Paula Bennett
Encyclopedia
Paula Lee Bennett is a New Zealand politician
and member of parliament for the National Party
. She is a Cabinet
minister with the roles of Minister for Social Development and Employment, Minister for Disability Issues and Minister of Youth Affairs.
, then in 1974 bought the village store at Kinloch
, near Taupo
. Bennett had two older brothers, Stephen and Mark. The latter died in a diving accident at an Indonesian oil rig in 1991. Bennett attended Taupo-nui-a-Tia College in Taupo and left school and went flatting at the age of 16. At 17 she gave birth to a daughter, Ana, and raised her alone.
Bennett moved to Auckland in 1992 where she worked in a rest home, first as a dishwasher
and then as a nurse aide. She began studying social work
at the Albany
campus of Massey University
in 1994. She became the welfare officer of the Massey University at Albany Students' Association
, then, in 1996, the president, which gave her a taste for politics. She dropped the social work component to her course, leaving simply social policy, graduating with just a BA.
, National Party
member of Parliament for East Coast Bays
, until the 1999 general election
. She then worked as a recruitment
consultant for several years and assisted McCully in the 2002 general election
campaign.
In the 2005 general election
Bennett stood – unsuccessfully – as the National Party's candidate for the Waitakere
seat. She nevertheless entered Parliament as a list MP, ranked 45th on the National Party list.
In the 2008 election
, she unseated Waitakere MP Lynne Pillay
, winning the seat with a majority of 632. Bennett was then appointed to Cabinet
as Minister of Social Development and Employment, Minister for Disability Issues, and Minister of Youth Affairs.
For several years she appeared on TV One's Breakfast with friend and Labour MP Darren Hughes
.
In late June 2009 Bennett asked Prime Minister, John Key
, to reassign the Disability Issues portfolio so that she "could focus on the Social Development and Employment position". The post was subsequently given to Minister outside Cabinet and Māori Party
co-leader, Tariana Turia
.
Just six months later Bennett got a name as a feisty Minister after breaking up a fight among brawling teenagers outside her local mall in Henderson in 2009.
Portfolio related:
Job Ops and Community Max programs were introduced by Bennett in August 2009. Job Ops provided a $5,000 subsidy to employers to take on a young person at risk of staying on a benefit for a prolonged period. Community Max provided a subsidy for community group to take on young people to do work programmes locally. Job Ops was pitched largely at urban areas where more employers were available to offer placements and Com Max was pitched more primarily in rural areas with fewer employers, but plenty of community groups and a strong demand for youth to give back to local communities. Both schemes were intended to keep young people in work and engaged in activity during a recession. By 2011 more than 12,000 young people had received a subsided job placement through Job Ops and 5,000 young people had completed a Community Max placement.
The Community Response Fund was announced by Bennett in May 2009 with $104 million for social service providers. It was her flagship social service ‘lifeline’ to help community providers cope with soaring demands in a recession as the usual funding sources were drying up.
In May 2009 Bennett controversially appointed Christine Rankin as a Families Commissioner, prompting an avalanche of negative media publicity focused on Rankin’s relationship with a man who’s wife committed suicide.
In September 2009 the Never Ever Shake a Baby campaign was launched to highlight the dangers of shaking small babies. It was the first of many major public platforms Bennett used to highlight child abuse.
February 2010 – Fresh Start legislation was introduced into Parliament, aimed at the most serious, repeat young offenders. It included the Military Activity Camps which came to be known as ‘boot camps’. The legislation also extended Youth Court jurisdiction to include 12 and 13 year olds accused of serious offences. Previously 12 and 13 year olds were seen in Family Court.
March 2010 – Future Focus changes to the welfare system were introduced by Bennett who instituted a requirement for Domestic Purpose Benefit recipients to look for part time work when their youngest child turned six. Previously there was no work requirement until the youngest child turned 18 years old. Bennett also introduce a requirement for those on an Unemployment Benefit to reapply after one year.
March 2010 – Bennett accepted an Eisenhower fellowship. The prestigious six week Fellowship in the United States of America was awarded to only 20 women around the world who were identified as outstanding leaders.
July 2011 – Green Paper on Children launched in Auckland. The paper focusing on issues surrounding child abuse and protection of children stirred debate and was roundly condemned by opposition parties.
for neglecting to advise him that she had written letters in support of Halaholo during his early incarceration.
In May 2009 Bennett again came under scrutiny for her support of former head of WINZ
, Christine Rankin, for a position with New Zealand Families Commission after it was revealed that Rankin had married her fourth husband only weeks after his late wife's suicide.
