Gerry Brownlee
Encyclopedia
Gerard Anthony "Gerry" Brownlee (born 1956) is a New Zealand politician. He served from 17 November 2003 to 27 November 2006 as deputy-leader of the National Party
– during that period the second-largest party in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus forming the core of the Opposition
. In November 2008 he became a senior front-bench Minister in John Key
's coalition cabinet.
, Brownlee has lived there ever since. After leaving high school, he worked in his family's timber business, and received training in carpentry
. Later he qualified as a teacher. He then taught woodwork and crafts at high-school level at Ellesmere College
, and later at St Bede's College
(which he himself had attended as a pupil). At St Bede's he taught woodwork and graphics.
, Brownlee stood as the National Party candidate in the Sydenham
electorate, where he campaigned – unsuccessfully – against Jim Anderton
of the newly formed Alliance
. In the 1996 elections
he contested the nearby seat of Ilam
, and won by a comfortable margin. He has remained the MP for Ilam since that point, although his majority declined until making a strong recovery in the 2005 election
.
and as its spokesperson on superannuation, energy, transport, local government, and the ACC
.
campaign when during a private closed meeting he ejected an elderly protester from a platform containing several National Party candidates. The ejection took place with what many, including watching media-representatives, considered excessive force. The protester brought charges against Brownlee, seeking damages of $60,000. After a brief trial the Court ordered Brownlee to pay the protester $8,500 in damages.
and Scoop columnist Paulo Politico considered Brownlee a potential challenger to the party leadership of Bill English
(2001–2003), as he had run for the deputy leadership position against English in early 2001. Eventually, on 28 October 2003, however, English gave way to Don Brash
, a former governor of the Reserve Bank
. Brownlee then featured high on the list of potential deputy-leaders, but he declined to pursue the position, and on 28 October 2003 Nick Smith
became Brash's deputy.
Shortly after his selection, however, Smith opted to take two weeks of stress
-leave, saying that the protracted leadership disputes had exhausted him. When Smith returned to Parliament, Brownlee challenged him for the deputy-leadership. Informed of the challenge, Smith resigned, and on 17 November 2003 Brownlee won the caucus vote unopposed. (For an alternative version of events, see Nick Smith
.) Initially, Smith alleged that while he was on stress-leave; “a campaign to oust me was conducted in the media while I was under the leader's instructions to make no comment”. Audrey Young wrote in the New Zealand Herald that Brownlee and Murray McCully
were rumoured to have been behind the campaign to oust Smith as deputy leader.
After becoming a deputy leader, Brownlee continued his confrontational and colourful style of political debate. Following the controversy surrounding Brash's Orewa speech
of 27 January 2004, Brownlee became the National Party's spokesman for Maori Affairs in place of Georgina Te Heuheu
, who resigned from the position after refusing to endorse party-leader Brash's comments. Brownlee's approach to this portfolio involved criticising the government's policies regarding perceived special treatment for Māori, an issue at the core of National's 2005 election
manifesto.
After the resignation of former National Party Leader of the Opposition Don Brash
(27 November 2006), internal party discussion apparently ensued over the post of deputy parliamentary party leader. Bill English
, Simon Power
and Judith Collins
all appeared to aspire to the position.
On 26 November 2006 Brownlee announced that he would step aside as Deputy Leader. A special National Party caucus meeting confirmed the proposed new hierarchy the following day. On 1 December 2006 John Key
confirmed Brownlee as the third-ranked National Party MP with responsibility for Energy, SOEs, and State Services
; the Shadow Leader of the House, and the chair the National Party's Strategy Committee.
, Governor General of New Zealand, swore Brownlee in the Ministerial portfolios of Economic Development, Energy and Resources, and also as Associate Minister for the Rugby World Cup
. Brownlee also became the Leader of the House
, making him responsible for the schedule of Government business, allocating time for non-governmental and opposition business to be presented to the house and announcing the Business Statement for the Parliamentary sitting dates to the house and its members.
