Pansy Wong
Encyclopedia
Pansy Yu Fong Wong (born circa 1955) is a former New Zealand
politician. She was New Zealand's first Asian MP, serving as a member of parliament for the National Party
from 1996 to 2011. She was also New Zealand's first Asian Cabinet Minister, serving as Minister for Ethnic Affairs, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Associate Minister for ACC, and Associate Minister of Energy and Resources in the Fifth National Government
.
Wong resigned from Parliament in January 2011 after misusing her Parliamentary travel perks.
and raised in Hong Kong
. She attended Queen Elizabeth School, Hong Kong
. She emigrated to New Zealand in 1974, and studied commerce at University of Canterbury
in Christchurch
before embarking on a career in business and accounting. Before entering national politics, she served on the Canterbury Regional Council for seven years until 1996 when she entered parliament as a National List MP. She is married to Malaysian-born businessman Sammy Teck Seng Wong. Wong holds a Master of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Canterbury. She is also a New Zealand Senior Scholar and Associated Chartered Accountant, awarded with fellowship status. She speaks English
, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Wu (Shanghainese).
, becoming New Zealand's first ethnically Asian
MP.
She unsuccessfully contested the electorate of Auckland Central in the 2005 election
. During the 48th New Zealand Parliament
she served as National's spokesperson for Commerce and Liaison with Asian New Zealanders and associate spokesperson for Education (International Education), Revenue and Immigration.
She won the new seat of Botany
in the 2008 election
. The Botany electorate included part of the old Clevedon
electorate held by Judith Collins
, her National Party colleague. Collins had originally indicated to seek nomination for the seat of Howick
(which the Electoral Commission later redrew and renamed to Botany following objections to the boundaries to the neighbouring electorate of Pakuranga
), but then stood for the Papakura
seat, which also shared common boundaries with Clevedon. Wong's decision was based partly on the fact that 33% of the Botany electorate is Asian.
On 12 November 2010 Wong resigned as a Minister after misusing her parliamentary travel perks for a trip to China on which her husband conducted private business activities, which is specifically prohibited.
Wong resigned as an MP on 17 January 2011, resulting in the 2011 Botany by-election
.
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. She was New Zealand's first Asian MP, serving as a member of parliament for 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:...
from 1996 to 2011. She was also New Zealand's first Asian Cabinet Minister, serving as Minister for Ethnic Affairs, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Associate Minister for ACC, and Associate Minister of Energy and Resources in the Fifth National 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...
.
Wong resigned from Parliament in January 2011 after misusing her Parliamentary travel perks.
Early life
Wong was born in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and raised in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. She attended Queen Elizabeth School, Hong Kong
Queen Elizabeth School, Hong Kong
Queen Elizabeth School , or QES and QE for short, is the first EMI co-education secondary school founded by the Government of Hong Kong...
. She emigrated to New Zealand in 1974, and studied commerce at University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
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...
before embarking on a career in business and accounting. Before entering national politics, she served on the Canterbury Regional Council for seven years until 1996 when she entered parliament as a National List MP. She is married to Malaysian-born businessman Sammy Teck Seng Wong. Wong holds a Master of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Canterbury. She is also a New Zealand Senior Scholar and Associated Chartered Accountant, awarded with fellowship status. She speaks English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Wu (Shanghainese).
Member of Parliament
Wong was elected to Parliament as a list MP 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...
, becoming New Zealand's first ethnically Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
MP.
She unsuccessfully contested the electorate of Auckland Central 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...
. During the 48th New Zealand Parliament
48th New Zealand Parliament
The 48th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Its composition was determined at a general election held on 17 September 2005. The new parliament met for the first time on 7 November 2005...
she served as National's spokesperson for Commerce and Liaison with Asian New Zealanders and associate spokesperson for Education (International Education), Revenue and Immigration.
She won the new seat of Botany
Botany (New Zealand electorate)
Botany is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. It was contested for the first time at the 2008 general election, and won by Pansy Wong for the National Party...
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...
. The Botany electorate included part of the old Clevedon
Clevedon (New Zealand electorate)
Clevedon was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate from 2002 to 2008.It was held by Judith Collins MP throughout its existence.-Population Centres:...
electorate held by 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....
, her National Party colleague. Collins had originally indicated to seek nomination for the seat of Howick
Howick, New Zealand
Howick is an eastern suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, forming part of what is sometimes called East Auckland. Due to the relatively numerous remaining heritage buildings and other historical remnants from its early European settlement past, it has been called "perhaps Auckland's most historically...
(which the Electoral Commission later redrew and renamed to Botany following objections to the boundaries to the neighbouring electorate of Pakuranga
Pakuranga (New Zealand electorate)
rightPakuranga is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It is currently held by Maurice Williamson MP, a member of the National Party.-Population centres:Pakuranga is one of sixty-three general electorates used in New Zealand general elections...
), but then stood for the Papakura
Papakura
The Papakura District was the name of a local council territory in New Zealand's Auckland Region that existed from 1989 until 2010. The area made up the southernmost part of the Auckland metropolitan area....
seat, which also shared common boundaries with Clevedon. Wong's decision was based partly on the fact that 33% of the Botany electorate is Asian.
On 12 November 2010 Wong resigned as a Minister after misusing her parliamentary travel perks for a trip to China on which her husband conducted private business activities, which is specifically prohibited.
Wong resigned as an MP on 17 January 2011, resulting in the 2011 Botany by-election
Botany by-election, 2011
A by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Botany on 5 March 2011. The seat was vacated by former National Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong, who announced her resignation from the New Zealand Parliament on 14 December 2010 following allegations her husband Sammy has misused taxpayer...
.