Brian Neeson
Encyclopedia
Brian Kevin Neeson is a New Zealand
politician. He was an MP from 1990 to 2002, representing the National Party
, and a member of the Waitemata District Health Board from 2004 - 2010.
, South Africa
, and came to New Zealand when six years old. He worked in a number of jobs, having owned a restaurant and retail meat business and worked as a real estate
consultant and property developer. He later managed a private investment company.
electorates in his career, with frequent boundary changes meaning that he never ran in any electorate as an incumbent
. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 election
as MP for the Te Atatu
seat, and in the 1993 elections
, he successfully contested the Waitakere
seat. In the 1996 elections
, he successfully contested the Waipareira
seat, and in the 1999 elections
, he contested the Waitakere
seat once again.
In the 2002 elections
, he sought the National Party nomination for the new seat of Helensville
, which had absorbed most of the Waitakere electorate. However, he was controversially defeated for selection by John Key
, a new candidate. Neeson considered his non-selection to be a betrayal, believing that National Party president Michelle Boag had deliberately engineered his defeat in order to further her "rejuvenation" of the party. Neeson quit the National Party and stood as an independent, but placed third.
. The appointment was criticised by the gay community and by Labour MP Grant Robertson
due to Neeson's record of voting against gay rights while an MP.
In 2010 Neeson was elected to the Upper Harbour Local Board of the new Auckland Council
, as well as the Waitakere Licensing Trust. He also ran for the Auckland Council, placing 10th in the Albany ward with 4,911 votes.
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. He was an MP from 1990 to 2002, representing 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:...
, and a member of the Waitemata District Health Board from 2004 - 2010.
Early life
Neeson was born in DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and came to New Zealand when six years old. He worked in a number of jobs, having owned a restaurant and retail meat business and worked as a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
consultant and property developer. He later managed a private investment company.
Political career
Neeson represented a number of West AucklandAuckland
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...
electorates in his career, with frequent boundary changes meaning that he never ran in any electorate as an incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 election
New Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
as MP for the Te Atatu
Te Atatu (New Zealand electorate)
rightTe Atatū is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Te Atatū is Chris Carter, who is formerly of the Labour Party, but is currently an Independent MP...
seat, and in the 1993 elections
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...
, he successfully contested the Waitakere
Waitakere (New Zealand electorate)
Waitakere is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Waitakere is Paula Bennett of the National Party. She has held this position since the 2008 election....
seat. In the 1996 elections
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...
, he successfully contested the Waipareira
Waipareira
Waipareira is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in West Auckland, which existed only from 1996 to 1999, and was held by Brian Neeson.-Population centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Te Atatu Peninsula* Massey...
seat, and in the 1999 elections
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...
, he contested the Waitakere
Waitakere (New Zealand electorate)
Waitakere is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Waitakere is Paula Bennett of the National Party. She has held this position since the 2008 election....
seat once again.
In the 2002 elections
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...
, he sought the National Party nomination for the new seat of Helensville
Helensville (New Zealand electorate)
Helensville is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Helensville is John Key, leader of the National Party and Prime Minister of New Zealand. He has held this electorate since 2002...
, which had absorbed most of the Waitakere electorate. However, he was controversially defeated for selection 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....
, a new candidate. Neeson considered his non-selection to be a betrayal, believing that National Party president Michelle Boag had deliberately engineered his defeat in order to further her "rejuvenation" of the party. Neeson quit the National Party and stood as an independent, but placed third.
After politics
In December 2009 Neeson was appointed to the Human Rights Review TribunalHuman Rights Review Tribunal
Human Rights Review TribunalThe Human Rights Review Tribunal is a statutorily established institution fundamental to the application, determination and up holding of Human Rights in New Zealand. The tribunal is established under the New Zealand Human Rights Act 1993...
. The appointment was criticised by the gay community and by Labour MP Grant Robertson
Grant Robertson
Grant Robertson is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament. He was elected to represent the Labour Party in the seat of Wellington Central at the 2008 general election. Robertson replaced Marian Hobbs, who had retired....
due to Neeson's record of voting against gay rights while an MP.
In 2010 Neeson was elected to the Upper Harbour Local Board of the new Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
, as well as the Waitakere Licensing Trust. He also ran for the Auckland Council, placing 10th in the Albany ward with 4,911 votes.