Christine Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Christine Fletcher, QSO
(born 25 January 1955) is an Auckland Council
councillor and also prominent for her former New Zealand politics positions, both in Parliament and as Mayor of Auckland City
. She was the second woman to serve as mayor of Auckland
. In October 2010 she became the co-leader of the Auckland local body ticket
Citizens & Ratepayers after winning the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward on the new Auckland Council
.
. She was married to Angus Fletcher, and was the sister in-law of former Fletcher Challenge
CEO Hugh Fletcher
and his wife Chief Justice
Sian Elias
.Daughter of Shirley and Ted Lees (see Daniel Edward Lees at www.businesshalloffame.co.nz)
off Richard Northey
for National
in the 1990 election
, and held it in the 1993 election
.
She then won the new seat of Epsom
in the 1996 election
, and held the Ministerial roles of Local Government, Women's, Cultural and Youth Affairs before resigning as a Minister on 11 September 1997, because she objected to the sale of the assets of the Auckland Regional Services Trust proposed by National.
. She was noted for the decision to progress with the Britomart Transport Centre
in downtown Auckland city. In 2001 she was defeated by John Banks
, another former National
MP. She continued her opposition to Banks in the following years, particularly opposing the Eastern Transport Corridor
which Banks had proposed as a major motorway, and which she noted she had been opposing for more than a decade by then.
In attempting to regain the mayoralty in October 2004, she was overshadowed by the incumbent and by new challenger Dick Hubbard
. She eventually placed third.
.
She was a contributor in 2004 to a book by the Better Democracy
group, promoting citizen participation in the New Zealand democratic process.
In 2010 she announced her candidacy for the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward on the new Auckland council
, where she eventually succeeded in polling highest for one of the two available Councillor seats in her ward. She considers working for a CBD rail tunnel one of her main priorities, extending the capacity of Britomart
for whose construction she had successfully fought for in her mayoral time.
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(born 25 January 1955) is an Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
councillor and also prominent for her former New Zealand politics positions, both in Parliament and as Mayor of Auckland City
Mayor of Auckland City
The Mayor of Auckland City was the directly elected head of the Auckland City Council, the municipal government of Auckland City, New Zealand. The office existed from 1871 to 2010, when Auckland City Council was abolished and replaced with the Auckland Council....
. She was the second woman to serve as mayor of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. In October 2010 she became the co-leader of the Auckland local body ticket
Ticket (election)
A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...
Citizens & Ratepayers after winning the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward on the new Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
.
Early life and family
Fletcher was educated at St Cuthbert's College, AucklandSt Cuthbert's College, Auckland
St Cuthbert's College is an independent, Presbyterian-based, day and boarding school for girls, located in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand.The college is named after Scottish monk St Cuthbert, and currently caters for approximately 1470 students from New Entrants and Year One to Year Thirteen ,...
. She was married to Angus Fletcher, and was the sister in-law of former Fletcher Challenge
Fletcher Challenge
Fletcher Challenge is a now defunct multinational corporation from New Zealand, formed in 1981 by the merger of Fletcher Holdings, Challenge Corporation and Tasman Pulp and Paper...
CEO Hugh Fletcher
Hugh Fletcher
Hugh Fletcher is a New Zealand businessman and former Chancellor of the University of Auckland.-Early life:Hugh was the second son born to Sir James Fletcher and Vaughan, Lady Fletcher....
and his wife Chief Justice
Chief Justice of New Zealand
The Chief Justice of New Zealand is the head of the New Zealand judiciary, and presides over the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Before the establishment of the latter court in 2004 the Chief Justice was the presiding judge in the High Court of New Zealand and was also ex officio a member of the...
Sian Elias
Sian Elias
Dame Sian Seerpoohi Elias, GNZM, PC, QC is the Chief Justice of New Zealand, and is therefore the most senior member of the country's judiciary. She is the presiding judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand...
