Margaret Wilson
Encyclopedia
Dame Margaret Wilson DCNZM
(born 20 May 1947) is a New Zealand academic and former politician. She was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
during the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
. She is a member of the Labour Party
.
, Wilson received her secondary education at St Dominic's College, Northcote
. She graduated LLB (honours) from the University of Auckland
. She has worked as a lawyer, a Professor of Law and Dean at the University of Waikato
, and a trade unionist. From 1984 to 1987, she was president of the Labour Party, and from 1989 to 1990, she worked as chief political advisor to the Prime Minister, Geoffrey Palmer. She has also served on the Law Commission, and was appointed as a director of the Reserve Bank
.
, and immediately gained election to Cabinet
. Her portfolios included those of Attorney-General
and Minister of Labour. She remained a list MP after the 2002 elections
, serving as Attorney-General, Minister of Commerce, Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi
Negotiations, Associate Minister for Courts, and Associate Minister of Justice.
Labour Government announced that they would nominate Wilson for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives
, a position which would become vacant with the pending retirement of Jonathan Hunt
. Previous speculation had focused on Mark Burton
, the Minister of Defence. On 3 March 2005, Parliament elected Wilson as their new Speaker over candidacies by Clem Simich
from the New Zealand National Party
and Ken Shirley
from the ACT Party. Wilson became New Zealand's first female speaker. After the 2005 elections, she was re-elected to the position unopposed.
Her style was noticeably different from her predecessor Jonathan Hunt
. In July 2006, National attempted a vote of no confidence in Wilson, after she refused to send a report on Labour MP Taito Phillip Field
to the Privileges Committee, but Labour blocked the move. The most serious challenge to her authority as speaker came on 26 August 2008, when Act leader Rodney Hide
initially refused her order to leave the debating chamber – "I actually won't go now, Madam Speaker.". She told him to "think carefully", and applied to have Hide named after he left.
Wilson announced in February 2008 that she would not be standing for re-election in 2008
, and was considering "academia" rather than a diplomatic posting. She finished by closing the 48th Parliament.
, and opponents often painted her as Labour's most "politically correct
" minister. She was the Minister responsible for the introduction of the new Supreme Court
, which was controversial at the time, as well as changing the law on dividing property between partners after a separation, known now as relationship property law.
as New Zealand's fifth law school in 1990. She was its first Professor of law and founding Dean (1990–1999) before becoming a Member of Parliament. After leaving Parliament, she resumed her academic career at the Waikato University law school, being appointed Professor of Law and Public Policy (2009).
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 20 May 1947) is a New Zealand academic and former politician. She was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
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...
during the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand between 10 December 1999 and 19 November 2008.-Overview:The fourth National government, in power since 1990, was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms,...
. She is a member of the Labour Party
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....
.
Early life
Born in GisborneGisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
, Wilson received her secondary education at St Dominic's College, Northcote
St Dominic's College, Henderson
St Dominic's College, Henderson is an integrated college for girls in Year 7 to Year 13 located in Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand. The College was founded by the Dominican Sisters in 1952 in Northcote, Auckland. The school was transferred to Henderson in 1967...
. She graduated LLB (honours) from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
. She has worked as a lawyer, a Professor of Law and Dean at the University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
, and a trade unionist. From 1984 to 1987, she was president of the Labour Party, and from 1989 to 1990, she worked as chief political advisor to the Prime Minister, Geoffrey Palmer. She has also served on the Law Commission, and was appointed as a director 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...
.
Member of Parliament
Wilson entered Parliament as a list MP in the 1999 electionsNew 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...
, and immediately gained election to Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
. Her portfolios included those of Attorney-General
Attorney-General (New Zealand)
The Attorney-General is a political office in New Zealand. It is simultaneously a ministerial position and an administrative office, and has responsibility for supervising New Zealand law and advising the government on legal matters...
and Minister of Labour. She remained a list MP after 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...
