Laila Harré
Encyclopedia
Laila Jane Harré is a New Zealand
politician and trade unionist. She was a Member of Parliament for the left-wing Alliance
party, and became the party's leader for a brief period after the group experienced a schism in 2002.
. At university, she gained both a Bachelor of Arts
degree in politics and a Bachelor of Laws
degree. After leaving university, she worked for some time as a lawyer
specialising in industrial relations and employment law, developing close links to the trade union movement.
in 1982, representing the youth wing on the party's New Zealand Council. Throughout her seven year membership of the party she was a critic of the policies advanced by Roger Douglas
, who became Minister of Finance
when Labour won the 1984 election
. Douglas, an advocate of free market
economics, introduced a programme of radical reforms (Rogernomics
) which alienated many of Labour's traditional supporters, including Harré.
In 1989, Harré resigned from the Labour Party. She became a founding member of the NewLabour Party
, an organisation led by dissident Labour MP Jim Anderton
. NewLabour later amalgamated with several other parties to form the Alliance
. Harré stood as the Alliance candidate for the Te Atatu
electorate in the 1993 elections
, but was unsuccessful.
, which were held under the new MMP electoral system, Harré was ranked in eighth place on the Alliance list. The Alliance gained a sufficient number of votes for Harré to enter parliament.
After the 1999 elections
, the Alliance formed a coalition government with Labour (which had by then backed away from many of the policies introduced by Douglas). Harré became Minister of Women's Affairs and Minister of Youth Affairs and Associate Minister of Labour and Commerce. She later gained additional responsibilities as Minister of Statistics.
She led the parliamentary campaign for the introduction of paid parental leave from Opposition and as a Minister sponsored the legislation to introduce 12 weeks paid parental leave in 2002. Other causes championed by Harré included legislation protecting the interests of building industry sub-contractors, significant minimum wage increases and the removal of age discrimination in the minimum wage. She re-launched the pay equity debate as Minister of Women's Affairs, and a campaign to increase annual leave from three weeks to four weeks.
In 2002, however, the Alliance began to show signs of internal strain. In particular, some members of the party felt that it was losing its independent political identity and failing to make it clear where the differentiation was between itself and the Labour Party on issues such as free trade, tertiary education funding and other core areas of difference. The decision of Jim Anderton and a majority of Alliance MPs to back New Zealand's involvement in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan brought these tensions to a head, dividing the caucus and from the majority in the non-parliamentary party organisation (led by Matt McCarten
). Harré, however, was aligned to the grass-roots party view, and became its de facto leader in parliament.
The collapse of the Alliance soon became inevitable, with Anderton and his supporters deciding to contest the 2002 elections
as a new party (the Progressives
). Harré, considered to be the foremost of the MPs who remained behind, was chosen to lead what remained of the Alliance into its election campaign, aiming to at least retain a presence in parliament. Harré herself was seen as the party's best chance of keeping a parliamentary seat, having a relatively strong chance of winning the seat of Waitakere
. In the election itself, however, Harré placed second, being defeated by Labour's Lynne Pillay
.
The following year, Harré stepped down as leader of the Alliance, being replaced by Matt McCarten. She is no longer a member of the Alliance or any other political party.
from 2005 to 2009, after which she joined the Auckland Transition Agency.
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 and trade unionist. She was a Member of Parliament for the left-wing 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...
party, and became the party's leader for a brief period after the group experienced a schism in 2002.
Early life
Harré was born in 1966, and was educated in 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...
. At university, she gained both a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in politics and a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree. After leaving university, she worked for some time as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
specialising in industrial relations and employment law, developing close links to the trade union movement.
Political career
Harré joined 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 1982, representing the youth wing on the party's New Zealand Council. Throughout her seven year membership of the party she was a critic of the policies advanced by Roger Douglas
Roger Douglas
Sir Roger Owen Douglas , is a New Zealand politician who formerly served as a senior New Zealand Labour Party Cabinet minister. He became arguably best-known for his prominent role in the radical economic restructuring undertaken by the Fourth Labour Government during the 1980s...
