Marc Alexander
Encyclopedia
Marc Alexander is a former New Zealand politician. He was elected to Parliament as a list MP for the United Future New Zealand party in 2005, and stood unsuccessfully as the National Party
candidate for Wigram
in 2008.
in Christchurch
, and also co-hosted a cooking program on local television. He authored "From a Grasshut to the Beehive (2005)" – a politically incorrect cookbook. He was also a spokesperson for the Sensible Sentencing Trust
, a group which lobbies for reforms in the criminal justice system. He was then their Crime Prevention spokesperson.
After the 2005 general election
, Alexander left the United Future Party, where many thought his atheistic, libertarian views clashed with the social conservatism
of the majority (not to mention the willingness of the Party to support a Labour-led government). Although he voted against both the Prostitution Reform Act and the Civil Union Act (two pieces of legislation strongly opposed by Christian groups), he claims he did so due to concerns over the effects of the legislation as written, rather than any ideological opposition.
Since leaving the United Future Party, Alexander has been an involved member of the National Party
in Christchurch. He served as Policy Chairman for Wigram, and also edited the Canterbury/Westland policy newsletter ‘Thinking National’. He was selected as the National Party candidate for Wigram in the 2008 general election
, and was placed 61st on the party's list. At this time he resigned his position with Sensible Sentencing, since the Trust's rules require all spokespeople to be politically unaligned.
Alexander writes "Marc My Words", an occasional political column, for the online New Zealand news website Scoop
and has a daily political opinion spot on radio. He has also authored a book on the NZ criminal justice system titled, Justice with Both Eyes Open, and is a strong advocate for the rights of crime victims. His areas of expertise include the prison system and crime prevention (incl. CPTED – crime prevention through environmental design). He is also presently working with the Sexual Abuse Survivors Trust in Christchurch. Other areas of interest include small business management, economics (which he teaches), and broadcasting.
Alexander has a daily spot on Coromandel FM which is also called, 'Marc My Word'.
Originally in San Francisco, he worked within the hospitality industry on and off for a number of years including spending nearly two years studying and working in Paris, France – gaining three culinary diplomas before returning to the States. After two years in Kansas City, he returned to Australia to open the first of three restaurants.
Alexander returned to Christchurch via two years in a grass hut in Tonga. He now lives in Christchurch with his wife Angelika Frank-Alexander and son.
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:...
candidate for Wigram
Wigram (New Zealand electorate)
Wigram is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Wigram is Megan Woods. She takes over this position from the retiring Jim Anderton, who held this position from 1996 until 2011.-Population...
in 2008.
Public activities
Before entering politics, Alexander was a restaurateurRestaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, and also co-hosted a cooking program on local television. He authored "From a Grasshut to the Beehive (2005)" – a politically incorrect cookbook. He was also a spokesperson for the Sensible Sentencing Trust
Sensible Sentencing Trust
The Sensible Sentencing Trust, a lobby group based in Napier in New Zealand, promotes harsher court sentences as a means of reducing crime.The Trust states its vision as "A Safe New Zealand" and its mission as "o obtain a large base of community support, and ensure safety for all New Zealanders...
, a group which lobbies for reforms in the criminal justice system. He was then their Crime Prevention spokesperson.
After 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...
, Alexander left the United Future Party, where many thought his atheistic, libertarian views clashed with the social conservatism
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
of the majority (not to mention the willingness of the Party to support a Labour-led government). Although he voted against both the Prostitution Reform Act and the Civil Union Act (two pieces of legislation strongly opposed by Christian groups), he claims he did so due to concerns over the effects of the legislation as written, rather than any ideological opposition.
Since leaving the United Future Party, Alexander has been an involved member of the 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:...
in Christchurch. He served as Policy Chairman for Wigram, and also edited the Canterbury/Westland policy newsletter ‘Thinking National’. He was selected as the National Party candidate for Wigram 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...
, and was placed 61st on the party's list. At this time he resigned his position with Sensible Sentencing, since the Trust's rules require all spokespeople to be politically unaligned.
Alexander writes "Marc My Words", an occasional political column, for the online New Zealand news website Scoop
Scoop (news website)
Scoop.co.nz is a New Zealand internet news site with a readership of 25,000 unique visitors a day, delivering 2,000,000 pages of information per month....
and has a daily political opinion spot on radio. He has also authored a book on the NZ criminal justice system titled, Justice with Both Eyes Open, and is a strong advocate for the rights of crime victims. His areas of expertise include the prison system and crime prevention (incl. CPTED – crime prevention through environmental design). He is also presently working with the Sexual Abuse Survivors Trust in Christchurch. Other areas of interest include small business management, economics (which he teaches), and broadcasting.
Alexander has a daily spot on Coromandel FM which is also called, 'Marc My Word'.
Personal life
Alexander was born in Kobe, Japan to a Yorkshireman and a Shanghai-born Russian mother. They moved to Tokyo where they lived for nearly ten years before shifting to Sydney, Australia. He was then sent to boarding school in New Zealand. He completed his university studies with a Masters of Political Science.Originally in San Francisco, he worked within the hospitality industry on and off for a number of years including spending nearly two years studying and working in Paris, France – gaining three culinary diplomas before returning to the States. After two years in Kansas City, he returned to Australia to open the first of three restaurants.
Alexander returned to Christchurch via two years in a grass hut in Tonga. He now lives in Christchurch with his wife Angelika Frank-Alexander and son.