In late June 2009 Bennett asked Prime Minister, John Key
, to reassign the Disability Issues portfolio so that she "could focus on the Social Development and Employment position". The post was subsequently given to Minister outside Cabinet and Māori Party
co-leader, Tariana Turia
.
Bennett's actions were described as "disgusting" and "beneficiary bashing" by Sue Bradford
of the Green Party
and "reminiscent of the days when Muldoon
was in power" by Annette King
of the Labour Party
. There has also been considerable criticism of Bennett for abolishing the TIA when she herself had received it when studying for her BA. Both Fuller and Labour
MP Charles Chauvel
said that they would make complaints to the privacy commissioner and Schroff, respectively.
The Privacy Commission have said they're investigating Paula Bennett's actions after receiving a complaint.
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Politics of New Zealand
The politics of New Zealand take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy. The basic system is closely patterned on that of the Westminster System, although a number of significant modifications have been made...
and 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:...
. She is a 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...
minister with the roles of Minister for Social Development and Employment, Minister for Disability Issues and Minister of Youth Affairs.
Early life
Bennett was born in 1969 to Bob Bennett and Lee Bennett, a librarian. She has 1/8th Tainui ancestry through her half-Māori paternal grandmother, Ailsa Bennett. Her father had a flooring business 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...
, then in 1974 bought the village store at Kinloch
Kinloch, New Zealand
Kinloch is a small but growing town on the most northerly bay of Lake Taupo, northwest of Taupo on the North Island Volcanic Plateau of New Zealand. It is in the Waikato Region....
, near Taupo
Taupo
Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
. Bennett had two older brothers, Stephen and Mark. The latter died in a diving accident at an Indonesian oil rig in 1991. Bennett attended Taupo-nui-a-Tia College in Taupo and left school and went flatting at the age of 16. At 17 she gave birth to a daughter, Ana, and raised her alone.
Bennett moved to Auckland in 1992 where she worked in a rest home, first as a dishwasher
Dishwashing
Dish-washing is the process of cleaning cooking utensils, dishes, cutlery and other items. This is either achieved by hand in a sink or using dishwasher and may take place in a kitchen, utility room, scullery or elsewhere...
and then as a nurse aide. She began studying social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
at the Albany
Albany, New Zealand
Albany is a northern suburb of Auckland, one of the several cities in northern New Zealand. The name derives from Alba and its Latinisation. It is located to the north of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre. The suburb is in the Albany ward, one of the...
campus of Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
in 1994. She became the welfare officer of the Massey University at Albany Students' Association
Albany Students' Association
The Albany Students' Association , incorporated in 1998, represents students at Massey University's Auckland Campus in Auckland, New Zealand. The ASA organises student events, publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies...
, then, in 1996, the president, which gave her a taste for politics. She dropped the social work component to her course, leaving simply social policy, graduating with just a BA.
Member of Parliament
After graduating, Bennett worked as an electorate secretary for Murray McCullyMurray 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:...
, 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:...
member of Parliament for East Coast Bays
East Coast Bays (New Zealand electorate)
East Coast Bays is a New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It was first formed in 1972 and has existed apart from a break lasting two parliamentary terms. The electorate is currently held by Murray McCully.-Population centres:...
, until the 1999 general election
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...
. She then worked as a recruitment
Recruitment
Recruitment refers to the process of attracting, screening, and selecting qualified people for a job. For some components of the recruitment process, mid- and large-size organizations often retain professional recruiters or outsource some of the process to recruitment agencies.The recruitment...
consultant for several years and assisted McCully in the 2002 general election
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...
campaign.
In the 2005 general 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...
Bennett stood – unsuccessfully – as the National Party's candidate for the Waitakere
Waitakere (New Zealand electorate)
Waitakere is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Waitakere is Paula Bennett of the National Party. She has held this position since the 2008 election....
seat. She nevertheless entered Parliament as a list MP, ranked 45th on the National Party list.
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...
, she unseated Waitakere MP 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 :...
, winning the seat with a majority of 632. Bennett was then appointed 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...
as Minister of Social Development and Employment, Minister for Disability Issues, and Minister of Youth Affairs.
For several years she appeared on TV One's Breakfast with friend and Labour MP Darren Hughes
Darren Hughes
Darren Colyn Hughes was a New Zealand Member of Parliament between 2002 and 2011, first elected at the age of 24. He represented the Labour Party and was a Minister outside Cabinet in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand....
.
In late June 2009 Bennett asked Prime Minister, 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....
, to reassign the Disability Issues portfolio so that she "could focus on the Social Development and Employment position". The post was subsequently given to Minister outside Cabinet and Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
co-leader, Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia is a New Zealand politician. She gained considerable prominence during the foreshore and seabed controversy, and eventually broke with her party as a result...
