Hekia Parata
Encyclopedia
Hon. Hekia Parata, Lady Gardiner is a New Zealand
politician and member of the New Zealand House of Representatives
, having been elected to parliament in the 2008 general election
. She is a member of the New Zealand National Party
and serves as a Minister of the Fifth National Government
.
, Parata shares Scottish, Irish, English, Ngāi Tahu
and Ngāti Porou
ancestry. She was one of eight children to her mother, Hiria Te Kiekie Reedy.
Parata attended the University of Waikato
, where she eventually graduated with a Master of Arts. While at Waikato, she served as President of the Waikato Student Union in 1980. She was also a Senior Executive Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Parata was a Youth Representative at the first Hui Taumata held in 1984.
Parata joined the National Party in August 2001.
, the Ministry of Maori Development. She also served on the boards of New Zealand On Air
(a broadcasting funding authority) and the Ngai Tahu Development Corporation. Later, she moved into the private sector, establishing Gardiner and Parata Ltd, a small consultancy firm.
Parata's name was connected to an investigation by the State Services Commissioner Don Hunn into the improper use of public funds in the purchase of two vehicles for her partner (and at that time Te Puni Kokiri Chief Executive) Wira Gardiner in 1995. Parata's name was on the purchase orders issued by the Ministry, although it eventually became known that the cars were paid by and for Mr Gardiner at the time of purchase. The investigation cleared both Gardiner and Parata of any illegal activity, and the cars were returned to the Ministry for re-sale at a Government auction.
In 1997, Parata was appointed by the then Prime Minister Jim Bolger
as a member of the Towards 2000 Taskforce, to "advise the Government on the appropriate "vision", events for the [millennium] celebrations and national projects of lasting public benefit"
Parata's consultancy firm was contracted to recommend the best options for providing "ongoing high quality Maori advice" to then chief executive Christine Rankin and senior managers at Work and Income in 1999, at a cost of $207,500. The expenditure was criticised by Green MP Rod Donald
, as the Maori unemployment rate rose during this period from 27 to 29% The firm also attracted controversy when National MP Murray McCully
criticised the spending of $240,000 by the Ministry of Economic Development for training courses on the Treaty of Waitangi
run by the company in 2003.
In 2001, Parata was appointed to the Māori Television
Service Board. She resigned within two months, reportedly blaming a "lack of funding" for the new Maori TV channel.
, the first time the party had run a candidate in the electorate since the 1996 election
. The campaign was managed by her husband, Wira Gardner.
While receiving 10,725 votes, she came second to then incumbent Labour MP Marian Hobbs
by 4,181 votes. In spite of Parata's presence in the race, the party vote in the electorate dropped to 56% of their 1999 result (or 19.9% of votes cast), mirroring that of the National party vote result nationwide. Having failed to win the electorate, and the National party's 20.93% result on the nationwide party vote meant that Parata did not enter Parliament as a list MP.
Parata wrote a chapter describing her experience as the candidate in New Zealand votes: the general election of 2002, a review of the election.
Parata was placed at number 15 on the National Party List for the 2002 General Election. Due to the 2002 election result, she was expected to be the next National MP to enter Parliament should any sitting List MP in the National party caucus resign, die or be convicted during the 47th Parliament
.
Prior to the suspension of National party MP Maurice Williamson
(for comments criticising the then party leader for the 2002 election result), it was speculated that he could resign from Parliament. Had this occurred and the subsequent by-election been won by a sitting List MP from the National party, then Parata would have entered Parliament. However, after the replacement of then leader Bill English
by Don Brash, Williamson was reinstated into the caucus, meaning Parata would remain outside Parliament.
Don Brash
to the Orewa
Rotary
Club, Brash spoke on the perceived "Māori racial separatism
" in New Zealand.
The speech, while being suggested as the main reason for a major surge in public support for the National Party (after their 2002 election provided the party's worst ever result), was displeasing to Parata and other Maori members of the National Party. Parata was reported as saying "this is taking the party back to the past. The views expressed [in the speech] marginalise New Zealand into a small island of rednecks". Nevertheless, Parata did not leave National and Brash was eventually replaced as leader of National (after quitting as leader) in 2006 by John Key
.
Parata's husband Wira Gardner described the situation for him and Parata during this period in a 2008 interview: "We seriously contemplated whether the National Party was ever going to be the party for us...but in the end we didn't abandon it, we just went to sleep for a while."
Reflecting back on this period in 2010, Parata said: "I didn't consider them wilderness years; I had a particular disagreement with a particular person and his outlook at the time."