In August 2009, Brownlee was criticised by Forest and Bird Spokesperson Kevin Hackwell for playing down government considerations to possibly mine Conservation estate land. Mr Hackwell was reported as stating that "If the Government's to go down this line they could be buying a fight with the people of the Coromandel, with the people of New Zealand generally, who have put these areas aside and want them protected for their conservation values". There were signs within the New Zealand mining industry that the move would be welcomed if the considerations were carried out. In early December 2009, a leaked document showed that there were considerations to remove part of the conservation status of Mount Aspiring National Park
for mining purposes. The result of the controversy was that the government decided not to explore considerations amongst significant debate on the issue in the House, in submissions to the Select Committees and within the National Party
's own parliamentary caucus. On the withdrawal Brownlee stated "I suspect few New Zealanders knew the country had such considerable mineral potential before we undertook this process, and I get a sense that New Zealanders are now much more aware of that potential". He went on that it might contribute to economic growth and further stated that "New Zealanders have given the minerals sector a clear mandate to go and explore that land, and where appropriate, within the constraints of the resource consent process, utilise its mineral resources for everyone's benefit". An additional announcement from Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson
pronounced that future National Park land would receive protections, stating that, "This is an added layer of protection for New Zealand's most highly valued conservation land..."
After the Canterbury Earthquake
of 4 September 2010, Brownlee, due to his position as his Party's only Electorate MP in Christchurch, was appointed Earthquake Recovery Minister on 7 September 2010. On 14 September 2010, Brownlee introduced the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill into the house with leave to pass the legislation in one sitting. This Bill was passed by the time the House adjourned at 10.02 pm.
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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:...
– during that period the second-largest party in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus forming the core of the Opposition
Official Opposition (New Zealand)
The Official Opposition in New Zealand is usually the largest political party or coalition which is not a member of the ruling government. This means that the political party, while still involved with the political process in New Zealand, they do not have ministers or their supporters in a...
. In November 2008 he became a senior front-bench Minister in 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....
's coalition cabinet.
Personal biography
Born in ChristchurchChristchurch
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...
, Brownlee has lived there ever since. After leaving high school, he worked in his family's timber business, and received training in carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
. Later he qualified as a teacher. He then taught woodwork and crafts at high-school level at Ellesmere College
Ellesmere College (New Zealand)
Ellesmere College is a co-educational high school, located in Leeston, Ellesmere in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand, with more than 500 students ranging from ages eleven to seventeen. It aims to provide students with a range of learning experiences, aiming to make its students good...
, and later at St Bede's College
St Bede's College, Christchurch
St. Bede's College is a Roman Catholic day and boarding school in Christchurch, New Zealand for boys aged 13 to 18 . St. Bede's is the oldest Roman Catholic Boys' College in New Zealand's South Island. It is also the only Catholic day and boarding college for boys in New Zealand's South Island....
(which he himself had attended as a pupil). At St Bede's he taught woodwork and graphics.
Member of Parliament
In the 1993 electionsNew 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...
, Brownlee stood as the National Party candidate in the Sydenham
Sydenham (New Zealand electorate)
Sydenham was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1881 to 1890 and again from 1946 to 1996. It had notable politicians representing it like Mabel Howard , Norman Kirk and Jim Anderton .This...
electorate, where he campaigned – unsuccessfully – against Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton
James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest...
of the newly formed 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...
. 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 contested the nearby seat of Ilam
Ilam (New Zealand electorate)
Ilam is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. Formed for the , it has always been held by Gerry Brownlee MP.-Population centres:Ilam is considered a safe National seat. The electorate includes the suburbs of Riccarton , Upper Riccarton, Fendalton, Burnside, Avonhead, Merivale, Bishopdale, Ilam,...
, and won by a comfortable margin. He has remained the MP for Ilam since that point, although his majority declined until making a strong recovery 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...
