David Shearer
David James Shearer MBE (born 28 July 1957) is a New Zealand United Nations worker and politician. He was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for the Labour Party from 2009 to 2016, serving as Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2013.
David Shearer MBE | |
|---|---|
Shearer in the Mount Albert electorate, May 2009 | |
| Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan | |
| In office 1 January 2017 – 15 January 2021 | |
| Secretary-General | António Guterres |
| Preceded by | Ellen Margrethe Løj |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Haysom |
| 33rd Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 13 December 2011 – 15 September 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Deputy | Grant Robertson |
| Preceded by | Phil Goff |
| Succeeded by | David Cunliffe |
| 14th Leader of the Labour Party | |
| In office 13 December 2011 – 15 September 2013 | |
| Deputy | Grant Robertson |
| Preceded by | Phil Goff |
| Succeeded by | David Cunliffe |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mount Albert | |
| In office 13 June 2009 – 31 December 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Helen Clark |
| Succeeded by | Jacinda Ardern |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David James Shearer 28 July 1957 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Anuschka Meyer |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland University of Canterbury |
| Occupation | Politician, humanitarian worker |
| Signature | |
Shearer spent nearly 20 years working for the UN, managing the provision of aid to countries including Somalia, Rwanda, Liberia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Iraq. In 1992, Shearer was (together with his wife) named as New Zealander of the Year by The New Zealand Herald. On 13 June 2009 he won the Mount Albert by-election and entered the House of Representatives. He was elected as leader of the Labour Party on 13 December 2011 but resigned on 15 September 2013, being succeeded by David Cunliffe.
Shearer resigned from Parliament in December 2016 and in 2017 was appointed to head the United Nations peace keeping mission in South Sudan. in January 2021, he was succeeded in the role by Nicholas Haysom.