Jeanette Fitzsimons
Encyclopedia
Jeanette Mary Fitzsimons, CNZM
(born 17 January 1945) is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. She was the co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
from 1995 to 2009, and was a Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2010.
at the University of Auckland
. She was also highly active in various environmental organizations such as the New Zealand Biological Producers' Council, the Campaign Climate for Change (which she founded), and the Environmental Council. She also worked as an environmental consultant to many local authorities.
, an early environmentalist based political party. She was its energy spokesperson from 1977 to 1982, and stood as a candidate in the 1978 election
and the 1981 election
. When the Values Party merged with a number of other groups to form the modern Green Party, Fitzsimons became an active member of the new organization.
When the Green Party joined with several other left-wing parties to form the Alliance
, Fitzsimons became co-deputy leader (with Sandra Lee-Vercoe
holding the other deputy leader position). In the 1993 election
, Fitzsimons unsuccessfully contested the Hauraki electorate
under the Alliance banner. In 1995, she became co-leader of the Green Party (which remained within the Alliance).
, the first to be conducted under the new MMP electoral system, Fitzsimons was placed third on the Alliance party list. She also stood as the party's candidate in the Coromandel. She was unsuccessful in the Coromandel electorate
, but entered Parliament on the Alliance list.
In 1998, Fitzsimons' Energy Efficiency Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. It was eventually passed into law as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000
.
The Greens contested the 1999 election
as an independent party, with Fitzsimons and Rod Donald
serving as co-leaders. Fitzsimons was placed first on the party's list, and once again contested the Coromandel seat. To observers, it seemed that the Greens' chances of entering parliament were dependent on Fitzsimons' performance in Coromandel; in order to receive proportional representation
, the party needed to either gain five percent of the national vote or win an electorate seat, and it appeared that the former option was unlikely. When normal votes had been counted, it appeared that Fitzsimons had been defeated in Coromandel by National
's Murray McLean
, but when special votes were tallied, Fitzsimons had a narrow lead. This guaranteed the Green Party seats in parliament regardless of whether it crossed the five percent threshold (as it eventually did).
In her second term, Fitzsimons promoted bills to extend New Zealand's nuclear-free zone
and to reduce road traffic. Both were defeated at their second readings.
In the 2002 election
, Fitzsimons was defeated in Coromandel, placing third. The seat was won by National Party MP Sandra Goudie
. Fitzsimons remained in Parliament as the highest-ranked candidate on the Green Party's list, and remained co-leader of the party until 2009, with probably the highest public profile of any Green MP. She became the spokeswoman for the Labour government's solar heating promotion initiatives following the 2005 election. This was agreed to as part of a policy package negotiated by the Green Party in exchange for its undertaking not to oppose the Labour-led Government on matters of confidence and supply
until the next parliamentary elections.
In the 2005 term, Fitzsimons had three member's bills drawn, addressing climate change and dog microchipping. None passed, though her Resource Management (Climate Protection) Amendment Bill did make it to a second reading.
Fitzsimons was a list only candidate in the 2008 election and was ranked at number one on the party list.
She was the Green Party spokesperson on Climate Change, Energy, Finance & Revenue, Genetic Engineering, Research, Science & Technology, Sustainable Economics, Transport, Treaty Issues (Associate).
Colin James
, of the NZ Herald, chose her as his New Zealand politician of the year in 2007.
In October 2008, respondents to a ONE News Colmar Brunton poll regarded Fitzsimons as the most trustworthy political party leader in New Zealand.
In February 2009, Fitzsimons announced that she would step down as party co-leader at the party's annual conference, and she was replaced by Metiria Turei
on 30 May 2009. At the time, she intended to serve out the remainder of her term as a Member of Parliament.
In June 2009, her Sustainable Biofuel Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill passed its first reading, and is currently before the Local Government and Environment Committee.
Fitzsimons left Parliament on 11 February 2010, and was replaced by the next candidate on the Green Party list, Gareth Hughes
.
On 7 June 2010, Fitzsimons was awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
in the Kauaeranga Valley west of Thames at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula
.
|-
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 17 January 1945) is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. She was the co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
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...
from 1995 to 2009, and was a Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2010.
Career
Before being elected to Parliament, Fitzsimons was a lecturer in environmental studiesEnvironmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
. She was also highly active in various environmental organizations such as the New Zealand Biological Producers' Council, the Campaign Climate for Change (which she founded), and the Environmental Council. She also worked as an environmental consultant to many local authorities.
Political career
Fitzsimons' first entry into politics was as a candidate for the Values PartyValues Party
The Values Party, considered the world's first national-level environmentalist party that pre-dated any fashionable Green terminology, was established in 1972 at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, one of its initial leaders being Tony Brunt...
, an early environmentalist based political party. She was its energy spokesperson from 1977 to 1982, and stood as a candidate in the 1978 election
New Zealand general election, 1978
The 1978 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to elect the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, retain office, although the opposition Labour Party managed to win the largest share of the vote...
and the 1981 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...
. When the Values Party merged with a number of other groups to form the modern Green Party, Fitzsimons became an active member of the new organization.
When the Green Party joined with several other left-wing parties to form the Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
, Fitzsimons became co-deputy leader (with Sandra Lee-Vercoe
Sandra Lee-Vercoe
Sandra Rose Te Hakamatua Lee-Vercoe QSO is a former New Zealand politician and diplomat. She served as deputy leader of the Alliance party, and was later High Commissioner to Niue.-Early life:...
holding the other deputy leader position). 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...