Having neither appeared as a candidate for an electorate, nor on the National Party List for the 2005 general election
, Parata returned to politics, being selected as the National party candidate in the Mana electorate for the 2008 election. Although losing to the then incumbent Labour MP Winnie Laban, she performed better than the National party candidate in the 2005 election, Christopher Finlayson, as well as an increased party vote percentage from three years previously.
In spite of the electorate result, Parata was elected to Parliament as a list MP, having been ranked 36 on the National Party List.
, Parata alluded to her great-great-grandfather Tame Parata
, who was an MP in the Southern Māori
electorate for the Liberal Party
from 1885 to 1911, in addition to her tupuna (ancestor) Apirana Ngata
:
She has had an Out of Parliament office in the electorate (in the Mana suburb) since becoming an MP.
On 10 August 2010, Mana MP Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
announced that she would resign from Parliament to take up a position as an Assistant Vice Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington
, leading to a by-election in the Mana electorate.
Parata was the sole nomination for the National party, winning the nomination without contest. Parata received 41% of all votes cast, an increase of 6% from the 2008 election, where she was also the candidate. Although she lost to Kris Faafoi
by 1406 votes, the result was seen as a strong performance from Parata.
On 6 December 2010, it was announced that Parata would take over the cabinet position formerly held by Pansy Wong
(after her resignation from Cabinet coming soon after a scandal emerged involving the use of taxpayer funded travel) including the Women's and Ethnic Affairs portfolios, as well as taking up the newly created Associate Ministerial portfolios of Energy and Community & Voluntary sector.
On 24 February 2011, Parata became the acting Minister of Energy and Resources, relieving Gerry Brownlee
to concentrate on his role as Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery after the catastrophic February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
, suggesting that her failure to win the seat in two attempts is 'unfinished business'.
, KNZM. Hence, she is formally styled Lady Gardiner. They met while they worked together at the Ministry of Maori Development, Te Puni Kokiri. They have two children together and three stepchildren from Gardiner's previous marriage to former MP Pauline Gardiner
.
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 member of the New Zealand House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
, having been elected to parliament in the 2008 general 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...
. She is a member of the New Zealand 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:...
and serves as a Minister 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...
.
Life and career prior to Parliament
Born in RuatoriaRuatoria
The town of Ruatoria is located in the East Coast region of New Zealand's North Island. It is the second largest centre of population in the sparsely populated region, yet has a population of only 900 .- Geography :...
, Parata shares Scottish, Irish, English, Ngāi Tahu
Ngāi Tahu
Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori iwi of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kāi Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kāti Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior...
and Ngāti Porou
Ngati Porou
Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand, with 71,910 registered members in 2006...
ancestry. She was one of eight children to her mother, Hiria Te Kiekie Reedy.
Parata attended the University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
, where she eventually graduated with a Master of Arts. While at Waikato, she served as President of the Waikato Student Union in 1980. She was also a Senior Executive Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Parata was a Youth Representative at the first Hui Taumata held in 1984.
Parata joined the National Party in August 2001.
Public Servant
She initially pursued a career in the state sector, eventually becoming Deputy Chief Executive of Te Puni KōkiriTe Puni Kokiri
Te Puni Kōkiri is a New Zealand Public Sector Department responsible for Māori public policy and policy affecting Māori.The department, called TPK for short, reports to the Minister of Māori Affairs...
, the Ministry of Maori Development. She also served on the boards of New Zealand On Air
New Zealand On Air
NZ On Air is an independent New Zealand broadcast funding agency. It is an autonomous crown entity separate from central Government and governed by a Board of six appointed by the Minister of Broadcasting...
(a broadcasting funding authority) and the Ngai Tahu Development Corporation. Later, she moved into the private sector, establishing Gardiner and Parata Ltd, a small consultancy firm.
Parata's name was connected to an investigation by the State Services Commissioner Don Hunn into the improper use of public funds in the purchase of two vehicles for her partner (and at that time Te Puni Kokiri Chief Executive) Wira Gardiner in 1995. Parata's name was on the purchase orders issued by the Ministry, although it eventually became known that the cars were paid by and for Mr Gardiner at the time of purchase. The investigation cleared both Gardiner and Parata of any illegal activity, and the cars were returned to the Ministry for re-sale at a Government auction.
In 1997, Parata was appointed by the then Prime Minister Jim Bolger
Jim Bolger
James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
as a member of the Towards 2000 Taskforce, to "advise the Government on the appropriate "vision", events for the [millennium] celebrations and national projects of lasting public benefit"
Parata's consultancy firm was contracted to recommend the best options for providing "ongoing high quality Maori advice" to then chief executive Christine Rankin and senior managers at Work and Income in 1999, at a cost of $207,500. The expenditure was criticised by Green MP 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....
