Timeline: Grant Robertson's legacy in politics

One of the most prominent faces of the previous Labour government, Grant Robertson, has today announced his resignation after 15 years in Parliament.

Over his political career, Robertson held the seat of Wellington Central, unsuccessfully ran twice to become Labour leader, and was a key player during the pandemic response.

He will soon become the vice-chancellor of Otago University, his alma mater.

Prior to entering Parliament, he worked as a ministerial advisor in the office of then-prime minister Helen Clark in the mid-2000s.

In 2008, Robertson was elected as Wellington Central MP, succeeding long-standing Labour representative Marian Hobbs.

As an openly gay MP, he spoke to his identity in New Zealand, which at the time had not legalised same-sex marriages and had allowed civil unions for only three years.

He entered into a civil union with his long-time partner, Alf, in January 2009. They first met playing rugby.

"I am proud and comfortable with who I am. Being gay is part of who I am, just as is being a former diplomat, a fan of the mighty Ranfurly Shield-holding Wellington Lions, and a fan of New Zealand music and New Zealand literature," he said.

"My political view is defined by my sexuality only in as much as it has given me an insight into how people can be marginalised and discriminated agains; and how much I abhor that. I am lucky that I have largely grown up in a generation that is not fixated on issues such as sexual orientation. I am not—and neither should others be."

In Parliament, he rose quickly in the party's ranks, eventually to the frontbench of then-leader Phil Goff's shadow cabinet in 2011, as the party's health spokesperson.

At the time, Goff told media: "Grant has made a very strong impact in a very short time.

"He is a first-term MP but has already proven to be a formidable performer who can quickly grasp the issues. He has a promising future ahead of him."

After another election loss in 2011, Robertson became a prominent face as Labour continued to try, and struggle, to gain relevance amid a revolving door of leaders.

He became deputy leader under David Shearer, who resigned after only two years. In 2014, Robertson ran for the party's leadership for the first time, losing to David Cunliffe, despite winning the most votes amongst the Labour caucus.

After Cunliffe's poor performance at that year's election, Robertson again ran for the leadership in 2014. He told TVNZ's Q+A at the time: "I couldn't stand by and see the party poll at 24% and not do something now that David's triggered the contest."

He lost to Andrew Little by a narrow margin, whilst winning greater support amongst Labour's caucus and membership.

Robertson stood on the frontbench as Labour continued sliding in the polls However, he was a close confidant and friend of MP Jacinda Ardern — who became deputy leader, following the retirement of party stalwart Annette King in 2017.

During that year's election, Robertson defeated Nicola Willis in his safe red electorate, while Ardern's leadership reinvigorated Labour's relevance.

Shortly after, he became finance minister in the coalition government after Winston Peters chose Labour over National.

In 2019, he delivered his "Wellbeing Budget", aiming to create a "new approach to the way governments work. by placing the wellbeing of New Zealanders at the heart of what we do".

"We are not just relying on GDP, but also how we are improving the wellbeing of our people, protecting the environment and strengthening of our communities."

Robertson has said that he believes the Covid-19 pandemic cut short progress on the aspirational endeavour.

However, Robertson's legacy will most likely remain his management of the government's books during New Zealand's first lockdown and Covid-19 response.

During the first lockdown, the finance minister rescued Air New Zealand, rolled out large financial support mechanisms, and introduced the first wage subsidy scheme — in which the government effectively underwrote the wages of nearly two million Kiwi workers.

Amid that year's red wave at the 2020 election, Robertson increased his majority against Willis, who now holds the Finance portfolio under the coalition Government.

Labour's unprecedented parliamentary majority led to the finance minister officially step into the role of deputy to Ardern — cementing the pair's already close relationship.

In doing so, he became New Zealand's first openly gay deputy prime minister. He was also sport and recreation, infrastructure, and racing minister.

In the years that followed, he became a target for opposition attack lines, as inflation grew and the economy hit turbulence. National Party leader Christopher Luxon said last year that Robertson would go down as one of New Zealand's "worst finance ministers".

There were also moments of levity, including when National's Willis asked Robertson,t "how big is his hole" — referring to her concerns over fiscal discipline.

Last year, the deputy prime minister usurped pundit expectations when he promptly ruled himself out of the contest to replace Ardern. He then stood down as deputy prime minister altogether, making way for Chris Hipkins and Carmel Sepuloni.

He also ruled himself out of contesting Wellington Central, won by the Greens' Tamatha Paul.

During Hipkins' time as leader, Robertson — alongside then-revenue minister David Parker— brought a wealth tax proposal to Cabinet, which was ultimately rejected.

It would've taxed around 46,000 people on accumulated net wealth, over around $5 million, to fund a 0% tax rate for income under $10,000. The proposal, if enacted, would've meant a tax cut for most Kiwis.

In October, Robertson was re-elected into Parliament on the Labour Party list. At the time, he was circumspect about contesting the next election.

Robertson will finish at Parliament in late March. After a break, he will start at the University of Otago in July. His place in Parliament will be taken by the next person on Labour’s list, former New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett.

Reflecting on his performance as finance minister today, the outgoing MP said: "I'm proud of what we did as a government. I'm proud of what we achieved.

"In terms of benchmarks, a lot of things get said in politics, but the international ratings agencies have consistently come to New Zealand whilst I had been finance minister and given us the tick of approval. Our rating increased when others were being held back.

"Everyone will have their views, it's one of the things about being in politics. I'm proud of what we did."