, Fitzsimons unsuccessfully contested the Hauraki electorate
Hauraki (New Zealand electorate)
Hauraki is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1928 to 1987 and 1993 to 1996. In the 1987 general election it was renamed Coromandel, the name that had been used from 1972 to 1981...
under the Alliance banner. In 1995, she became co-leader of the Green Party (which remained within the Alliance).
Member of Parliament
In the 1996 electionNew 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 first to be conducted under the new MMP electoral system, Fitzsimons was placed third on the Alliance party list. She also stood as the party's candidate in the Coromandel. She was unsuccessful in the Coromandel electorate
Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)
Coromandel is a New Zealand electoral division returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. Most recently it was represented by Sandra Goudie, who was MP from until retiring at the .-Population centres:...
, but entered Parliament on the Alliance list.
In 1998, Fitzsimons' Energy Efficiency Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. It was eventually passed into law as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand. It is administered by the Ministry for the Environment.The Act established the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority....
.
The Greens contested the 1999 election
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...
as an independent party, with Fitzsimons and 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....
serving as co-leaders. Fitzsimons was placed first on the party's list, and once again contested the Coromandel seat. To observers, it seemed that the Greens' chances of entering parliament were dependent on Fitzsimons' performance in Coromandel; in order to receive proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
, the party needed to either gain five percent of the national vote or win an electorate seat, and it appeared that the former option was unlikely. When normal votes had been counted, it appeared that Fitzsimons had been defeated in Coromandel by 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:...
's Murray McLean
Murray McLean
Murray McLean is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1996 to 1999, representing the National Party. He was elected to Parliament in the 1996 elections as MP for the new seat of Coromandel.-Member of Parliament:...
, but when special votes were tallied, Fitzsimons had a narrow lead. This guaranteed the Green Party seats in parliament regardless of whether it crossed the five percent threshold (as it eventually did).
In her second term, Fitzsimons promoted bills to extend New Zealand's nuclear-free zone
New Zealand's nuclear-free zone
In 1984, Prime Minister David Lange barred nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships from using New Zealand ports or entering New Zealand waters. Under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987, territorial sea, land and airspace of New Zealand became nuclear-free zones...
and to reduce road traffic. Both were defeated at their second readings.
In the 2002 election
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...
, Fitzsimons was defeated in Coromandel, placing third. The seat was won by National Party MP Sandra Goudie
Sandra Goudie
Sandra Anne Goudie is a New Zealand politician. She is a member of the National Party.-Early years:Before entering politics, Goudie was a farmer, and was later a councillor for the Thames-Coromandel District.-Member of Parliament:...
. Fitzsimons remained in Parliament as the highest-ranked candidate on the Green Party's list, and remained co-leader of the party until 2009, with probably the highest public profile of any Green MP. She became the spokeswoman for the Labour government's solar heating promotion initiatives following the 2005 election. This was agreed to as part of a policy package negotiated by the Green Party in exchange for its undertaking not to oppose the Labour-led Government on matters of confidence and supply
Confidence and supply
In a parliamentary democracy confidence and supply are required for a government to hold power. A confidence and supply agreement is an agreement that a minor party or independent member of parliament will support the government in motions of confidence and appropriation votes by voting in favour...
until the next parliamentary elections.
In the 2005 term, Fitzsimons had three member's bills drawn, addressing climate change and dog microchipping. None passed, though her Resource Management (Climate Protection) Amendment Bill did make it to a second reading.
Fitzsimons was a list only candidate in the 2008 election and was ranked at number one on the party list.
She was the Green Party spokesperson on Climate Change, Energy, Finance & Revenue, Genetic Engineering, Research, Science & Technology, Sustainable Economics, Transport, Treaty Issues (Associate).
Colin James
Colin James (journalist)
Colin James is a New Zealand political journalist and commentator. He is a life member of the New Zealand Parliament's press gallery.James writes a monthly column in Management Magazine, previously wrote a weekly column in The New Zealand Herald, and often speaks on television and radio...
, of the NZ Herald, chose her as his New Zealand politician of the year in 2007.
In October 2008, respondents to a ONE News Colmar Brunton poll regarded Fitzsimons as the most trustworthy political party leader in New Zealand.
In February 2009, Fitzsimons announced that she would step down as party co-leader at the party's annual conference, and she was replaced by Metiria Turei
Metiria Turei
Metiria Leanne Agnes Stanton Turei is a New Zealand member of Parliament and the female co-leader of the Green Party. she is the Green Party spokesperson on Social Equity, Electoral Reform, Māori and Treaty Issues, Housing and Children....
on 30 May 2009. At the time, she intended to serve out the remainder of her term as a Member of Parliament.
In June 2009, her Sustainable Biofuel Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill passed its first reading, and is currently before the Local Government and Environment Committee.
Fitzsimons left Parliament on 11 February 2010, and was replaced by the next candidate on the Green Party list, Gareth Hughes
Gareth Hughes (politician)
Gareth Thomas Llewelyn Hughes is a New Zealand politician and member of the Green Party. He took a seat in Parliament as the next person on the Green party list following the retirement of Jeanette Fitzsimons.-Early life:...
.
On 7 June 2010, Fitzsimons was awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Personal life
Fitzsimons is married, and has two adult children. She and her husband manage an organic farmOrganic farming
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
in the Kauaeranga Valley west of Thames at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Waikato Region and Thames-Coromandel District and extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west...
.
External links
- Jeanette Fitzsimons at the Green Party website
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