Roger McClay


Roger Neville McClay was a New Zealand politician. He became Minister of Youth Affairs and Associate Minister of Education and Social Welfare during the Fourth National Government. He later held the role of Commissioner for Children from 1998 to 2003.

Early life and family

McClay was born at Pukekohe on 6 February 1945. He was educated at Wesley College and Waiuku College, and went on to study at Ardmore Teachers' College from 1963 to 1964, earning a Trained Teacher's Certificate.
In 1966, McClay married Dawn Ferguson, and the couple went on to have three children.
McClay worked as a primary school teacher and school principal. He was also active in Jaycees, serving as national vice-president in 1980 and as an international senator to World Jaycees.

Member of Parliament

McClay was an MP from 1981 to 1996, representing the National Party. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1981 [New Zealand general election|1981 election] as MP for Taupo, defeating the incumbent Labour MP, Jack Ridley.
In the 1984 election, he contested and won the new seat of Waikaremoana, which he held until he retired at the 1996 election. He became Minister of Youth Affairs and Associate Minister of Education and Social Welfare during the Fourth National Government. He later held the role of Commissioner for Children from 1998 to 2003.
In 1990, McClay was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
His son, Todd McClay, was elected as the National Party Member of Parliament for Rotorua at the 2008 general election.

Post-parliament career

In the 2005 New Year Honours, McClay was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order.
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, World Vision, Heart Children New Zealand, Variety, the Children's Charity and For the Sake of Children.
In March 2010, he was charged with misuse of taxpayer-subsidised flights. In August the same year, he pleaded guilty. He repaid the two charities that he had defrauded, Keep New Zealand Beautiful and World Vision. 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.
McClay died on 7 November 2025, at the age of 80, after having cancer for five years.