Metiria Turei
Encyclopedia
Metiria Leanne Agnes Stanton Turei (born 1970) is a New Zealand member of Parliament and the female co-leader of the Green Party
.
she is the Green Party spokesperson on Social Equity, Electoral Reform, Māori and Treaty Issues, Housing and Children.
in the 1993 election
and for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
in the 1996 election
. She joined the Green Party in 2002 and was elected as co-leader at the Green Party AGM
on 30 May 2009. She has one daughter, and a partner; Warwick Stanton.
, the Green Party
received 7.00% of the vote, which allowed them 9 seats in Parliament
. Turei, standing in , was ranked 8th on the Green Party's party list
, and so entered Parliament as a list MP. When she was elected, Metiria left her job as a corporate lawyer for Simpson Grierson
to become a Member of Parliament.
She retained her place in Parliament at number 6th on the Greens' list in the 2005 election
when she stood in .
In 2006, Turei's Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill received a conscience vote at its first reading, but was defeated 84–34. Later that year, her Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill was also drawn, but it too was defeated.
In 2008
she was ranked 4th on the Green Party's list and stood in the Dunedin North
electorate. She lost the election in Dunedin North
to Labour's Pete Hodgson
, finishing third with 11.09% of the vote. However she returned to parliament due to her high ranking on the Green Party list.
On 30 May 2009 Turei was elected as the fourth co-leader (second female) of the Green Party. In line with Green Party policy
, there must be both a male and a female co-leader. She was elected ahead of Sue Bradford
, a veteran MP, who had passed three private member's bill
s by then.
In July 2009 Turei's Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill, which would strengthen protection for dolphins and other marine mammals, was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill was defeated at its first reading later that month.
In September 2009 Turei led the Green campaign opposing the government's plans to allow mining in New Zealand's national parks
. Her Crown Minerals (Protection of Public Conservation Land Listed in the Fourth Schedule) Amendment Bill, which aims to strengthen the protection for national parks, was drawn from the member's ballot in April 2010.
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
.
she is the Green Party spokesperson on Social Equity, Electoral Reform, Māori and Treaty Issues, Housing and Children.
Early years
Between 1989–1991, Metiria was the Tumuaki o Te Iwi Maori Rawakore o Aotearoa and involved with Te Roopu Rawakore o Aotearoa. Metiria was a founding member of the Random Trollops performance art troupe. She was a candidate for the McGillicuddy Serious PartyMcGillicuddy Serious Party
The McGillicuddy Serious Party operated as a satirical political party in New Zealand politics during the late 20th century. Between 1984 and 1999, McGillicuddy Serious provided "colour" to New Zealand politics to ensure that citizens not take the political process too seriously...
in the 1993 election
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...
and for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party is a political party in New Zealand. It is dedicated to removing or reducing restrictions on the use of cannabis and similar substances...
in the 1996 election
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...
. She joined the Green Party in 2002 and was elected as co-leader at the Green Party AGM
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
on 30 May 2009. She has one daughter, and a partner; Warwick Stanton.
Member of Parliament
In the 2002 general electionNew 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...
, the Green Party
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
received 7.00% of the vote, which allowed them 9 seats in 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...
. Turei, standing in , was ranked 8th on the Green Party's party list
Party-list proportional representation
Party-list proportional representation systems are a family of voting systems emphasizing proportional representation in elections in which multiple candidates are elected...
, and so entered Parliament as a list MP. When she was elected, Metiria left her job as a corporate lawyer for Simpson Grierson
Simpson Grierson
Simpson Grierson is a New Zealand commercial law firm founded in 1887; it is ranked in the top four firms in that country. The firm is a partnership comprising 48 partners and consultants supported by around 160 lawyers and legal executives in four departments...
to become a Member of Parliament.
She retained her place in Parliament at number 6th on the Greens' list 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...
when she stood in .
In 2006, Turei's Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill received a conscience vote at its first reading, but was defeated 84–34. Later that year, her Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill was also drawn, but it too was defeated.
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 was ranked 4th on the Green Party's list and stood in the Dunedin North
Dunedin North (New Zealand electorate)
Dunedin North is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. It was established for the 1905 election and has existed since....
electorate. She lost the election in Dunedin North
Dunedin North (New Zealand electorate)
Dunedin North is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. It was established for the 1905 election and has existed since....
to Labour's Pete Hodgson
Pete Hodgson
Peter Colin Hodgson is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party.Hodgson was born in Whangarei, and received a Bachelor's degree in veterinary science from Massey University...
, finishing third with 11.09% of the vote. However she returned to parliament due to her high ranking on the Green Party list.
On 30 May 2009 Turei was elected as the fourth co-leader (second female) of the Green Party. In line with Green Party policy
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
, there must be both a male and a female co-leader. She was elected ahead of Sue Bradford
Sue Bradford
Sue Bradford is a New Zealand politician who served as a list Member of Parliament representing the Green Party from 1999 to 2009.- Early life :...
, a veteran MP, who had passed three private member's bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
s by then.
In July 2009 Turei's Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill, which would strengthen protection for dolphins and other marine mammals, was drawn from the member's ballot. The bill was defeated at its first reading later that month.
In September 2009 Turei led the Green campaign opposing the government's plans to allow mining in New Zealand's national parks
National parks of New Zealand
The national parks of New Zealand are 14 protected areas administered by the Department of Conservation "for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public". These are popular tourist destinations, with three-tenths of tourists visiting at least one national park during their stay in New Zealand...
. Her Crown Minerals (Protection of Public Conservation Land Listed in the Fourth Schedule) Amendment Bill, which aims to strengthen the protection for national parks, was drawn from the member's ballot in April 2010.
External links
- Profile at Green Party