Darien Fenton
Encyclopedia
Darien Fenton is a New Zealand
politician
and Member of
Parliament
.
, was a Labour
MP for New Plymouth
from 1938 – 1943.
Fenton grew up in a Palmerston North
state house. The New Zealand Heralds
Kevin Taylor described Fenton as having the "most varied CV of any newcomer to Parliament", being active in the trade union
movement. She held the offices of National Secretary of the Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota (SFWU)
, and vice president of the Council of Trade Unions
. She is also the Vice President of the Labour Party Union Affiliates Council.
in the 2005 election
, being ranked 43rd, and was elected to Parliament
.
In 2006, her Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill, which extended the minimum wage
to contractors, was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill was sent to select committee, but the committee could not reach agreement on whether it should be passed. It was subsequently voted down by the National coalition government
after the 2008 election.
In the 2008 election
she stood unsuccessfully against National Party
leader John Key
in Helensville
. Due to her place of 33 on the Labour list, she was returned to parliament.
In 2009 Fenton's Employment Relations (Statutory Minimum Redundancy Entitlements) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. It was defeated at its first reading in May 2010.
In 2011, Fenton received public backlash when she commented on Sir Peter Leitch (known as The Mad Butcher for his chain of butchery shops) after he publicly stated he supported Prime Minister John Key. Fenton stated she would "never go near him again" and would refuse to buy anything from his stores. Fenton later apologised for her comments on the Labour Party blog.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Member of
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
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...
.
Personal life and early career
Fenton's grandfather, Fred FrostFrederick Frost
Rev Frederick Ledger Frost was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the New Plymouth electorate from the 1938 general election to 1943, when he was defeated by the National candidate, Rev Ernest Aderman, who was also a Christian minister.Frost was born in Northumberland,...
, was a 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....
MP for New Plymouth
New Plymouth (New Zealand electorate)
New Plymouth is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It was first created for the 1st New Zealand Parliament in 1853 and has existed since, with one 22-year interruption...
from 1938 – 1943.
Fenton grew up in a Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
state house. The New Zealand Heralds
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
Kevin Taylor described Fenton as having the "most varied CV of any newcomer to Parliament", being active in the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement. She held the offices of National Secretary of the Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota (SFWU)
Service & Food Workers Union
The Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota is a trade union in New Zealand. It is affiliated with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.The SFWU is organised into five industry sectors:*Age Care, Disability, Health & Community Services...
, and vice president of the Council of Trade Unions
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions is a national trade union center in New Zealand. The NZCTU represents 360,000 workers, and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand....
. She is also the Vice President of the Labour Party Union Affiliates Council.
Member of Parliament
Fenton stood as a list candidate for the Labour PartyNew 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....
in 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...
, being ranked 43rd, and was elected to 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...
.
In 2006, her Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill, which extended the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
to contractors, was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill was sent to select committee, but the committee could not reach agreement on whether it should be passed. It was subsequently voted down by the National coalition government
Fifth National Government of New Zealand
The Fifth National Government of New Zealand is the current government of New Zealand. It is led by Prime Minister John Key.After the 2008 general election the National Party and its allies were able to form a government, taking over from Helen Clark's Fifth Labour Government. The National party...
after the 2008 election.
In the 2008 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...
she stood unsuccessfully against 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:...
leader 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....
in 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...
. Due to her place of 33 on the Labour list, she was returned to parliament.
In 2009 Fenton's Employment Relations (Statutory Minimum Redundancy Entitlements) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. It was defeated at its first reading in May 2010.
In 2011, Fenton received public backlash when she commented on Sir Peter Leitch (known as The Mad Butcher for his chain of butchery shops) after he publicly stated he supported Prime Minister John Key. Fenton stated she would "never go near him again" and would refuse to buy anything from his stores. Fenton later apologised for her comments on the Labour Party blog.
External links
- Official website
- Biography at New Zealand Parliament