, who became Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
when Labour won the 1984 election
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
. Douglas, an advocate of free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
economics, introduced a programme of radical reforms (Rogernomics
Rogernomics
The term Rogernomics, a portmanteau of "Roger" and "economics", was coined by journalists at the New Zealand Listener by analogy with Reaganomics to describe the economic policies followed by Roger Douglas after his appointment in 1984 as Minister of Finance in the Fourth Labour Government...
) which alienated many of Labour's traditional supporters, including Harré.
In 1989, Harré resigned from the Labour Party. She became a founding member of the NewLabour Party
NewLabour Party (New Zealand)
NewLabour was a left-of-centre party founded in 1989 by Jim Anderton, an MP and former President of the New Zealand Labour Party.NewLabour was established by a number of Labour Party members who left the party in reaction to "Rogernomics", the economic policies implemented by the Labour Party's...
, an organisation led by dissident Labour MP 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...
. NewLabour later amalgamated with several other parties to form the 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...
. Harré stood as the Alliance candidate 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...
electorate 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...
, but was unsuccessful.
Member of Parliament
In the 1996 electionsNew 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...
, which were held under the new MMP electoral system, Harré was ranked in eighth place on the Alliance list. The Alliance gained a sufficient number of votes for Harré to enter parliament.
After 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...
, the Alliance formed a coalition government with Labour (which had by then backed away from many of the policies introduced by Douglas). Harré became Minister of Women's Affairs and Minister of Youth Affairs and Associate Minister of Labour and Commerce. She later gained additional responsibilities as Minister of Statistics.
She led the parliamentary campaign for the introduction of paid parental leave from Opposition and as a Minister sponsored the legislation to introduce 12 weeks paid parental leave in 2002. Other causes championed by Harré included legislation protecting the interests of building industry sub-contractors, significant minimum wage increases and the removal of age discrimination in the minimum wage. She re-launched the pay equity debate as Minister of Women's Affairs, and a campaign to increase annual leave from three weeks to four weeks.
In 2002, however, the Alliance began to show signs of internal strain. In particular, some members of the party felt that it was losing its independent political identity and failing to make it clear where the differentiation was between itself and the Labour Party on issues such as free trade, tertiary education funding and other core areas of difference. The decision of Jim Anderton and a majority of Alliance MPs to back New Zealand's involvement in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan brought these tensions to a head, dividing the caucus and from the majority in the non-parliamentary party organisation (led by Matt McCarten
Matt McCarten
Matthew "Matt" McCarten is a New Zealand political organiser. He has been involved with several leftist or centre-left political parties, and is also active in the trade-union movement...
). Harré, however, was aligned to the grass-roots party view, and became its de facto leader in parliament.
The collapse of the Alliance soon became inevitable, with Anderton and his supporters deciding to contest 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...
as a new party (the Progressives
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
). Harré, considered to be the foremost of the MPs who remained behind, was chosen to lead what remained of the Alliance into its election campaign, aiming to at least retain a presence in parliament. Harré herself was seen as the party's best chance of keeping a parliamentary seat, having a relatively strong chance of winning the seat of Waitakere
Waitakere
Waitakere City was the name of a city which existed from 1989 until 2010 in the Auckland region. It was New Zealand's fifth largest city, with an annual growth of about 2%...
. In the election itself, however, Harré placed second, being defeated by Labour's Lynne Pillay
Lynne Pillay
Barbara Lynne Pillay, known as Lynne Pillay is a New Zealand politician, and member of the Labour Party.- Member of Parliament :...
.
The following year, Harré stepped down as leader of the Alliance, being replaced by Matt McCarten. She is no longer a member of the Alliance or any other political party.
Life after politics
From 2002 to 2005 she led the industrial work of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, including its successful pay equity campaign for public sector nurses. She was General Secretary of the National Distribution UnionNational Distribution Union
The National Distribution Union is a national trade union in New Zealand. It was formed in 1986 as the Northern Distribution Union by the merger of The Northern Drivers Union, The Northern Stores and Warehouse Union, The Auckland and Gisborne Shop Employee Union, and The Northern Butchers and...
from 2005 to 2009, after which she joined the Auckland Transition Agency.