Penny Webster
Encyclopedia
Penny Webster is a councillor on the Auckland Council
and former mayor of Rodney District, Auckland
, New Zealand
. As mayor of Rodney she headed one of the six main local government entities generally considered as making up the Auckland metropolitan area
(Auckland City
, Manukau City, Waitakere City, North Shore City, Papakura District, Rodney District
), with her district being the northernmost entity. All of these entities were merged into the new Auckland Council in 2010. She was also a former New Zealand
politician
: an MP from 1999 to 2002, representing the ACT New Zealand party.
Before entering politics, Webster was a farmer
, and headed the Auckland
branch of the Federated Farmers
organisation.
in the 1999 elections
, becoming a list MP.
In the 2002 elections
, however, she was ranked in thirteenth place, a low position for a sitting MP. While this was seen by some as a reflection of her ineffectiveness as an MP, Owen Jennings
, another former farmer
, was also ranked lowly, prompting some to suggest that ACT was not as interested in the rural vote as it might once have been.
ACT did not win sufficient votes for thirteen seats, and so Webster did not return to Parliament
.
In December 2008 she was also appointed by Environment Minister Nick Smith to sit on a technical advisory board that will help the Government reforms to the Resource Management Act.
In 2010 Penny was elected to the inaugural Auckland Council, representing the Rodney Ward.
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
and former mayor of Rodney District, Auckland
Auckland
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...
, New Zealand
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...
. As mayor of Rodney she headed one of the six main local government entities generally considered as making up the Auckland metropolitan area
Auckland
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...
(Auckland City
Auckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
, Manukau City, Waitakere City, North Shore City, Papakura District, Rodney District
Rodney District
The Rodney District of New Zealand was a local government area in the northernmost part in New Zealand's Auckland Region, created in 1989 from the amalgamation of Helensville Borough and Rodney County. The seat of the district council is at Orewa, and the district includes Kawau Island to the...
), with her district being the northernmost entity. All of these entities were merged into the new Auckland Council in 2010. She was also a former New Zealand
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
: an MP from 1999 to 2002, representing the ACT New Zealand party.
Before entering politics, Webster was a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, and headed the Auckland
Auckland
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...
branch of the Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Incorporated is an organisation in New Zealand which lobbies on behalf of its member farmers.It has a network of 24 provinces and seven industry groups. Federated Farmers provides a locally based, democratic organisation that lobbies on farming issues both...
organisation.
Member of Parliament
She was first elected to ParliamentParliament 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...
in 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...
, becoming a list MP.
In 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...
, however, she was ranked in thirteenth place, a low position for a sitting MP. While this was seen by some as a reflection of her ineffectiveness as an MP, Owen Jennings
Owen Jennings
Owen Jennings is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1996 to 2002, representing the ACT New Zealand party.-Early years:Before entering politics, Jennings was a farmer. Jennings was active in New Zealand Federated Farmers, becoming its National President in 1990. He served three years...
, another former farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, was also ranked lowly, prompting some to suggest that ACT was not as interested in the rural vote as it might once have been.
ACT did not win sufficient votes for thirteen seats, and so Webster did not return to 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...
.
Local government
In 2007 Penny was elected Mayor of Rodney District. In December 2008 she was unianimously elected as the chair of the Auckland Mayoral Forum.In December 2008 she was also appointed by Environment Minister Nick Smith to sit on a technical advisory board that will help the Government reforms to the Resource Management Act.
In 2010 Penny was elected to the inaugural Auckland Council, representing the Rodney Ward.
Further reading
- Webster's contribution is a paper entitled: "Tomorrow's agriculture."
- Webster's contribution is a paper entitled: "City of snails."