.
Just six months later Bennett got a name as a feisty Minister after breaking up a fight among brawling teenagers outside her local mall in Henderson in 2009.
Portfolio related:
Job Ops and Community Max programs were introduced by Bennett in August 2009. Job Ops provided a $5,000 subsidy to employers to take on a young person at risk of staying on a benefit for a prolonged period. Community Max provided a subsidy for community group to take on young people to do work programmes locally. Job Ops was pitched largely at urban areas where more employers were available to offer placements and Com Max was pitched more primarily in rural areas with fewer employers, but plenty of community groups and a strong demand for youth to give back to local communities. Both schemes were intended to keep young people in work and engaged in activity during a recession. By 2011 more than 12,000 young people had received a subsided job placement through Job Ops and 5,000 young people had completed a Community Max placement.
The Community Response Fund was announced by Bennett in May 2009 with $104 million for social service providers. It was her flagship social service ‘lifeline’ to help community providers cope with soaring demands in a recession as the usual funding sources were drying up.
In May 2009 Bennett controversially appointed Christine Rankin as a Families Commissioner, prompting an avalanche of negative media publicity focused on Rankin’s relationship with a man who’s wife committed suicide.
In September 2009 the Never Ever Shake a Baby campaign was launched to highlight the dangers of shaking small babies. It was the first of many major public platforms Bennett used to highlight child abuse.
February 2010 – Fresh Start legislation was introduced into Parliament, aimed at the most serious, repeat young offenders. It included the Military Activity Camps which came to be known as ‘boot camps’. The legislation also extended Youth Court jurisdiction to include 12 and 13 year olds accused of serious offences. Previously 12 and 13 year olds were seen in Family Court.
March 2010 – Future Focus changes to the welfare system were introduced by Bennett who instituted a requirement for Domestic Purpose Benefit recipients to look for part time work when their youngest child turned six. Previously there was no work requirement until the youngest child turned 18 years old. Bennett also introduce a requirement for those on an Unemployment Benefit to reapply after one year.
March 2010 – Bennett accepted an Eisenhower fellowship. The prestigious six week Fellowship in the United States of America was awarded to only 20 women around the world who were identified as outstanding leaders.
July 2011 – Green Paper on Children launched in Auckland. The paper focusing on issues surrounding child abuse and protection of children stirred debate and was roundly condemned by opposition parties.
Family gang connections
Paula Bennett has become involved in controversy since joining the Cabinet – initially because of her daughter's partner's gang affiliations and conviction for "wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm". The man, Viliami Halaholo, was paroled to Bennett's house for ten months while he awaited trial. Bennett was reprimanded by Prime Minister John KeyJohn 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....
for neglecting to advise him that she had written letters in support of Halaholo during his early incarceration.
In May 2009 Bennett again came under scrutiny for her support of former head of WINZ
WINZ
WINZ may refer to:* WINZ , a radio station in Miami, Florida* WMGE, an FM radio station in Miami, Florida, formerly known as WINZ-FM* Work and Income New Zealand , a forerunner of the Ministry of Social Development...
, Christine Rankin, for a position with New Zealand Families Commission after it was revealed that Rankin had married her fourth husband only weeks after his late wife's suicide.
In late June 2009 Bennett asked Prime Minister, 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....
, to reassign the Disability Issues portfolio so that she "could focus on the Social Development and Employment position". The post was subsequently given to Minister outside Cabinet and Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
co-leader, Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia is a New Zealand politician. She gained considerable prominence during the foreshore and seabed controversy, and eventually broke with her party as a result...
.
Release of private information about beneficiaries
In July 2009, Bennett released the benefit details of two beneficiaries, Natasha Fuller and Jennifer Johnston, who had criticised the Government's policy of getting rid of the Training Initiative Allowance (TIA). She said she believed she had "implied consent" for the release of the information.Bennett's actions were described as "disgusting" and "beneficiary bashing" by 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 :...
of 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...
and "reminiscent of the days when Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
was in power" by Annette King
Annette King
Annette Faye King is a New Zealand politician. She is the current Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the New Zealand. She was a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand.-Early life:...
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....
. There has also been considerable criticism of Bennett for abolishing the TIA when she herself had received it when studying for her BA. Both Fuller and Labour
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....
MP Charles Chauvel
Charles Chauvel (politician)
Charles Pierre Chauvel is a New Zealand lawyer and politician. Since 2006 he has been a Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is the first New Zealand MP of Tahitian ancestry...
said that they would make complaints to the privacy commissioner and Schroff, respectively.
The Privacy Commission have said they're investigating Paula Bennett's actions after receiving a complaint.
External links
- Paula Bennett MP official site
- Profile at National party
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