During his time as New Zealand Minister of Defence, Hon Ron Mark, has visited New Zealand personnel deployed to challenging environments including Antarctica and South Sudan. He has met with foreign counterparts from around the world, including the United States, Malaysia and Fiji. And under his leadership we have also seen a shift in Defence’s policy related to the Pacific, whereby the release of the 2018 Strategic Defence Policy Statement raised the priority placed on the Defence’s ability to operate in the South Pacific to the same level as New Zealand’s territory, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.

Ron Mark was born in Masterton and was raised as a ward of the state. He grew up in a number of foster homes in Napier and the Wairarapa before attending Tararua College.

At 16 he went into the New Zealand Army’s Regular Force Cadet School, Waiouru, graduating in 1971 as a soldier mechanic.

In 1978 he was accepted for Officer Cadet Training and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant.

In 1982, as a mechanical engineering officer, he successfully completed the NZSAS selection course. That same year he was one of five New Zealand Army officers deployed to help set up the Multinational Force and Observers peacekeeping operation in the Sinai desert.

From 1985 to 1990 he served in the Sultan of Oman’s Defence Forces finishing as a Major. In 2010 Ron was elected Mayor of Carterton and was re-elected unopposed in 2013.

Ron was elected to Parliament in 1996 as a New Zealand First List MP and has held a range of portfolios including spokesman for New Zealand First on Defence, Law and Order, Corrections, Police, Mental Health, Veteran’s Affairs, Disarmament and Arms Control, Sport and Recreation, Youth Affairs, Local Government and Building and Construction.

Ron is of Maori and Irish descent. His iwi affiliations are Ngati Raukawa, Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa, Ati Awa, Ngati Porou, Whakatohea, Rangitane and Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa. Ron is a father of five and a grandfather of 12.