Russel Norman
Encyclopedia
Dr Russel William Norman (born 1967) is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. He is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Green Party
alongside Metiria Turei
.
, Australia, and moved to New Zealand in 1997 to observe the red-green Alliance
coalition. He wrote his political science
PhD thesis on the Alliance, and was active within the party editing its party newsletter.
, and was active in the Auckland
branch of the Green Party
. Later, he worked as an assistant to Green MPs Sue Kedgley
, Nandor Tanczos
and Keith Locke
. He was a researcher for the party from 2002 to 2004 and was the national campaign manager prior to the 2005 election
and the national Party Development Co-ordinator afterwards. Following the death of Rod Donald
, Norman put his name forward as a contender for the male co-leader position. He won the position on 3 June 2006 at the annual meeting, beating Tanczos, David Clendon
and former MP Mike Ward
in a STV
vote by delegates from electorates around the country.
, Norman contested the Rimutaka electorate, where he placed fourth. He was ranked seventeenth on the Green Party list. In the 2005 elections
, he did not contest an electorate, but was ranked tenth on the Green Party
list. On 27 June 2008 Norman was declared elected to parliament when Tanczos resigned after Ward and Catherine Delahunty
, who were above Norman on the party list, agreed to stand aside. In the 2008 general election
Norman stood in the Rongotai electorate
against senior Labour
Cabinet Minister Annette King
. He placed third in the electorate, but was second on his party's list, and so was returned to parliament.
Norman stood as the Green Party's candidate for the Mount Albert by-election
in 2009, following the resignation of Prime Minister Helen Clark
. Norman came third with 12.09% of the vote.
In June 2010, Norman claimed he was assaulted by Chinese security staff when he protested against a visiting Chinese delegation of the Vice President Xi Jinping
with a Tibetan snow lion flag. Norman lodged a complaint of assault with the New Zealand Police
and the Speaker of the House
, but police didn't find enough evidence to substantiate his claims.
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...
alongside 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....
.
Early life
Dr Norman was born in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia, and moved to New Zealand in 1997 to observe the red-green 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...
coalition. He wrote his political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
PhD thesis on the Alliance, and was active within the party editing its party newsletter.
Greens co-leader
In New Zealand Norman became involved in organic farmingOrganic 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...
, and was active in the Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
branch of the Green Party
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...
. Later, he worked as an assistant to Green MPs Sue Kedgley
Sue Kedgley
Susan Jane Kedgley , BA , TTC , MA , is a New Zealand politician, food campaigner and author.-Early career and Wellington City Council:...
, Nandor Tanczos
Nandor Tanczos
Nándor Steven Tánczos , a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1999 to 2008, represented the Green Party as a list MP. He briefly lost his seat in the 2005 General Election, but returned to Parliament following the sudden death of Rod Donald just prior to the first sitting of Parliament, as he...
and Keith Locke
Keith Locke
Keith James Locke is a current New Zealand MP representing the Green Party who was first elected to parliament in 1999. he is the Green Party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Ethnic Affairs, Pacific Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration, Police and Auckland Transport...
. He was a researcher for the party from 2002 to 2004 and was the national campaign manager prior to the 2005 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...
and the national Party Development Co-ordinator afterwards. Following the death of 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....
, Norman put his name forward as a contender for the male co-leader position. He won the position on 3 June 2006 at the annual meeting, beating Tanczos, David Clendon
David Clendon
David James Clendon is a New Zealand politician and member of the Green Party. Following the resignation of Sue Bradford, Clendon became a Member of the New Zealand Parliament on 2 November 2009.-Personal life:...
and former MP Mike Ward
Mike Ward (New Zealand)
Mike Ward JP is a Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand politician. He was an MP for one term from 2002-2005. He was co-leader of the Values Party from 1985 to 1988...
in a STV
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
vote by delegates from electorates around the country.
Member of Parliament
In the 2002 electionsNew 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...
, Norman contested the Rimutaka electorate, where he placed fourth. He was ranked seventeenth on the Green Party list. In the 2005 elections
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...
, he did not contest an electorate, but was ranked tenth on the Green Party
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...
list. On 27 June 2008 Norman was declared elected to parliament when Tanczos resigned after Ward and Catherine Delahunty
Catherine Delahunty
Catherine Delahunty is a current New Zealand MP representing the Green Party who was first elected to parliament in 2008. she is the Green Party spokesperson on Education, Forestry, Treaty of Waitangi, Civil Defence, Disability Issues, Women's Affairs, Arts & Culture; and associate spokesperson on...
, who were above Norman on the party list, agreed to stand aside. 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...
Norman stood in the Rongotai electorate
Rongotai (New Zealand electorate)
Rongotai is a New Zealand electorate, returning a single member to the New Zealand House of Representatitves. The current MP for Rongotai is Annette King, of the Labour Party. She has held this position since 1996.-Description:...
against senior 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....
Cabinet Minister Annette King
Annette King
Annette Faye King is a New Zealand politician. She is the current Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the New Zealand. She was a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand.-Early life:...
. He placed third in the electorate, but was second on his party's list, and so was returned to parliament.
Norman stood as the Green Party's candidate for the Mount Albert by-election
Mount Albert by-election, 2009
A by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Mount Albert on 13 June 2009. There were fifteen candidates in the election. David Shearer of the Labour Party won the election with 63% of the vote...
in 2009, following the resignation of Prime Minister Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
. Norman came third with 12.09% of the vote.
In June 2010, Norman claimed he was assaulted by Chinese security staff when he protested against a visiting Chinese delegation of the Vice President Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is a high ranking politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as the top-ranking member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, the country's Vice President, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the Central Party School and the...
with a Tibetan snow lion flag. Norman lodged a complaint of assault with the New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
and the Speaker of the House
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
, but police didn't find enough evidence to substantiate his claims.
External links
- Russel Norman at frogblog
- Profile at the Green Party of Aotearoa New ZealandGreen Party of Aotearoa New ZealandThe 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...
- Announcement of winning co-leadership, 3 June 2006