Clayton Mitchell

Clayton Robert Henry Mitchell is a former New Zealand politician. He was elected to the New Zealand parliament at the 2014 general election as a representative of New Zealand First and served two terms, leaving Parliament in 2020.

Background During the 1990s, Mitchell was convicted of assault after refusing a gang member entry to a bar he owned. He received a suspended sentence for this and a fine. Mitchell also was convicted for dangerous driving, and was convicted for allowing customers to drink at his pub outside of the licensed hours.

Mitchell has been chair of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Hospitality Association.

Political career

In 2013, Mitchell was elected to the Tauranga City Council, representing the Mt Maunganui/Papamoa Ward.

In 2014, Mitchell was elected to parliament after being ranked 6th on the New Zealand First party list at the general election. He had also unsuccessfully stood in the Tauranga electorate.

In February 2018, Mitchell proposed a member's bill to Parliament to make English an official language of New Zealand. As of May 2020, the bill has not progressed. In 2026, New Zealand First would pass the English Language Act 2026 which made English an official language of New Zealand in the Sixth National Government of New Zealand.

Mitchell has sat on the select committees for: Business; Economic Development, Science and Innovation: Officers of Parliament; and Standing Orders. He has served as New Zealand First's whip.

Mitchell led a 'Respecting New Zealand Values' campaign, seeking to require new immigrants agree to hold certain values. A security guard said that Mitchell was asked repeatedly to move from an area where bar staff needed to pass through, and accidentally hit a member of staff in the head with a glass.

In November 2019, Mitchell was reported to be involved in the controversial NZ First Foundation. Between 2017 and 2019, New Zealand First party officials had allegedly channelled half a million dollars of donations into the NZ First Foundation's bank account to cover various party-related expenses such as the party's headquarters, graphic design, an MP's legal advice, and even a $5000 day at the Wellington races. The amount of donations deposited into the foundation and used by the party was at odds with its official annual returns. A party source stated that board members were instructed to pass on large donations to Mitchell who acted as the fundraiser for the party, saying "everybody was instructed to find donors and, if they had a big donor, Mitchell would handle them."

In June 2020 Mitchell announced that he would stand down at the 2020 election.

As of 2022, he is no longer a member of the New Zealand First party.