On 6 March 2018, he announced his resignation from politics, after losing his bid for the leadership of the party.[3] Joyce subsequently established a consultancy[4] firm called Joyce Advisory, which developed close ties with the National Party.[5] In 2023, Joyce Advisory was rumoured to have played a role in influencing the National Party's support for the University of Waikato to host New Zealand's proposed third medical school, but the university said that Joyce had not provided government relations or lobbying support[6].[5][7]
Early life
Joyce's parents worked as grocers.[8] He went to school at Francis Douglas Memorial College, before enrolling at Massey University, applying to study veterinary science. However he "missed the cut",[9] graduating instead with a BSc in zoology. While at university he worked as a presenter and programme director on student radio.[10] He also took fifteen economics papers [11] at Massey from 1982 to 1986, withdrew or did not complete seven of them and failed one through insufficient grade.[12]
Broadcasting career
After leaving university Joyce and a group of friends (including radio presenter Jeremy Corbett) started their own radio station, Energy FM, in New Plymouth.[9][10] With business partners, he built up RadioWorks over the next seventeen years, both organically and by acquisition, to a network of 22 radio stations and 650 staff. He retired as Managing Director of RadioWorks in April 2001, when CanWest purchased it, Joyce receiving $6 million for the sale.[10]
In 2010 while Minister of Transport, Joyce admitted to two prior driving convictions, careless driving resulting in a fine in 1988, and careless driving causing injury resulting in a fine and loss of licence in 1989.[16]
In 2010, New Zealand's unique right-hand rule at intersections was reversed. The minimum driving age was also raised from 15 to 16.[20] Both measures were subject to cabinet approval and public consultation, and eventually passed into law.[21]
This minimum driving age proposal was criticised by the editorial board of The New Zealand Herald for being too hesitant after experts and the public had favoured raising the driving age as high as 18 and in the opinion of the newspaper, Joyce "had not shown the resolve to follow the recommendations".[22]
He helped create Auckland Transport as a council-controlled organisation for Auckland. Joyce stated that "Auckland will need a good agency focused on delivering the projects that have been agreed by council" and noting that Council had a number of ways of ensuring that the entity was accountable.[23]
In May 2013, he signed a deal with casino Skycity Auckland, allowing it to install an additional 230 pokie machines and 40 new gambling tables, in exchange for building a $402 million convention centre.[27][28]
In what became known as the Waitangi dildo incident, a rubber sex toy was thrown at Joyce during an anti-TPPA protest at the 2016 Waitangi Day celebrations while he was speaking to media. The protester responsible, Josie Butler, a nurse from Christchurch, shouted "That’s for raping our sovereignty". She claimed she was protesting against the TPPA. She was taken away by police, but not charged.[30]
During the 2017 election, Joyce stood on the National Party list and was re-elected.[34] National won 44% of the popular vote and 56 seats; maintaining its plurality in the New Zealand House of Representatives.[35] However, National fell short of the majority needed to govern alone. Following post-election negotiations, Labour formed a coalition government with the opposition New Zealand First and Green parties.[36][37]
In Opposition, 2017–2018
Following the formation of a Labour-led coalition government, Joyce became the National Party's Spokesperson for Finance and Infrastructure. He was also allocated a seat on the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.[31] However, on 6 March 2018, Joyce announced he would resign from Parliament, reportedly after not being offered the Finance portfolio under new National leader Simon Bridges, who had replaced Bill English.[3]
Consultancy career
In 2018, Joyce established a consultancy firm called "Joyce Advisory," which specialises in business strategy development and execution, brand development and consumer preferences, reputation and crisis management, and regulatory issues.[4] He has been retained by various businesses including property development and engineering. According to political scientist Bryce Edwards, Joyce maintains close ties with the National Party and provided advice in the area of policy development.[5]
In June 2023, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported that the University of Waikato had paid nearly NZ$1 million in consultancy fees to Joyce Advisory.[38][5] In July 2023, National pledged to establish a third medical school at Waikato University while campaigning for the 2023 New Zealand general election.[39][40] Waikato University then hired Joyce's former press secretary and political advisor Anna Lillis to promote the school. However the university said that Joyce had no involvement in conducting government relations or lobbying work for the institution.[6] In response, Tertiary Education Union's Waikato University organiser Shane Vugler criticised the university leadership for compromising its political independence.[7][5] In early May 2024, the Auditor-General John Ryan criticised Waikato University for not engaging in a competitive procurement process when contracting the services of Joyce Advisory. The University paid NZ$1.1 million in public funds to Joyce Advisory between 2019 and 2023.[41]
Personal life
Joyce lives in Albany with his wife Suzanne and their two children.[1][9]
References and further reading
Joyce, Steven (2023). On the Record. Auckland: Allen & Unwin. ISBN978-1-99100-646-2.
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