His political interest arose from his opposition to the policies of former Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. O'Rourke perceived Muldoon's policies as divisive, with "incredibly oppressive regulations, absolutely awful economic policies which just drove New Zealand economy into the ground." O'Rourke was a member of the Labour Party for 19 years until 2003, when he resigned over dissatisfaction with the direction of Helen Clark's government. In 1983 O'Rourke unsuccessfully sought the Labour Party nomination for the seat of Sydenham following the retirement of MP John Kirk, but lost to Labour Party President Jim Anderton. On one occasion, he was the campaign manager when Ann Hercus successfully contested. He joined New Zealand First in early 2010. From his local government days, O'Rourke has a reputation of a "no half-measures" politician. He is known to undertake exhaustive research on his portfolios. By his own claim, he has "read every word in every council report" ever put to him. O'Rourke describes his political style as "forceful", whilst some others describe it as "abrasive". One of his fellow councillors once publicly accused him of being a bully. O'Rourke describes debating as "recreational".
Local government
O'Rourke first joined Christchurch City Council in 1989 as a representative of the Labour Party and served for 15 years until 2004. For many years, he chaired the Sustainable Transport and Utilities Committee, and under his chairmanship, the Blenheim Road deviation and the four-laning of Fendalton Road were major council projects. He championed unpopular projects like the Kate Valley Landfill and set up the Recovered Materials Foundation, which represented the start of kerbside recycling in Christchurch. Standing for Christchurch City Council in the 2004 local election, the year the size of Council was halved from 24 to 12, he came fifth in the two-member Hagley-Ferrymead ward. Standing for Environment Canterbury in the Christchurch North electorate in the 2007 local election, he came third in the two-member electorate. Standing for Christchurch City Council in the 2010 local election, he came second in the one-member Banks Peninsula ward. In the same election, he also stood for the Canterbury District Health Board where seven board members are elected, coming 17th.
O'Rourke first stood for Parliament as an independent candidate for the Ilam electorate at the. He finished seventh in a field of 11 candidates, behind the incumbent, Gerry Brownlee. In the, O'Rourke contested the Port Hills electorate for New Zealand First. He came fourth and was not returned as an electorate MP, but was elected to Parliament as a list MP, having been ranked in seventh place on the New Zealand First party list. He is thus a member of the 50th Parliament. In 2013, O'Rourke voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill, which introduced same sex marriage in New Zealand, with all of his fellow New Zealand First MPs.
Business interests
Since 2000, O'Rourke was one of the Christchurch City Council representatives on the Central Plains Water Enhancement Steering Committee under Doug Marsh as chairman. The steering committee, which formed a trust, was set up by Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council. O'Rourke remained a trustee when he lost his seat on Christchurch City Council. In December 2009, O'Rourke replaced Marsh as chairman. Since 2008, O'Rourke has been chairman of a recycling plant in Opawa owned by Becon Canterbury that handles demolition waste and other commercial refuse.
