Political Life
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1984–1987 | 41st | Hamilton West | Labour | |
| 1987–1990 | 42nd | Hamilton West | Labour | |
| 1993–1996 | 44th | Pencarrow | Labour | |
| 1996–1999 | 45th | Hutt South | none | Labour |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | Hutt South | 12 | Labour |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | Hutt South | 12 | Labour |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | Hutt South | 8 | Labour |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | Hutt South | 14 | Labour |
| 2011–present | 50th | Hutt South | 9 | Labour |
Mallard joined the Labour Party in 1972, while still at university. He held a number of internal party positions until the election of 1984 when he was elected as the party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Hamilton West. Although he was re-elected in the 1987 elections, he lost his seat in the election of 1990. Returning to the Wellington area, he contested the seat of Pencarrow in the 1993 elections and was successful. He has retained that seat ever since, although it is now known as Hutt South.
When Labour won the 1999 elections, Mallard was appointed to Cabinet. He became Minister of Education, Minister of State Services, and Minister for Sport and Recreation. In connection with his Education role, he also became Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office, and in connection with his Sport role, he also became Minister for the America's Cup (New Zealand held the America's Cup at the time). In 2004, Mallard also became Co-ordinating Minister for Race Relations, and Minister of Energy. In an October 2007 cabinet reshuffle, he was re-assigned to be the Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Broadcasting, the Minister for State Owned Enterprises and the Associate Minister of Finance.
Labour was defeated in the 2008 general election. Mallard retained his seat with a majority of 4,086.
Read more about this topic: Trevor Mallard
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