Mental Health Advocate, Leader & Learner
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
Bio
Todd Muller is a former Agri-business leader and politician who lives in Tauranga, New Zealand. He was bought up on his parents kiwifruit orchard In Te Puna, schooled at Tauranga Boys College and then completed a Masters in Social Science at Waikato University majoring in US politics.
Todd has a varied career spending time as Executive Assistant to Rt Hon Jim Bolger, Prime Minister 1990-1997 followed by senior leadership roles at Zespri International, Apata Limited and Fonterra. He was elected to the NZ Parliament in 2014 as the MP of Bay of Plenty.
An eventful nine year political career was highlighted by negotiating the Zero Carbon Act with his
parliamentary opposite Hon James Shaw; achieving unanimous House support for strengthened obligations on sunscreen manufacturers and in May 2020 Todd was elected the 13th Leader of the New Zealand National Party.
During his leadership Todd suffered debilitating panic attacks and acute anxiety which culminated him resigning only 53 days into the role.
Bio
Todd Muller is a former Agri-business leader and politician who lives in Tauranga, New Zealand. He was bought up on his parents kiwifruit orchard In Te Puna, schooled at Tauranga Boys College and then completed a Masters in Social Science at Waikato University majoring in US politics.
Todd has a varied career spending time as Executive Assistant to Rt Hon Jim Bolger, Prime Minister 1990-1997 followed by senior leadership roles at Zespri International, Apata Limited and Fonterra. He was elected to the NZ Parliament in 2014 as the MP of Bay of Plenty.
An eventful nine year political career was highlighted by negotiating the Zero Carbon Act with his Ministerial counterpart Hon James Shaw; achieving unanimous House support for strengthened obligations on sunscreen manufacturers and in May 2020 Todd was elected the 13th Leader of the New Zealand National Party.
During his leadership Todd suffered debilitating panic attacks and acute anxiety which culminated him resigning only 53 days into the role.
He made the brave decision to share his journey with New Zealanders and has become well known for his support of mental health awareness.
Despite battling with his mental health he stood for a third term and was resoundingly elected by his BoP community in November 2020. During his final term in Parliament he was appointed as Spokesperson for Oceans and Fisheries, then the front bench roles of Agriculture and Climate Change. In March 2023 Todd announced he would not stand for a fourth time citing a need for a better work/life balance.
In his valedictory speech to the NZ Parliament Todd spoke of his personal mental health journey and the need for bipartisan support for significant mental health investment, the obligation on future NZ Parliaments to heed the advice the Climate Commission and the growing community divide on Maori aspiration and the need for leadership by the main political parties.
Post politics Todd chairs Priority One, the Bays economic development agency, lectures to visiting delegations to the Waikato Management School and co-hosts a weekly podcast that seeks to explain the US political system to interested kiwis. He has picked up the home duties with his wife returning to full-time work noting it is one of his most busiest roles yet.
Podcast
Join Todd and his co-host Elizabeth Sole on their weekly podcast ‘What’s the story old Glory’ that explores the US political system, in this remarkable 2024 election year.
Mental Health
Since his personal experiences with poor mental health,Todd has been open about the highs and lows of his journey and what has helped him to become stronger. Listen to his various interviews here.
Talking Dairy Podcast
You, Me & Anxiety
Leadership & Road Back To Health
Political Valedictory
Todd Muller gives his last speech to the NZ Parliament with personal acknowledgements to friends and family and deep reflections on climate change, mental health and the rising racial tensions in New Zealand . You can watch his final speech below as well as a link to an interview with a leading press gallery journalist on Todd's political career.
Final Speech
On the Tiles Podcast
Political Valedictory
Todd Muller gives his last speech to the NZ Parliament with personal acknowledgements to friends and family and deep reflections on climate change, mental health and the rising racial tensions in New Zealand . You can watch his final speech below as well as a link to an interview with a leading press gallery journalist on Todd's political career.
Final Speech
On the Tiles Podcast
Community
Todd is the independent chairman of the Bay of Plenty economic development agency Priority One. Keep up to date with Priority One news here
Community
Todd is the independent chairman of the Bay of Plenty economic development agency Priority One.
Todd is an Ambassador for Wellington Samaritans and supports GumBoot Friday, an initiative of I am Hope.
