Julie Hardaker
Encyclopedia
Julie Hardaker is the Mayor of Hamilton
, New Zealand. Born in New Zealand, she was self-employed in Australia in the 1980s. After graduating from the University of Waikato
, she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman and eventually became a partner and held senior management roles. She is involved in various community organisations at a governance level. As a political novice, she defeated former Mayor and experienced politician Bob Simcock
in the 2010 New Zealand local government elections
. A year into the political role, her popularity was unchanged.
. She lived in in Australia during the 1980s, where she was self-employed in retail. She graduated from the University of Waikato Faculty of Law in 1995 with LLB
Hons.
After university she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman, where she became a partner in 2000. She initially specialised in dispute resolution, before turning her attention to employment law. She chaired the law firm's governance board, and at the time of her election as Mayor of Hamilton, she was in charge of finance.
Hardaker has served on the boards of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. She has been a member of the St Peters School
Board of Trustees, and has been on the board of Habitat for Humanity Waikato. Since before her election as Mayor, she has been the chairman of the Waikato SPCA
. As of 2011, she is studying for a Masters degree in management at the University of Waikato
.
Hardaker is married to Steven Perdia, who is father to two boys living in Australia.
, the incumbent Mayor, who has been on Hamilton City Council for 16 years. He had been appointed Mayor in 2007 following the resignation of his predecessor, and had represented Hamilton West
in Parliament
from 1996
until his defeat in 2002
.
Hardaker campaigned for transparent government, city living, making the Waikato River
accessible, and reinstating commuter trains to and from Auckland.
Of the 33,000 votes cast Hardaker and Simcock received 13,626 and 12,670, respectively, a majority of 956 votes and representing about 41% for Hardaker. A year into her reign, an opinion poll by the Waikato Times
showed an almost unchanged level of support, with 40% of the respondents stating they would vote for her again if an election were held tomorrow.
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, New Zealand. Born in New Zealand, she was self-employed in Australia in the 1980s. After graduating from 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...
, she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman and eventually became a partner and held senior management roles. She is involved in various community organisations at a governance level. As a political novice, she defeated former Mayor and experienced politician Bob Simcock
Bob Simcock
Robert Simcock is a New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament and then Mayor of Hamilton.-Early career:Simcock attended St John's College before graduating from the University of Waikato with a M Soc Sci ....
in the 2010 New Zealand local government elections
New Zealand local elections, 2010
The 2010 New Zealand local elections were triennial elections to select local government officials and district health board members. All elections are conducted by postal ballot, with election day being Saturday 9 October 2010.Elected were:...
. A year into the political role, her popularity was unchanged.
Life outside politics
Hardaker was born in and grew up near RotoruaRotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
. She lived in in Australia during the 1980s, where she was self-employed in retail. She graduated from the University of Waikato Faculty of Law in 1995 with LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
Hons.
After university she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman, where she became a partner in 2000. She initially specialised in dispute resolution, before turning her attention to employment law. She chaired the law firm's governance board, and at the time of her election as Mayor of Hamilton, she was in charge of finance.
Hardaker has served on the boards of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. She has been a member of the St Peters School
St. Peter's School (Cambridge)
St Peter's School, Cambridge is an independent, co-educational, Anglican secondary school for years 7-13 located in Cambridge, New Zealand.The School is located on of ground, surround by school-owned farmland alongside the Waikato River....
Board of Trustees, and has been on the board of Habitat for Humanity Waikato. Since before her election as Mayor, she has been the chairman of the Waikato SPCA
Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a New Zealand charitable society who work to provide food and shelter for abandoned and neglected animals and to promote humane treatment of animals.- History :The New Zealand SPCA was formed by settlers from England in...
. As of 2011, she is studying for a Masters degree in management at 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...
.
Hardaker is married to Steven Perdia, who is father to two boys living in Australia.
Political career
Hardaker entered the 2010 mayoral contest as a political newcomer, one of six candidates. Her main opponent was the experienced politician Bob SimcockBob Simcock
Robert Simcock is a New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament and then Mayor of Hamilton.-Early career:Simcock attended St John's College before graduating from the University of Waikato with a M Soc Sci ....
, the incumbent Mayor, who has been on Hamilton City Council for 16 years. He had been appointed Mayor in 2007 following the resignation of his predecessor, and had represented Hamilton West
Hamilton West (New Zealand electorate)
Hamilton West is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It has been held by Tim Macindoe MP of the National Party since the 2008 general election.-Population centres:...
in 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...
from 1996
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...
until his defeat in 2002
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...
.
Hardaker campaigned for transparent government, city living, making the Waikato River
Waikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
accessible, and reinstating commuter trains to and from Auckland.
Of the 33,000 votes cast Hardaker and Simcock received 13,626 and 12,670, respectively, a majority of 956 votes and representing about 41% for Hardaker. A year into her reign, an opinion poll by the Waikato Times
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a circulation to the greater Waikato region.The Waikato Times started out as the tri-weekly Waikato Times and Thames Valley Gazette, first published on 2 May 1872...
showed an almost unchanged level of support, with 40% of the respondents stating they would vote for her again if an election were held tomorrow.