Brendon Burns (politician)
Encyclopedia
Brendon Burns is the Labour Party
Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central
electorate of the New Zealand Parliament.
for seven years, he led various community initiatives and won the country’s top journalism award - a term at Cambridge University. He twice stood in the Kaikoura
seat for Labour
. He has an extensive career history in journalism having done political coverage in both print and radio mediums. He has run his own communications business Indaba Communications.
In 1999 he won the Qantas Award for best editorial writer.
. Burns has had a long history in political campaigning, twice failing to capture the Kaikoura
electorate from the National Party
. In 2008, Burns successfully held Christchurch Central for Labour, with a greatly reduced majority of 935.
He has since become Labour's spokesman for broadcasting, as well as being part of the environmental team.
In September 2010, Burns' Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill would reverse the government's replacement of the Canterbury Regional Council
with unelected commissioners and force a special election to be held. It is currently waiting for its first reading.
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....
Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central
Christchurch Central
Christchurch Central is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the South Island city of Christchurch. The electorate was established for the 1946 election and has always been won by the Labour Party. Since 2008, the incumbent is Brendon Burns...
electorate of the New Zealand Parliament.
Early life
Burns worked for 12 years in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. As editor of The Marlborough ExpressThe Marlborough Express
The Marlborough Express is a newspaper servicing the Marlborough area of New Zealand. Its headquarters are in Blenheim and has been published there since 1866. It became a daily in 1880 and took over its rivals the Marlborough Times in 1895 and the Marlborough Press in 1948. In 1998 it was sold to...
for seven years, he led various community initiatives and won the country’s top journalism award - a term at Cambridge University. He twice stood in the Kaikoura
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1 180 km north of Christchurch.Kaikoura became the first local authority to reach the Green Globe tourism certification standard....
seat for 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....
. He has an extensive career history in journalism having done political coverage in both print and radio mediums. He has run his own communications business Indaba Communications.
In 1999 he won the Qantas Award for best editorial writer.
Member of Parliament
Burns was selected to replace Tim Barnett who retired at the 2008 general electionNew Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
. Burns has had a long history in political campaigning, twice failing to capture the Kaikoura
Kaikoura (New Zealand electorate)
right|thumb|Kaikōura electorateKaikōura is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning a single MP to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Kaikōura is Colin King of the National Party...
electorate from 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:...
. In 2008, Burns successfully held Christchurch Central for Labour, with a greatly reduced majority of 935.
He has since become Labour's spokesman for broadcasting, as well as being part of the environmental team.
In September 2010, Burns' Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill would reverse the government's replacement of the Canterbury Regional Council
Canterbury Regional Council
Canterbury Regional Council is the regional council for Canterbury, the largest region in the South Island of New Zealand. It is part of New Zealand's structure of local government...
with unelected commissioners and force a special election to be held. It is currently waiting for its first reading.