Richard Northey
Encyclopedia
Richard John Northey, ONZM
(born 28 April 1945) is a New Zealand
politician. He was an MP
from 1984 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996. He currently serves on the Auckland Council
, and is a member of the Labour Party
.
, Robert Muldoon
, in the Tamaki
electorate in the 1981 election
. He was first elected to Parliament
in the 1984 election
as MP for Eden
, replacing National's Aussie Malcolm. He was re-elected in the 1987 election
, but was defeated in the National Party
's landslide victory in the 1990 election
. In the 1993 election
, however, he returned to Parliament, now representing Onehunga
which he took off National's Grahame Thorne
. In the 1996 election
he contested the Maungakiekie
seat after boundary changes caused by the introduction of MMP
, but was defeated by National's Belinda Vernon
. He was not ranked high enough on Labour's list to remain in Parliament.
in senior committee roles. In 2007, Richard Northey became leader of the City Vision
and Labour blocs on council, and is considered to be the de facto leader of the opposition on the Auckland City Council.
and a civil servant. He was appointed Officer in the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2002 New Year Honours, for public services.
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 28 April 1945) is a 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. He was an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from 1984 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996. He currently serves on the Auckland Council
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 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....
.
Member of Parliament
Northey stood unsuccessfully against the Prime MinisterPrime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
, Robert 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...
, in the Tamaki
Tamaki (New Zealand electorate)
Tāmaki is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate is named after the Tamaki River that runs immediately east of the seat...
electorate in the 1981 election
New Zealand general election, 1981
The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 40th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, win a third term in office, although the opposition Labour Party, led by Bill Rowling, actually won the largest share of...
. He was first elected 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...
in the 1984 election
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
as MP for Eden
Eden (New Zealand electorate)
Eden is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population Centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of inner-city suburbs in the central-south part of Auckland.-History:...
, replacing National's Aussie Malcolm. He was re-elected in the 1987 election
New Zealand general election, 1987
The 1987 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 43rd sitting of the New Zealand Parliament. The governing New Zealand Labour Party, led by Prime Minister David Lange, was re-elected for a second term, although the Opposition National Party made gains...
, but was defeated in 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:...
's landslide victory in the 1990 election
New Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
. 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...
, however, he returned to Parliament, now representing Onehunga
Onehunga (New Zealand electorate)
Onehunga is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of suburbs in the southern part of Auckland.* -History:...
which he took off National's Grahame Thorne
Grahame Thorne
Grahame Stuart Thorne in Auckland) is a former All Black rugby player, rugby union commentator and politician.-All Black:First selected in 1967, he played 39 games for the All Blacks, including 10 test matches....
. 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...
he contested the Maungakiekie
Maungakiekie (New Zealand electorate)
Maungakiekie is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Maungakiekie is Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga of the National Party...
seat after boundary changes caused by the introduction of MMP
Mixed member proportional representation
Mixed-member proportional representation, also termed mixed-member proportional voting and commonly abbreviated to MMP, is a voting system originally used to elect representatives to the German Bundestag, and nowadays adopted by numerous legislatures around the world...
, but was defeated by National's Belinda Vernon
Belinda Vernon
Belinda Jane Vernon is a former New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1996 to 2002, representing the National Party.-Early life:...
. He was not ranked high enough on Labour's list to remain in Parliament.
Local politics
He has since entered local politics, serving on the Auckland City CouncilAuckland City Council
Auckland City Council was the local government authority representing Auckland City, New Zealand, and was amalgamated into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. It was an elected body representing the 404,658 residents of the city...
in senior committee roles. In 2007, Richard Northey became leader of the City Vision
City Vision (Auckland, New Zealand political ticket)
City Vision is a coalition of three left-wing political parties and independent political identities who contest Auckland Council elections every triennium...
and Labour blocs on council, and is considered to be the de facto leader of the opposition on the Auckland City Council.
Personal life
Before entering politics, Northey was a university lecturerLecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
and a civil servant. He was appointed Officer in the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2002 New Year Honours, for public services.