David Clendon
Encyclopedia
David James Clendon is a New Zealand politician and member of the Green Party
. Following the resignation of Sue Bradford
, Clendon became a Member
of the New Zealand Parliament
on 2 November 2009.
, Te Roroa
and Pākehā
descent. He has a partner, Lindis, and one daughter Kaya.
in 1990.
In both the 1999 elections
and the 2005 elections
Clendon polled third in the seat of Waitakere
, ranked nineteenth and twelfth on the party list respectively.
Clendon was the co-convenor
of the Green Party from 2001 to 2004. He did not contest the 2002 general elections
because the party's constitution bars co-convenors from standing for parliament
.
Along with MPs Russel Norman
and Nándor Tánczos
, and former MP Mike Ward
, Clendon contested the Green's male leadership role in 2005 after the unexpected death of co-leader Rod Donald
, saying that it made sense to "appoint an out-of-Parliament leader, rather than stretch the sitting MPs even further." Russel Norman won the leadership after a vote at a party AGM
in June 2006.
In the 2008 general elections
Clendon was ranked tenth on the Green list and stood as a candidate in the Helensville electorate
, coming third with 5.96% of the electorate vote.
, Clendon entered Parliament
as he was next on the Green party list at the 2008 election
. He became a Member of Parliament
on 2 November 2009.
On 17 November he gave his maiden speech
to Parliament
.
and ACT parties' majority.
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
. Following the resignation of Sue Bradford
Sue Bradford
Sue Bradford is a New Zealand politician who served as a list Member of Parliament representing the Green Party from 1999 to 2009.- Early life :...
, Clendon became a Member
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
of the New Zealand Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
on 2 November 2009.
Personal life
Clendon is of NgāpuhiNgapuhi
Ngāpuhi is a Māori iwi located in the Northland region of New Zealand, and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands and Whāngārei.Ngāpuhi has the largest affiliation of any New Zealand iwi, with 122,214 people registered , and formed from 150 hapu, with 55 marae.-Foundations:The founding...
, Te Roroa
Te Roroa
Te Roroa is a Māori iwi from Northland, New Zealand....
and Pākehā
Pakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
descent. He has a partner, Lindis, and one daughter Kaya.
Political involvement
Clendon joined the Green PartyGreen Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
in 1990.
In both 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...
and the 2005 elections
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...
Clendon polled third in the seat of Waitakere
Waitakere (New Zealand electorate)
Waitakere is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Waitakere is Paula Bennett of the National Party. She has held this position since the 2008 election....
, ranked nineteenth and twelfth on the party list respectively.
Clendon was the co-convenor
Party Chair
In politics, a party chair is the presiding officer of a political party....
of the Green Party from 2001 to 2004. He did not contest the 2002 general 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...
because the party's constitution bars co-convenors from standing for parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
.
Along with MPs Russel Norman
Russel Norman
Dr Russel William Norman is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. He is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Green Party alongside Metiria Turei.- Early life :...
and Nándor Tánczos
Nandor Tanczos
Nándor Steven Tánczos , a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1999 to 2008, represented the Green Party as a list MP. He briefly lost his seat in the 2005 General Election, but returned to Parliament following the sudden death of Rod Donald just prior to the first sitting of Parliament, as he...
, and former MP Mike Ward
Mike Ward (New Zealand)
Mike Ward JP is a Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand politician. He was an MP for one term from 2002-2005. He was co-leader of the Values Party from 1985 to 1988...
, Clendon contested the Green's male leadership role in 2005 after the unexpected death of co-leader Rod Donald
Rod Donald
Rodney David "Rod" Donald , was a New Zealand politician who co-led the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, along with Jeanette Fitzsimons.He lived in Christchurch with his partner Nicola Shirlaw, and their three daughters....
, saying that it made sense to "appoint an out-of-Parliament leader, rather than stretch the sitting MPs even further." Russel Norman won the leadership after a vote at a party AGM
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
in June 2006.
In the 2008 general elections
New 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...
Clendon was ranked tenth on the Green list and stood as a candidate in the Helensville electorate
Helensville (New Zealand electorate)
Helensville is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Helensville is John Key, leader of the National Party and Prime Minister of New Zealand. He has held this electorate since 2002...
, coming third with 5.96% of the electorate vote.
Member of Parliament
Entry to Parliament
Following the resignation of list MP Sue BradfordSue Bradford
Sue Bradford is a New Zealand politician who served as a list Member of Parliament representing the Green Party from 1999 to 2009.- Early life :...
, Clendon entered Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
as he was next on the Green party list at the 2008 election
New 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...
. He became a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
on 2 November 2009.
On 17 November he gave his maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
to Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
.
Private Member's Bill
In February 2010, Clendon's Smart Meters (Consumer Choice) Bill was drawn from the member's ballot, but in May 2010 it was voted down by the NationalNew 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:...
and ACT parties' majority.