June 2009 he was selected as the new Minister of Internal Affairs, a position outside of the Cabinet, to replace Richard Worth after the latter resigned following allegations of sexual harassment. On 14 December 2011, following the 2011 New Zealand general election, Guy was sworn in as the Minister of Immigration, Minister for Racing, Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Associate Minister for Primary Industries. Later that term, in January 2013, he was promoted to the role of Minister for Primary Industries. He held this position until the National government was defeated in 2017. As Minister of Internal Affairs Guy was involved in the controversy that occurred in 2017 when it was revealed that, in 2011, he had granted New Zealand citizenship to US billionaire Peter Thiel after only 12 days residence (split over 4 trips in 5 years) in New Zealand. The normal residency requirement for a permanent resident to gain citizenship is 1350 days over 5 years. Thiel was granted citizenship by Guy under “exceptional circumstances” despite Thiel not having lived in the country previously and not intending to do so in the future. Thiel is the first adult to be granted New Zealand citizenship without meeting residency requirements. Opposition, 2017–2020 After the National Party was not returned to government at the 2017 general election, Guy was initially the party's spokesperson for primary industries. From March 2018 until his announcement on 30 July 2019 that he would not seek re-election in 2020, he was the spokesman for agriculture, biosecurity and food safety. Political views Guy typically voted conservatively on social policy. He opposed same-sex marriage in 2005, by voting for the Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill, which would have amended the Marriage Act to define marriage as only between a man and a woman, and in 2014, by voting against the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand. Guy also opposed the End of Life Choice Bill in 2019, which regulated assisted suicide in New Zealand, and the Abortion Legislation Bill in 2020, which decriminalised abortion. Post-parliamentary career In November 2020, Guy contested but failed to win a seat on the board of New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra. References External links Nathan Guy MP official site Profile at National party |- |- |- |- |- 1970 births Living people Local politicians in New Zealand New Zealand National Party MPs People