackle environmental issues, rather than top-down government policy.[8] Cameron was an advocate of the End of Life Choice Act 2019.[9]

During parliamentary question time on 18 November 2021, Cameron asked Minister for Rural Communities Damien O'Connor, who was absent and was represented by his colleague Stuart Nash, if he had met the leaders of farming advocacy group Groundswell NZ. In response, Nash alleged that the group promoted racism and vaccine hesitancy. When Cameron reiterated his question, Nash told Cameron to avoid posing with someone holding an anti-vaccination sign at a Groundswell protest. Nash's remarks were criticised as slanderous by Groundswell NZ leader Bryce McKenzie, who emphasized the group's efforts to combat racism and anti-vaccination sentiment among its members and social media platforms.[10] A few days after the exchange with Nash, Newshub reported that in 2019 Cameron had made online comments referring to Jacinda Ardern as a "feckless wench" and "vacuous teenager", and endorsing the repurposing of the MAGA acronym to stand for "Make Ardern go away." He had also described Donald Trump as "making his country awesome". When asked about the comments, Cameron expressed regret for what he described as "flippant remarks", made while he was "a civilian, not a parliamentarian".[11]

Cameron recontested Northland at the 2023 general election. He placed sixth in the electorate but was returned for a second term as a list MP.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ Kissun, Sudesh (2 February 2021). "From the cowshed to the Beehive". Rural News Group.
  2. ^ "Speech – Members Sworn". New Zealand Parliament.
  3. ^ a b "Election 2020: ACT promises to scrap subsidies for forestry investment, let regional councils set freshwater rules". Stuff. 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. ^ Milne, Jonathan (13 October 2020). "ACT candidates freely choose to do as they're told". Newsroom. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Mark Cameron". ACT New Zealand. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Northland – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  8. ^ Kissun, Sudesh. "MP promises to ACT on farmers' behalf". Rural News Group. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Who are they? Introducing the new ACT MPs". Newsroom. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  10. ^ Kelly, Rachael (18 November 2021). "Nash says Groundswell stands for 'racist, anti-vax' sentiment". Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  11. ^ Small, Zane (23 November 2021). "ACT MP Mark Cameron regrets 'flippant remarks' about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern". Newshub. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Northland - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 General Election - Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
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