, as the Maori unemployment rate rose during this period from 27 to 29% The firm also attracted controversy when National MP Murray McCully
Murray McCully
Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
criticised the spending of $240,000 by the Ministry of Economic Development for training courses on the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
run by the company in 2003.
In 2001, Parata was appointed to the Māori Television
Maori Television
Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture . Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket.Te Reo is the...
Service Board. She resigned within two months, reportedly blaming a "lack of funding" for the new Maori TV channel.
2002 general election
Parata was selected as the National party candidate in the Wellington Central electorate for the 2002 General ElectionNew 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...
, the first time the party had run a candidate in the electorate since 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...
. The campaign was managed by her husband, Wira Gardner.
While receiving 10,725 votes, she came second to then incumbent Labour MP Marian Hobbs
Marian Hobbs
Marian Leslie Hobbs , a New Zealand politician, was a Labour Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2008. She was initially a list MP and then represented the Wellington Central electorate...
by 4,181 votes. In spite of Parata's presence in the race, the party vote in the electorate dropped to 56% of their 1999 result (or 19.9% of votes cast), mirroring that of the National party vote result nationwide. Having failed to win the electorate, and the National party's 20.93% result on the nationwide party vote meant that Parata did not enter Parliament as a list MP.
Parata wrote a chapter describing her experience as the candidate in New Zealand votes: the general election of 2002, a review of the election.
Speculation on mid term entry
- See: Suspension of Maurice Williamson from National Party caucus
Parata was placed at number 15 on the National Party List for the 2002 General Election. Due to the 2002 election result, she was expected to be the next National MP to enter Parliament should any sitting List MP in the National party caucus resign, die or be convicted during the 47th Parliament
47th New Zealand Parliament
The 47th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Its composition was determined by the 2002 elections, and it sat until 11 August 2005....
.
Prior to the suspension of National party MP Maurice Williamson
Maurice Williamson
Maurice Donald Williamson is a New Zealand politician, representing Pakuranga in the House of Representatives as a member of the National Party...
(for comments criticising the then party leader for the 2002 election result), it was speculated that he could resign from Parliament. Had this occurred and the subsequent by-election been won by a sitting List MP from the National party, then Parata would have entered Parliament. However, after the replacement of then leader Bill English
Bill English
Simon William "Bill" English is the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure of New Zealand.English entered parliament in 1990 as a National party MP representing the Wallace electorate...
by Don Brash, Williamson was reinstated into the caucus, meaning Parata would remain outside Parliament.
Don Brash leadership of the National Party
In a speech given on 27 January 2004 by the then-leader of the New Zealand National PartyNew 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:...
Don Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
to the Orewa
Orewa
Orewa, a town in New Zealand's North Island lies on the Hibiscus Coast, just north of the base of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and 40 kilometres north of central Auckland. Orewa's population was 7,326 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 1,692 from 2001. It is a popular holiday destination...
Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
Club, Brash spoke on the perceived "Māori racial separatism
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
" in New Zealand.
The speech, while being suggested as the main reason for a major surge in public support for the National Party (after their 2002 election provided the party's worst ever result), was displeasing to Parata and other Maori members of the National Party. Parata was reported as saying "this is taking the party back to the past. The views expressed [in the speech] marginalise New Zealand into a small island of rednecks". Nevertheless, Parata did not leave National and Brash was eventually replaced as leader of National (after quitting as leader) in 2006 by John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
.
Parata's husband Wira Gardner described the situation for him and Parata during this period in a 2008 interview: "We seriously contemplated whether the National Party was ever going to be the party for us...but in the end we didn't abandon it, we just went to sleep for a while."
Reflecting back on this period in 2010, Parata said: "I didn't consider them wilderness years; I had a particular disagreement with a particular person and his outlook at the time."
2008 General Election
- See: Mana (New Zealand electorate)Mana (New Zealand electorate)Mana is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate north of Wellington. It is currently held by Kris Faafoi MP.-Population centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Paraparaumu * Raumati...
Having neither appeared as a candidate for an electorate, nor on the National Party List for 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...
, Parata returned to politics, being selected as the National party candidate in the Mana electorate for the 2008 election. Although losing to the then incumbent Labour MP Winnie Laban, she performed better than the National party candidate in the 2005 election, Christopher Finlayson, as well as an increased party vote percentage from three years previously.
In spite of the electorate result, Parata was elected to Parliament as a list MP, having been ranked 36 on the National Party List.