.Daughter of Shirley and Ted Lees (see Daniel Edward Lees at www.businesshalloffame.co.nz)
Member of Parliament
Fletcher won the seat of EdenEden (New Zealand electorate)
Eden is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population Centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of inner-city suburbs in the central-south part of Auckland.-History:...
off Richard Northey
Richard Northey
Richard John Northey, ONZM is a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996. He currently serves on the Auckland Council, and is a member of the Labour Party.-Member of Parliament:...
for National
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 the 1990 election
New Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
, and held it in the 1993 election
New Zealand general election, 1993
The 1993 New Zealand general election was held on 6 November 1993 to determine the composition of the 44th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Jim Bolger, win a second term in office, despite a major swing back towards the Labour Party. The new Alliance and New...
.
She then won the new seat of Epsom
Epsom (New Zealand electorate)
Epsom is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Epsom is Rodney Hide MP of the ACT Party. He has held this position since 2005.-Population centres:...
in the 1996 election
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, and held the Ministerial roles of Local Government, Women's, Cultural and Youth Affairs before resigning as a Minister on 11 September 1997, because she objected to the sale of the assets of the Auckland Regional Services Trust proposed by National.
Mayor of Auckland City
She retired as an MP in 1999, having been elected Mayor of Auckland CityMayor of Auckland City
The Mayor of Auckland City was the directly elected head of the Auckland City Council, the municipal government of Auckland City, New Zealand. The office existed from 1871 to 2010, when Auckland City Council was abolished and replaced with the Auckland Council....
. She was noted for the decision to progress with the Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre is the CBD public transport hub of Auckland, New Zealand, and the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line. It combines a bus interchange with a railway station in a former Edwardian post office, extended with expansive post-modernist architectural elements...
in downtown Auckland city. In 2001 she was defeated by John Banks
John Banks (New Zealand)
John Archibald Banks, CNZM QSO is a New Zealand politician. He served as Mayor of Auckland City for two terms, from 2001 to 2004, and from 2007 to 2010...
, another former National
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:...
MP. She continued her opposition to Banks in the following years, particularly opposing the Eastern Transport Corridor
Eastern Transport Corridor
The Eastern Transport Corridor in Auckland, New Zealand, is a transport reserve along a strip of land and water some of which is occupied by housing, commerce, industry and local roads...
which Banks had proposed as a major motorway, and which she noted she had been opposing for more than a decade by then.
In attempting to regain the mayoralty in October 2004, she was overshadowed by the incumbent and by new challenger Dick Hubbard
Dick Hubbard
Richard "Dick" John Hubbard ONZM, DSc is a New Zealand businessman and politician, founder and principal of Hubbards Foods in Auckland, and Mayor of Auckland City from 2004 to 2007. His management of Hubbard Foods gained some prominence for its participation in and promotion of socially...
. She eventually placed third.
Life after mayoralty and return to politics
After her mayoral term, Fletcher did not run for elected office for several years, and was primarily involved in work like with the Mototapu Trust, a conservation movement involved in protecting a prominent island in the Hauraki GulfHauraki Gulf
The Hauraki Gulf is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has a total area of 4000 km², and lies between the Auckland Region, the Hauraki Plains, the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island...
.
She was a contributor in 2004 to a book by the Better Democracy
Better Democracy
Better Democracy is a non-partisan lobby group in New Zealand, formed with the objective of bringing about binding citizens initiated referendums as a form of direct democracy...
group, promoting citizen participation in the New Zealand democratic process.
In 2010 she announced her candidacy for the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward on the new Auckland council
Auckland local elections, 2010
The Auckland local elections, 2010 took place from 17 September until 9 October and were conducted by postal vote. The elections were the first since the merger of the seven councils and elected the new Auckland Council, composed of the mayor, 20 members of the Governing Body, and 149 members of 21...
, where she eventually succeeded in polling highest for one of the two available Councillor seats in her ward. She considers working for a CBD rail tunnel one of her main priorities, extending the capacity of Britomart
Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre is the CBD public transport hub of Auckland, New Zealand, and the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line. It combines a bus interchange with a railway station in a former Edwardian post office, extended with expansive post-modernist architectural elements...
for whose construction she had successfully fought for in her mayoral time.