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Kevin Stent / Stuff
David Carter after being re-elected as Speaker of the House in 2014 (File Image).
He may be best known for his time as Speaker of the House, but politician David Carter says his greatest achievement was saving New Zealand’s kiwi industry from a dangerous disease.
Carter becomes a Knight Fellow of the New Zealand Order of Merit in New Years Honors, for his services as a Member of Parliament and as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Carter, a member of one of Christchurch’s best-known political families, first faced Labor MP Ruth Dyson as a National Party candidate for the Lyttelton electorate in 1993, but lost.
The following year he was elected MP for Selwyn in a by-election and served as MP for Canterbury or roster until his retirement this year.
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He held various portfolios of agriculture, primary industries, biosecurity and forestry, and was president of the Chamber from 2013 to 2017.
Upon learning that he was being made a knight, Carter said his reaction was “an absolute delight, [because] recognizes the role of the orator in New Zealand democracy ”.
“I want to thank all my fellow MPs at that time … the speaker should represent all MPs, rather than the party to which they belong.
“Getting this honor from the party that was in opposition at the time means I earned their respect.”
As of Monday, he hadn’t told his family that he would become Sir David Carter, but said that he would let them know Wednesday night and that they would all celebrate together with a special dinner at his bach in Marlborough Sounds.
Robyn Edie
Carter visits a Southland sheep milking farm with Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie (file photo).
While Carter said his five years as president were definitely the highlight, he went to parliament with the aspiration to be agriculture minister.
“In terms of a crowning achievement, it would have to be driving PSA’s response with the kiwi industry, which was a remarkable success story.”
Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (PSA) is a type of bacteria that can kill kiwi vines.
It was first discovered in New Zealand in November 2010 and quickly caused widespread damage to the kiwi industry, wiping out entire orchards in the Bay of Plenty.
“That disease could have devastated the industry, but the speed of the joint response between government and industry is part of the reason why New Zealand kiwis are so successful today.”
Carter has his own farm in Port Hills, where he has raised sheep and cattle for more than 30 years. He also created the first commercial cattle embryo transplant company in the country.
Emily spink
Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey opens his new office in Rangiora with the help of Carter, his uncle.
Politics is in the Carter family’s blood.
David’s father, Maurice Carter, was a Christchurch city councilor for 33 years, from 1956 to 1989, and served as deputy mayor for the past six.
After that, he was a member of the Canterbury Regional Council (better known as Environment Canterbury) for another six years.
David’s brother Philip and Philip’s son Tim have also served on the Christchurch City Council, while another nephew, Matt Doocey, is the current Waimakariri National MP.
The family has also been a major player in the Christchurch construction industry since the 1940s, when Maurice established The Carter Group, which built hundreds of homes in the suburbs of Bryndwr and Burnside.
Philip is now the managing director of the construction company and was recently responsible for the construction of the Crossing shopping center in the heart of the city.
