Ralph Maxwell (politician)

Ralph Kerr Maxwell (20 March 1934 – 25 March 2012) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. After his parliamentary career, he joined New Zealand First.

Early life and family
Maxwell was born in 1934. He married Frances Maxwell in circa 1963 and they had three children.

Political career
Maxwell had a high profile as chairman of the Portage Licensing Trust, one of two Licensing Trusts in West Auckland. When Maxwell stood for Parliament in the electorate in  for the Labour Party, he was successful. He represented the Waitakere electorate for three parliamentary terms, and when it was abolished for the, he successfully stood in the electorate instead. In the, he was defeated by Marie Hasler, one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government.

In 1983 he was appointed as Labour's spokesperson for Primary Industries and Horticulture by Labour leader David Lange. Maxwell had a keen interest in agriculture and worked closely with Colin Moyle, who would become Minister of Agriculture in 1984. Maxwell was the Associate Minister of External Relations and Trade and the Associate Minister of Agriculture in 1990.

After parliament
Maxwell moved from West Auckland to Otumoetai after he left parliament. Ahead of the he wished to stand for election again, but failed to win the Labour selection for the Titirangi electorate. He responded by leaving the party in 1993 saying Labour was being taken over by "wets" and moving too far away from the previous Labour government's policies. He instead joined New Zealand First and served on the party executive. He then moved to Paerata near Pukekohe where he worked in real estate.

He supported the formation of a National/New Zealand First coalition (over a Labour/New Zealand First coalition) 1996 general election.

In the 1995 New Year Honours, Maxwell was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for public services. Maxwell died on 25 March 2012 aged 78. He was survived by his wife and their three children.