Clement Rudolph "Clem" Simich or Šimić QSO (born 2 June 1939) is a New Zealand politician for the National Party.

Clem Simich
Simich in 2009
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Tāmaki
In office
1992–2005
Preceded bySir Robert Muldoon
Succeeded byAllan Peachey
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National Party list
In office
2005–2008
Personal details
Born (1939-06-02) 2 June 1939 (age 85)
Te Kōpuru, New Zealand
Political partyNational

Early life

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Simich was born in Te Kōpuru, Northland in 1939.[1]

Member of Parliament

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
1992–1993 43rd Tāmaki National
1993–1996 44th Tāmaki National
1996–1999 45th Tāmaki 42 National
1999–2002 46th Tāmaki none National
2002–2005 47th Tāmaki none National
2005–2008 48th List 18 National

He was first elected to Parliament in the 1992 by-election in Tamaki, which followed the retirement of former Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. He remained as MP for Tamaki until 2005, when he made way for Allan Peachey in Tamaki, and stood as the National candidate for Mangere instead. He became a list MP, having not succeeded in winning the Labour safe seat.

In August 1998, he was appointed to Cabinet, being Minister of Police, Minister of Racing, and Minister in Charge of the Audit Department. He also became Minister of Corrections in January 1999. He lost his ministerial positions, however, when National lost the 1999 election.

Simich served as Assistant Speaker of the House between 2002 and 2005. On the retirement of Jonathan Hunt, Simich stood for election as Speaker, but was defeated by Labour's Margaret Wilson.

Simich became the Deputy Speaker of the House after the 2005 election.

He retired from parliament in 2008, before that year's general election.[2]

Simich is of Croatian (in Croatian the surname is Šimić) and also Māori descent.

References

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  1. ^ "New Zealand Official Yearbook 1997". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  2. ^ Dominion Post 29 April 2008 page A3.
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New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Tāmaki
1992-2005
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Police
1998–1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Corrections
1999
Succeeded by