.
Junior Parliamentary Whip
In Parliament, Brownlee has served as the National Party's Junior WhipWhip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
and as its spokesperson on superannuation, energy, transport, local government, and the ACC
Accident Compensation Corporation
The Accident Compensation Corporation is a New Zealand Crown entity responsible for administering the Accident Compensation Act 2001. The Act provides support to citizens, residents, and temporary visitors who have suffered personal injuries....
.
Alleged assault
Brownlee received criticism during the 1999 electionNew 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...
campaign when during a private closed meeting he ejected an elderly protester from a platform containing several National Party candidates. The ejection took place with what many, including watching media-representatives, considered excessive force. The protester brought charges against Brownlee, seeking damages of $60,000. After a brief trial the Court ordered Brownlee to pay the protester $8,500 in damages.
In Opposition
In 2003, Phil GoffPhil Goff
Philip Bruce Goff is the current Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. During the Fifth Labour Government, he served in a number of ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Defence of New Zealand, Minister of Corrections, Minister of Foreign Affairs and...
and Scoop columnist Paulo Politico considered Brownlee a potential challenger to the party leadership of Bill English
Bill English
Simon William "Bill" English is the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure of New Zealand.English entered parliament in 1990 as a National party MP representing the Wallace electorate...
(2001–2003), as he had run for the deputy leadership position against English in early 2001. Eventually, on 28 October 2003, however, English gave way to Don Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
, a former governor of the Reserve Bank
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is the central bank of New Zealand and is constituted under the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989. The Governor of the Reserve Bank is responsible for New Zealand's currency and operating monetary policy. The Bank's current Governor is Dr. Alan Bollard...
. Brownlee then featured high on the list of potential deputy-leaders, but he declined to pursue the position, and on 28 October 2003 Nick Smith
Nick Smith (New Zealand)
Nicolas Rex "Nick" Smith is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand Parliament as a National Party MP...
became Brash's deputy.
Shortly after his selection, however, Smith opted to take two weeks of stress
Stress (medicine)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
-leave, saying that the protracted leadership disputes had exhausted him. When Smith returned to Parliament, Brownlee challenged him for the deputy-leadership. Informed of the challenge, Smith resigned, and on 17 November 2003 Brownlee won the caucus vote unopposed. (For an alternative version of events, see Nick Smith
Nick Smith (New Zealand)
Nicolas Rex "Nick" Smith is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand Parliament as a National Party MP...
.) Initially, Smith alleged that while he was on stress-leave; “a campaign to oust me was conducted in the media while I was under the leader's instructions to make no comment”. Audrey Young wrote in the New Zealand Herald that Brownlee and Murray McCully
Murray McCully
Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
were rumoured to have been behind the campaign to oust Smith as deputy leader.
After becoming a deputy leader, Brownlee continued his confrontational and colourful style of political debate. Following the controversy surrounding Brash's Orewa speech
Orewa Speech
The Orewa Speech was a speech delivered by the then-leader of the New Zealand National Party Don Brash to the Orewa Rotary Club on 27 January 2004. It addressed the theme of race relations in New Zealand and in particular the special status of Māori people...
of 27 January 2004, Brownlee became the National Party's spokesman for Maori Affairs in place of Georgina Te Heuheu
Georgina Te Heuheu
Georgina Manunui te Heuheu QSO is a Māori descent of Tūhoe, Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa and Ngāti Awa. MP in the New Zealand National Party and a Cabinet Minister in the New Zealand Government.-Early life:...
, who resigned from the position after refusing to endorse party-leader Brash's comments. Brownlee's approach to this portfolio involved criticising the government's policies regarding perceived special treatment for Māori, an issue at the core of National's 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...
manifesto.
After the resignation of former National Party Leader of the Opposition Don Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
(27 November 2006), internal party discussion apparently ensued over the post of deputy parliamentary party leader. Bill English
Bill English
Simon William "Bill" English is the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure of New Zealand.English entered parliament in 1990 as a National party MP representing the Wallace electorate...