Member of Parliament
In her maiden speechMaiden 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...
, Parata alluded to her great-great-grandfather Tame Parata
Tame Parata
Tame Parata was a Māori and a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Southern Maori electorate in the 1885 by-election after the resignation of Hori Kerei Taiaroa, and held it to 1911, when he retired...
, who was an MP in the Southern Māori
Southern Maori
Southern Maori was one of the four original New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorates, from 1868 to 1996.-Population centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* -Tribal Areas:...
electorate for the Liberal Party
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
from 1885 to 1911, in addition to her tupuna (ancestor) Apirana Ngata
Apirana Ngata
Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata was a prominent New Zealand politician and lawyer. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language.-Early life:One of 15 children, Ngata...
:
- "I enter Parliament and begin this phase of my public service journey proud to follow in the footsteps of these ancestors in the pursuit of quality citizenship for all. They provide a model that I am glad to emulate: unambiguously Ngati Porou and Ngai Tahu; unequivocally a New Zealander...As I stand before you today, I am at once conscious of the weight of history and expectation that press upon me, and the lightness of possibilities that beckon. I am familiar with this dichotomy – I have grown up in a culture that walks through the present, with the constant companions of the past and the future."
She has had an Out of Parliament office in the electorate (in the Mana suburb) since becoming an MP.
2010 Mana by-election
- See: 2010 Mana by-electionMana by-election, 2010A by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Mana on 20 November 2010. The seat was vacated by former Labour Pacific Island Affairs Minister Winnie Laban, who announced her resignation from the New Zealand Parliament on 10 August 2010 following her appointment as Assistant Vice...
On 10 August 2010, Mana MP Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
Luamanuvao Winifred "Winnie" Alexandra Laban, QSO is a New Zealand politician. She was the Member of Parliament for the Mana electorate, representing the Labour Party. She was the Labour Party’s spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs and spokesperson for Interfaith Dialogue.-Early life and...
announced that she would resign from Parliament to take up a position as an Assistant Vice Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, leading to a by-election in the Mana electorate.
Parata was the sole nomination for the National party, winning the nomination without contest. Parata received 41% of all votes cast, an increase of 6% from the 2008 election, where she was also the candidate. Although she lost to Kris Faafoi
Kris Faafoi
Kris Faafoi is a New Zealand politician for the Labour Party. He represents the Mana electorate in the New Zealand Parliament.-Early life and family:...
by 1406 votes, the result was seen as a strong performance from Parata.
Minister in Fifth National Government
- See: Fifth National Government of New ZealandFifth National Government of New ZealandThe 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...
On 6 December 2010, it was announced that Parata would take over the cabinet position formerly held by Pansy Wong
Pansy Wong
Pansy Yu Fong Wong is a former New Zealand politician. She was New Zealand's first Asian MP, serving as a member of parliament for the National Party from 1996 to 2011...
(after her resignation from Cabinet coming soon after a scandal emerged involving the use of taxpayer funded travel) including the Women's and Ethnic Affairs portfolios, as well as taking up the newly created Associate Ministerial portfolios of Energy and Community & Voluntary sector.
On 24 February 2011, Parata became the acting Minister of Energy and Resources, relieving Gerry Brownlee
Gerry Brownlee
Gerard Anthony "Gerry" Brownlee is a New Zealand politician. He served from 17 November 2003 to 27 November 2006 as deputy-leader of the National Party – during that period the second-largest party in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus forming the core of the Opposition...
to concentrate on his role as Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery after the catastrophic February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
2011 general election
Parata has already announced her intentions to stand again in the Mana electorate for the 2011 general electionNew Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
, suggesting that her failure to win the seat in two attempts is 'unfinished business'.
Private life
Parata is married to former professional soldier, senior public servant and author Sir Wira GardinerWira Gardiner
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Harawira "Wira" Tiri Gardiner, KNZM is a former professional soldier, senior public servant and writer. He is Maori and his tribal affiliations are Ngati Awa, Ngati Pikiao, Whakatohea and Te Whanau-a-Apanui....
, KNZM. Hence, she is formally styled Lady Gardiner. They met while they worked together at the Ministry of Maori Development, Te Puni Kokiri. They have two children together and three stepchildren from Gardiner's previous marriage to former MP Pauline Gardiner
Pauline Gardiner
Pauline Gardiner is a former New Zealand politician.-Member of Parliament:Gardiner was a member of parliament from 1993 to 1996, representing first the National Party and then United New Zealand...
.
External links
- Hekia Parata MP official site
- Profile at National party
- Maiden speech (via Kiwiblog)