Wayne Mapp


Wayne Daniel Mapp is a New Zealand politician, who represented the National Party in the New Zealand Parliament. He served as the MP for the North Shore electorate from the 1996 elections until his retirement in late 2011. Before entering politics, he lectured in commercial law at University of Auckland.

Early years

He gained his LLB at University of Auckland. This was followed by his LLM from University of Toronto and his PhD in International Law from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1988.
He served as an infantry Major in 3rd Auckland and Northland Regiment Royal New Zealand Territorial Army, later specialising in military intelligence.

Member of Parliament

Mapp was elected MP for the North Shore seat at the 1996 general election.
In a September 2003 house sitting, Mapp criticised the incumbent government's lack of support for the US-led invasion of Iraq. His comment pertained to New Zealand being "missing in action" in Iraq, John Key echoed support for his statements and this was used in Labour's election advertising in the 2008 New Zealand general election.
On 26 October 2005, National Party leader Don Brash appointed Mapp as the party's Political Correctness Eradicator, following a speech Mapp had given on the topic earlier that month.
Previously Mapp served as National's spokesperson for Industrial Relations and chaired the Caucus Policy Committee. Brash ranked him 14th within the National Party caucus. Following the election of John Key as the National Party leader in November 2006, Mapp became more prominent within the National Party caucus, narrowly missing out on a front-bench position in Parliament.
Following National's victory in the 2008 general election, Mapp was appointed to the offices of Minister of Defence, and Minister of Research, Science and Technology and also as a member of the Executive Council and became The Hon. Dr. Wayne Daniel Mapp M.P.
On 1 February 2011 when the Ministry of Ministry of Research, Science and Technology was replaced by the Ministry of Science and Innovation Mapp was appointed to lead the new ministry.
Mapp announced his impending retirement from parliament on 15 December 2010 with effect in 2011.

Post-Parliament

On 15 December 2011, in recognition of his term as a Member of the Executive Council of New Zealand, Mapp was granted the right to retain the title The Honourable for the rest of his life.
On 28 February 2012, Mapp was appointed to the New Zealand Law Commission.
In the 2013 New Year Honours, Mapp was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services as a member of Parliament.

''Hit and Run''

On 21 March 2017, investigative journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson published Hit & Run: The New Zealand SAS in Afghanistan and the meaning of honour. On 30 March 2017, Mapp wrote in a blog post that he was a source for the book.