Anne Tolley
Encyclopedia
Anne Merrilyn Tolley (born 1 March 1953 in Napier, New Zealand
) is a politician representing the New Zealand National Party. With the formation of the Fifth National Government
in late 2008, she became the Minister of Education
, the first woman ever to assume the role.
Tolley is the Member for the East Coast
electorate, representing Whakatane
, Ohope, Opotiki
, and Gisborne
districts. She was the first woman National Party Whip from December 2006 until February 2008 when she became the party's Education Spokeswoman after Katherine Rich stood down from the portfolio.
She was first an MP from 1999 to 2002, representing the National Party
. She was elected in the 1999 elections
as a list MP, having unsuccessfully contested the Napier
seat against Labour
's Geoff Braybrooke
. In the 2002 elections
, she unsuccessfully contested Napier against Braybrooke's successor, Russell Fairbrother
. Along with many other National MPs, Tolley did not escape the collapse of the party's vote that year, and so was not returned to Parliament as a list MP.
In the 2005 General Election
she successfully contested the East Coast Electorate, beating Labour Candidate Moana Mackey, daughter of the previous East Coast MP Janet Mackey. Tolley also beat the Deputy Leader of the United Future Party who was standing in the electorate for the fifth time.
Before entering national politics, Tolley was Deputy Mayor of Napier and a City Councillor. Tolley and her husband Allan maintain several homes in Gisborne as well as properties in Whakatane and Wellington.
She was criticised by much of the mainstream New Zealand media after an expensive helicopter flight, paid for by the state, to "get an understanding of Auckland's tertiary institutions".
It was revealed in 2010 that Tolley underwent gastric bypass (stomach stapling) surgery in order to lose weight. Tolley joins other current and former New Zealand politicians including Rahui Katene
, David Lange
, Chester Borrows
, Donna Awatere-Huata and Tariana Turia
to have had gastric bypass surgery at some point in the past.
In June 2010 Anne Tolley became upset at a paper published by the Parliamentary Library research paper critical of National Standards. She labeled it as "unprofessional", "highly political" and so biased it could have been written by the union opposing the policy.
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Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
) is a politician representing the New Zealand National Party. With the formation of the Fifth National Government
Fifth National Government of New Zealand
The Fifth National Government of New Zealand is the current government of New Zealand. It is led by Prime Minister John Key.After the 2008 general election the National Party and its allies were able to form a government, taking over from Helen Clark's Fifth Labour Government. The National party...
in late 2008, she became the Minister of Education
Minister of Education (New Zealand)
The Minister of Education is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the country's schools, and is in charge of the Ministry of Education.The present Minister is Anne Tolley, a member of the National Party.-History:...
, the first woman ever to assume the role.
Tolley is the Member for the East Coast
East Coast (New Zealand electorate)
East Coast is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate first existed from 1871 to 1893. From 1996 to 2002, the electorate was called Mahia...
electorate, representing Whakatane
Whakatane
Whakatane is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty Region, in the North Island of New Zealand, and is the seat of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Whakatane is 90 km east of Tauranga and 89 km north-east of Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River.The town has a population of , with...
, Ohope, Opotiki
Opotiki
Opotiki is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. It houses the headquarters of the Opotiki District Council and comes under the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.-Population:* of the town: 4176 - Male 1,989, Female 2,187...
, and Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
districts. She was the first woman National Party Whip from December 2006 until February 2008 when she became the party's Education Spokeswoman after Katherine Rich stood down from the portfolio.
She was first an MP from 1999 to 2002, representing the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
. She was elected in the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
as a list MP, having unsuccessfully contested the Napier
Napier (New Zealand electorate)
thumb|right|Boundaries of Napier Electorate for 2008 and 2011 electionsNapier is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Napier is Chris Tremain, of the National Party. He has held this position since...
seat against Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
's Geoff Braybrooke
Geoff Braybrooke
Geoffrey Bernard Braybrooke, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1981 to 2002, representing the Labour Party. He was one of the party's more conservative MPs.-Early years:...
. In the 2002 elections
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
, she unsuccessfully contested Napier against Braybrooke's successor, Russell Fairbrother
Russell Fairbrother
Russell Fairbrother is a lawyer and former New Zealand politician. He was a Labour Party Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2008.-Early years:Fairbrother was born into a truck driving family and raised in the Wairarapa town of Carterton....
. Along with many other National MPs, Tolley did not escape the collapse of the party's vote that year, and so was not returned to Parliament as a list MP.
In the 2005 General Election
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
she successfully contested the East Coast Electorate, beating Labour Candidate Moana Mackey, daughter of the previous East Coast MP Janet Mackey. Tolley also beat the Deputy Leader of the United Future Party who was standing in the electorate for the fifth time.
Before entering national politics, Tolley was Deputy Mayor of Napier and a City Councillor. Tolley and her husband Allan maintain several homes in Gisborne as well as properties in Whakatane and Wellington.
She was criticised by much of the mainstream New Zealand media after an expensive helicopter flight, paid for by the state, to "get an understanding of Auckland's tertiary institutions".
It was revealed in 2010 that Tolley underwent gastric bypass (stomach stapling) surgery in order to lose weight. Tolley joins other current and former New Zealand politicians including Rahui Katene
Rahui Katene
Rahui Katene is a New Zealand politician. She was elected to the 49th New Zealand Parliament at the 2008 general election representing the Māori Party in the seat of Te Tai Tonga, but lost in the 2011 general election to Labour's Rino Tirikatene.- Ancestry :...
, David Lange
David Lange
David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a...
, Chester Borrows
Chester Borrows
Kerry James "Chester" Borrows is a New Zealand politician.-Early years:Borrows initially worked as a police officer, and later gained an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in a record time of two years and 14 days...
, Donna Awatere-Huata and Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia is a New Zealand politician. She gained considerable prominence during the foreshore and seabed controversy, and eventually broke with her party as a result...
to have had gastric bypass surgery at some point in the past.
In June 2010 Anne Tolley became upset at a paper published by the Parliamentary Library research paper critical of National Standards. She labeled it as "unprofessional", "highly political" and so biased it could have been written by the union opposing the policy.
External links
- Anne Tolley MP official site
- Profile at National party
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