Maurice McTigue


Maurice Patrick McTigue is a former New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Fourth National Government from 1990 to 1993, holding the Employment portfolio, among others. He represented the Timaru electorate in Parliament from 1985, when he won the by-election after the death of Sir Basil Arthur, having stood against him in the 1984 general election. He lost the seat to Jim Sutton in the 1993 general election.
From 1994 to 1997 he was the High Commissioner to Canada. McTigue joined the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in 1997 as a distinguished visiting scholar. McTigue is currently J.M. Bemis Chair in Accountability Studies and Vice President of the Mercatus Center.

Member of Parliament

McTigue entered the New Zealand Parliament in 1985 and served as the National Party's Junior Whip. He also served as National's spokesperson for Works, Irrigation, Transport and Fisheries.

Minister of Employment & Associate Minister of Finance

In 1990, McTigue was appointed Minister of Employment and Associate Minister of Finance, holding primary financial responsibility for student loans, school funding, public transit, occupational licensing, and the restructuring of employment programs.

Other minister positions & Chairmanship of Expenditure Control Committee

In 1991, McTigue accepted the positions of Minister of State Owned Enterprises, Minister of Railways, and Minister of Works and Development, and assumed Chairmanship of the Cabinet's powerful Expenditure Control Committee.

Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration

In 1993, McTigue was appointed Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration.

High Commissioner to Canada

In April 1994, he moved to Canada as New Zealand's High Commissioner; concurrently, he served as non-resident High Commissioner to Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. An amateur magician, whilst in Canada he co-founded the Ottawa Magicians Guild.
In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, McTigue was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.

Mercatus Center

McTigue is director of the Government Accountability Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. In 2003, he was appointed to the Office of Personnel Management Senior Review Committee, formed to make recommendations for new Human Resources systems at the then newly created Department of Homeland Security.