Metiria Turei
| Metiria Turei MP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd Female co-leader of the Green Party | |
|
Assumed office 30 May 2009 Co-leader with James Shaw | |
| Preceded by | Jeanette Fitzsimons |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Green Party List | |
|
Assumed office 27 July 2002 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 February 1970 Palmerston North, New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party |
Green Party (2002–present) Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (1996) McGillicuddy Serious Party (1993) |
| Spouse(s) | Warwick Stanton |
Metiria Leanne Agnes Stanton Turei (born 1970) is a New Zealand member of Parliament and the female co-leader of the Green Party alongside James Shaw.
As of 2016 she is the Green Party spokesperson on Equality, Education, Electoral Issues, Justice, and Building and Housing.
Early years
Between 1989–1991, Turei was the Tumuaki o Te Iwi Maori Rawakore o Aotearoa and involved with Te Roopu Rawakore o Aotearoa. Turei was a founding member of the Random Trollops performance art troupe.
Political career
She was a candidate for the McGillicuddy Serious Party in the 1993 election and for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party in the 1996 election.
Member of Parliament
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | List | 8 | Green |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | List | 6 | Green |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | List | 4 | Green |
| 2011–2014 | 50th | List | 1 | Green |
| 2014–present | 51st | List | 1 | Green |
In the 2002 general election, the Green Party received 7.00% of the vote, which allowed them 9 seats in Parliament. Turei, standing in Tāmaki Makaurau, was ranked 8th on the Green Party's party list, and so entered Parliament as a list MP. When she was elected, Turei left her job as a corporate lawyer for Simpson Grierson to become a Member of Parliament.
She retained her place in Parliament ranked 6th on the Greens' list in the 2005 election when she stood in Te Tai Tonga.
2005–2008
In 2009, Turei's Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot.[1] The bill received a conscience vote at its first reading, but was defeated 84–34.[2] Later that year, her Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill was also drawn, but it too was defeated.[3]
In 2008 she was ranked 4th on the Green Party's list and stood in the Dunedin North electorate. She lost the election in Dunedin North to Labour's Pete Hodgson, finishing third with 11.09% of the vote. However she returned to parliament due to her high ranking on the Green Party list.
2008–2011
On 30 May 2009 Turei was elected as the fourth co-leader (second female) of the Green Party. In line with Green Party policy, there must be both a male and a female co-leader. She was elected ahead of Sue Bradford, a veteran MP, who had passed three private member's bills by then.
In July 2009 Turei's Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill, which would strengthen protection for dolphins and other marine mammals, was drawn from the member's ballot.[4][5] The bill was defeated at its first reading later that month.[6]
In September 2009 Turei led the Green campaign opposing the government's plans to allow mining in New Zealand's national parks.[7] Her Crown Minerals (Protection of Public Conservation Land Listed in the Fourth Schedule) Amendment Bill, which aims to strengthen the protection for national parks, was drawn from the member's ballot in April 2010.[8][9]
2011–2014
In October 2012 her Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 (Application to Casinos) Amendment bill was drawn from the ballot. Before its first reading however, National, ACT and United Future said they would not be voting for it.[10]
Turei, along with the rest of the Green Party, voted in support of Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013, allowing same-sex couples to legally marry in New Zealand.[11]
Personal life
She has one daughter and her partner is Warwick Stanton.[12]
References
- ↑ "Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ↑ New Zealand Parliamentary Debates 655 4850.
- ↑ "Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
- ↑ "Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ↑ "New Bill good news for dolphins and fishing industry". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ↑ New Zealand Parliamentary Debates 656 5273.
- ↑ "Kiwis can speak out on mining". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ↑ "Crown Minerals (Protection of Public Conservation Land Listed in the Fourth Schedule) Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
- ↑ "Greens' bill protecting conservation land drawn from ballot". The New Zealand Herald. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
- ↑ "Casino crime bill doomed to fail". 3 News NZ. 15 November 2012.
- ↑ Harkanwal Singh; Andy Ball (17 April 2013). "Marriage equality bill - How MPs voted". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ↑ "Metiria Turei: My daughter saved me". New Zealand Woman's Weekly. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Metiria Turei. |
- Profile at Green Party
- NZ Parliament Profile
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jeanette Fitzsimons |
Female co-leader of the Green Party 2009–present Served alongside: Russel Norman, James Shaw |
Incumbent |