Fran Wilde
Encyclopedia
The Honorable Fran Wilde QSO
(born 1948), is a New Zealand
politician, and former Wellington Labour
MP
, Minister of Tourism and 31st Mayor of Wellington
. She was the first woman to serve as Mayor of Wellington.
for the Wellington Central
seat, winning it from sitting National
MP Ken Comber
in the 1981 general election
. Wilde retained the seat at the subsequent 1984
general election.
In 1985, Wilde moved what became the Homosexual Law Reform Act
(1986), which legalised homosexual acts in New Zealand between consenting men. The 16-month debate about the bill polarised the country, and sparked violent demonstrations and angry rallies at Parliament. Her other main legislative achievement in Parliament was an Adoption
Reform Act, which made it possible for adopted people and their birth-parents to contact each other.
Wilde was Parliamentary Whip from 1984 to 1987, and became Minister of Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Disarmament during Labour's second term.
. She won that position, and remained in office until 1995. Her seat was retained by Labour, with Chris Laidlaw
winning the 1992 by-election caused by Wilde's resignation.
and a former veterinary surgeon
.
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 1948), is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician, and former Wellington 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....
MP
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,...
, Minister of Tourism and 31st Mayor of Wellington
Mayor of Wellington
The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, New Zealand, and presides over the Wellington City Council. The Mayor of Wellington administers only Wellington City itself — other municipalities in adjacent areas of the Wellington Region such as Lower Hutt, Upper...
. She was the first woman to serve as Mayor of Wellington.
Member of Parliament and Minister
Wilde was a Member of ParliamentParliament 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...
for the Wellington Central
Wellington Central
rightWellington Central is a suburb of New Zealand's capital, Wellington, consisting of the flat, mostly reclaimed land, west of Lambton Harbour and the part of The Terrace immediately above it. It is bounded on the north by the suburb Pipitea and extends as far south as Civic Square...
seat, winning it from sitting 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 Ken Comber
Ken Comber
Kenneth Mark Comber, in New Plymouth, is a former New Zealand politician of the National Party, and an accountant.He represented the Wellington Central electorate in Parliament from 1972 to 1981, when he was defeated by Fran Wilde....
in the 1981 general election
New Zealand general election, 1981
The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 40th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, win a third term in office, although the opposition Labour Party, led by Bill Rowling, actually won the largest share of...
. Wilde retained the seat at the subsequent 1984
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
general election.
In 1985, Wilde moved what became the Homosexual Law Reform Act
Homosexual Law Reform Act
The New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 is a law that legalised consensual sex between men aged 16 and older. It removed the provisions of the Crimes Act 1961 that criminalised this behaviour.-Background:...
(1986), which legalised homosexual acts in New Zealand between consenting men. The 16-month debate about the bill polarised the country, and sparked violent demonstrations and angry rallies at Parliament. Her other main legislative achievement in Parliament was an Adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
Reform Act, which made it possible for adopted people and their birth-parents to contact each other.
Wilde was Parliamentary Whip from 1984 to 1987, and became Minister of Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Disarmament during Labour's second term.
Mayor of Wellington
In 1992 she resigned from Parliament to stand for Mayor of WellingtonMayor of Wellington
The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, New Zealand, and presides over the Wellington City Council. The Mayor of Wellington administers only Wellington City itself — other municipalities in adjacent areas of the Wellington Region such as Lower Hutt, Upper...
. She won that position, and remained in office until 1995. Her seat was retained by Labour, with Chris Laidlaw
Chris Laidlaw
Christopher Robert Laidlaw , Rhodes Scholar, All Black, diplomat, MP, talk radio host, author, is a 20th century New Zealand figure.-Academic and Rugby Union:...
winning the 1992 by-election caused by Wilde's resignation.
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Since then, Wilde has been appointed CEO of Trade New Zealand (until February 2003) and was elected as a councillor for the Wellington Regional Council. The council has occupied much of her time in recent years. Wilde was re-elected to the Regional Council in 2007. On 30 October, Wilde was elected Chair of the Council.Family
She has 3 adult children, Stephen Wilde, Alexandra Wilde and Matiu Wilde from her first marriage to Geoffrey Wilde. Her husband Christopher Kelly is CEO of LandcorpLandcorp
Landcorp Farming Limited is a state-owned enterprise of the New Zealand government. Its core business is pastoral farming including dairy, sheep, beef and deer...
and a former veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
.