, serving as Attorney-General, Minister of Commerce, Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
Negotiations, Associate Minister for Courts, and Associate Minister of Justice.
Speaker of the House
In December 2004, the ClarkHelen 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...
Labour Government announced that they would nominate Wilson for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives
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...
, a position which would become vacant with the pending retirement of Jonathan Hunt
Jonathan Hunt (New Zealand)
Jonathan Lucas Hunt, ONZ is a New Zealand politician, and was New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2005 to March 2008. He formerly served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was until recently the longest-serving MP...
. Previous speculation had focused on Mark Burton
Mark Burton
Richard Mark Burton is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party. He served as Minister of Defence; Minister of Justice; Minister of Local Government; Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations; Deputy Leader of the House; and the Minister Responsible for the Law...
, the Minister of Defence. On 3 March 2005, Parliament elected Wilson as their new Speaker over candidacies by Clem Simich
Clem Simich
Clement Rudolph "Clem" Simich or Šimić, QSO is a New Zealand politician for the National Party. He was born in Te Kopuru, Northland on 2 June 1939.-Member of Parliament:...
from the New Zealand 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 Ken Shirley
Ken Shirley
Kenneth Lex Shirley , generally called Ken Shirley, was a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the ACT New Zealand party, although was previously a member and Cabinet minister of the Labour Party.-Member of Parliament:...
from the ACT Party. Wilson became New Zealand's first female speaker. After the 2005 elections, she was re-elected to the position unopposed.
Her style was noticeably different from her predecessor Jonathan Hunt
Jonathan Hunt (New Zealand)
Jonathan Lucas Hunt, ONZ is a New Zealand politician, and was New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2005 to March 2008. He formerly served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was until recently the longest-serving MP...
. In July 2006, National attempted a vote of no confidence in Wilson, after she refused to send a report on Labour MP Taito Phillip Field
Taito Phillip Field
Taito Phillip Hans Field is a Samoan New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament for south Auckland electorates from 1993 to 2008. Field was a minister outside Cabinet in a Labour-led government from 2003 to 2005. Following charges of bribery and perverting the course of justice, he was...
to the Privileges Committee, but Labour blocked the move. The most serious challenge to her authority as speaker came on 26 August 2008, when Act leader Rodney Hide
Rodney Hide
Rodney Hide is a New Zealand politician who was leader of the political party ACT New Zealand from 2004 to 2011. From 2005 to 2011 he represented the electorate of Epsom as its Member of Parliament. Rodney Hide was Minister of Local Government, Associate Minister of Commerce and Minister of...
initially refused her order to leave the debating chamber – "I actually won't go now, Madam Speaker.". She told him to "think carefully", and applied to have Hide named after he left.
Wilson announced in February 2008 that she would not be standing for re-election in 2008
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...
, and was considering "academia" rather than a diplomatic posting. She finished by closing the 48th Parliament.
Political views
Wilson strongly promotes various social causes such as feminism and multiculturalismMulticulturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
, and opponents often painted her as Labour's most "politically correct
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
" minister. She was the Minister responsible for the introduction of the new Supreme Court
Supreme Court of New Zealand
The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court and the court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence on 1 January 2004. The court sat for the first time on 1 July 2004. It replaced the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, based in London...
, which was controversial at the time, as well as changing the law on dividing property between partners after a separation, known now as relationship property law.
Return to Academia
Wilson established the University of Waikato School of LawUniversity of Waikato School of Law
The University of Waikato Faculty of Law was founded in 1990 and is one of seven faculties that make up the University of Waikato. The Faculty is located in the on the south east side of the Hillcrest Campus in Hamilton, which is accessible from Hillcrest Road...
as New Zealand's fifth law school in 1990. She was its first Professor of law and founding Dean (1990–1999) before becoming a Member of Parliament. After leaving Parliament, she resumed her academic career at the Waikato University law school, being appointed Professor of Law and Public Policy (2009).