, Simon Power
Simon Power
Simon James Power is a New Zealand politician. He is a prominent member of the National Party and a cabinet minister. He currently holds the posts of Minister of Justice, Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Minister of Commerce, Minister Responsible for the Law Commission andAssociate Minister...
and Judith Collins
Judith Collins
Judith Anne Collins is a New Zealand National Party politician and a lawyer. She is a front bench Cabinet minister with the portfolios of Police, Corrections and Veterans' Affairs in the Fifth National Government....
all appeared to aspire to the position.
On 26 November 2006 Brownlee announced that he would step aside as Deputy Leader. A special National Party caucus meeting confirmed the proposed new hierarchy the following day. On 1 December 2006 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....
confirmed Brownlee as the third-ranked National Party MP with responsibility for Energy, SOEs, and State Services
State sector organisations in New Zealand
Public sector organisations in New Zealand include the State sector plus the organisations of local government.Within the State sector lies the State services, and within this, lies the core Public service....
; the Shadow Leader of the House, and the chair the National Party's Strategy Committee.
Return to office
On 19 November 2008, Sir Anand SatyanandAnand Satyanand
Sir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO, KStJ was the 19th Governor-General of New Zealand. He previously worked as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman.-Early life and family:...
, Governor General of New Zealand, swore Brownlee in the Ministerial portfolios of Economic Development, Energy and Resources, and also as Associate Minister for the Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
. Brownlee also became the Leader of the House
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
, making him responsible for the schedule of Government business, allocating time for non-governmental and opposition business to be presented to the house and announcing the Business Statement for the Parliamentary sitting dates to the house and its members.
In August 2009, Brownlee was criticised by Forest and Bird Spokesperson Kevin Hackwell for playing down government considerations to possibly mine Conservation estate land. Mr Hackwell was reported as stating that "If the Government's to go down this line they could be buying a fight with the people of the Coromandel, with the people of New Zealand generally, who have put these areas aside and want them protected for their conservation values". There were signs within the New Zealand mining industry that the move would be welcomed if the considerations were carried out. In early December 2009, a leaked document showed that there were considerations to remove part of the conservation status of Mount Aspiring National Park
Mount Aspiring National Park
Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, north of Fiordland National Park, and between Otago and south Westland. The park forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.-Geography:...
for mining purposes. The result of the controversy was that the government decided not to explore considerations amongst significant debate on the issue in the House, in submissions to the Select Committees and within 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:...
's own parliamentary caucus. On the withdrawal Brownlee stated "I suspect few New Zealanders knew the country had such considerable mineral potential before we undertook this process, and I get a sense that New Zealanders are now much more aware of that potential". He went on that it might contribute to economic growth and further stated that "New Zealanders have given the minerals sector a clear mandate to go and explore that land, and where appropriate, within the constraints of the resource consent process, utilise its mineral resources for everyone's benefit". An additional announcement from Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson
Kate Wilkinson
Kate Wilkinson was an American stage, film and television actress, best known for her roles as Viola Stapleton in the CBS soap opera Guiding Light, a role she played from 1976 to 1981, and Clara Hudson on the NBC soap opera Another World, which she played from 1987 to 1989.In addition to...
pronounced that future National Park land would receive protections, stating that, "This is an added layer of protection for New Zealand's most highly valued conservation land..."
After the Canterbury Earthquake
2010 Canterbury earthquake
The 2010 Canterbury earthquake was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 4:35 am on local time ....
of 4 September 2010, Brownlee, due to his position as his Party's only Electorate MP in Christchurch, was appointed Earthquake Recovery Minister on 7 September 2010. On 14 September 2010, Brownlee introduced the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill into the house with leave to pass the legislation in one sitting. This Bill was passed by the time the House adjourned at 10.02 pm.
External links
- Profile at National party
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