Roger Neville McClay, QSO (born 6 February 1945) is a former New Zealand politician. In 2010 he was convicted for defrauding two charities.[1]

Early life

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McClay was born in 1945. He attended secondary school at Wesley College, Auckland.

Member of Parliament

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1981–1984 40th Taupo National
1984–1987 41st Waikaremoana National
1987–1990 42nd Waikaremoana National
1990–1993 43rd Waikaremoana National
1993–1996 44th Waikaremoana National

A teacher by profession, he was an MP from 1981 to 1996, representing the National Party. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1981 election as MP for Taupo,[2] defeating the incumbent Labour MP, Jack Ridley.

In the 1984 election, he contested and won the new seat of Waikaremoana,[2] which he held until he retired at the 1996 election.[3] He became Minister of Youth Affairs and Associate Minister of Education and Social Welfare during the Fourth National Government.[4] He later held the role of Commissioner for Children from 1998 to 2003.[5]

His son Todd McClay was elected as the National Party Member of Parliament for Rotorua at the 2008 general election.

Post-parliament career

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In the 2005 New Year Honours, McClay was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO).[6]

McClay was the chairman for Keep New Zealand Beautiful until July 2009. He has been involved in a number of other charities, including the New Zealand Spinal Trust,[7] World Vision, Heart Children New Zealand, Variety, the Children's Charity and For the Sake of Children.[4]

In March 2010 he was charged with misuse of taxpayer-subsidised flights.[8] In August the same year he pleaded guilty.[9] He repaid the two charities that he had defrauded, Keep New Zealand Beautiful and World Vision.[10] He was convicted and given a sentence of 300 hours of community work. In addition, he was stripped of his travel benefits by the Parliamentary Services Commission.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Savage, Jared (25 August 2010). "McClay sentenced to community service". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 214. OCLC 154283103.
  3. ^ Clark, Helen (27 August 1996). "Valedictories". Hansard. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b Savage, Jared (19 December 2009). "Charity records seized in inquiry into former MP". The New Zealand Herald.
  5. ^ Barrington, John (2004). A Voice for Children. Dunmore Press. ISBN 0-86469-459-8. Retrieved 5 October 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "New Year Honours List 2005". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  7. ^ Savage, Jared (5 December 2009). "Police probe ex-MP's expenses". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  8. ^ Savage, Jared (6 March 2010). "Ex-MP in court on expenses charges". The New Zealand Herald.
  9. ^ "Former MP admits defrauding charity". ONE News. Television New Zealand. 16 August 2010.
  10. ^ Savage, Jared (26 August 2010). "McClay offers no apologies for charity double dip". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 June 2015.