Margaret Wilson Voted Speaker Of The House

Margaret Wilson Voted Speaker Of The House

By Selwyn Manning - Scoop Co Editor

Turia's vote for the National Party's preferred Speaker candidate is likely a signal to Labour that Turia - a former Labour minister and party list MP - will not allow her Maori Party to be seen as a sub-faction of Labour and cannot be schmoozed by Labour seeking support for crucial votes.

Prime Minister Helen Clark congratulated Margaret Wilson for successfully becoming New Zealand's first woman Speaker of the House. Helen Clark also noted that Margaret Wilson had proven to be a mentor and icon for other women in her academic career and in legal circles.

Former Speaker Jonathan Hunt vacated the Speaker's position at midnight last night. He has left Parliament to become New Zealand's next High Commissioner in London. He replaces former Labour cabinet minister Russell Marshall.

Mr Hunt said in Parliament yesterday that he had been an MP since 1966 and, over the past five years as Speaker, has heard more than 26,000 supplementary questions.

Parliament is currently hearing speeches from party leaders congratulating Margaret Wilson for her successful campaign.

Margaret Wilson's Parliamentary career began as a party list MP in 1999. Her Parliamentary bio follows:

Former Parliamentary Roles

Minister of Labour 10 December 1999-26 February 2004

Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 10 December 1999-27 July 2002

Associate Minister of Justice 10 December 1999-21 December 2004

Associate Minister of State Services 13 November 2000-15 August 2002

Minister Responsible for the Law Commission 5 June 2001-15 August 2002

Minister for Courts 15 August 2002-19 May 2003

Associate Minister for Courts 19 May 2003-21 December 2004

Acting Minister Responsible for the Law Commission 20 February 2004-26 February 2004

Minister of Commerce 26 February 2004-21 December 2004

Minister for Building Issues 1 November 2004-21 December 2004

Attorney-General [Includes responsibility for Serious Fraud Office] 10 December 1999-28 February 2005

Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 10 December 1999-28 February 2005

Member of Privileges Select Committee 1999-2002

Personal Details

Born 20th May 1947, Gisborne

Education

St Joseph’s School

St Dominic’s College, Northcote

Morrinsville College

LLB (Hons) (University of Auckland)

M.Jr (1st Class) (University of Auckland)

Career

Chair for the National Maternity Advisory Committee 1998

Member of the Judicial Working Group on Gender Equality 1995-1997

Member of the team to review the Crown Forestry Rental Trust 1995

Member of the Advisory Group on restructuring of the Ministry of Justice 1995

Member of the Editorial Board, New Zealand Journal of Industrial Relations 1994

Appointed as foundation Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Waikato in 1990

Law Commissioner of the Law Commission 1988-1989

Chairwoman, TV3 News Limited 1988-1989

Chairwoman, National Advisory Council on Employment of Women 1987-1991

Chief Political Adviser and Head of the Prime Minister’s Office 1987-1989

Director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand 1985-1989

Convenor of the Government Working Party on Equal Pay and Equal Opportunities 1988

Member of the Advisory Committee to establish the Ministry of Women's Affairs 1985

Founder Member and Vice President of the Auckland Women Lawyers' Association 1984. Made a life member in 1985

Executive Member, Vice-chair and Chair, Auckland Branch, Association of University Teachers, AUT Salary Negotiation 1976-1984

Founder Editor, New Zealand Journal of Industrial Relations 1976-1977

Acting Editor for Recent Law 1974

Founder Member of the Industrial Relations Society 1973

Taught at Auckland University

Law Clerk and Solicitor for Peter Jenkins, Barrister and Solicitor in Auckland 1970-1972

Secretary for the Legal Employers Union 1970-1971

Party Activities

President of the New Zealand Labour Party 1984-1987

Chief Political Adviser and Head of the Prime Minister’s Office 1987-1989.

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