Mark Cameron (politician)

Last updated

Mark Cameron
MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for ACT party list
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Personal details
Born1972or1973(age 50–51) [1]
Political party ACT
Children3
ProfessionFarmer

Mark Stuart Cameron [2] is a New Zealand politician and dairy farmer. He has been a member of Parliament for ACT New Zealand since the 2020 general election.

Contents

Early life and career

Mark Cameron is a dairy farmer from Ruawai in Northland. [3] [4] Cameron has lived and farmed in the Northland region for 30 years, and is married with three children. [5]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
YearsTermElectorateListParty
2020 –2023 53rd List 8 ACT
2023 –present 54th List7 ACT

In the 2020 New Zealand General Election, Cameron ran for the electorate of Northland, coming in at fourth place [6] via the ACT Party list. [7] In his first term, he was ACT Party spokesman for primary industries, regional economic development and biosecurity. [5]

Cameron is a prominent spokesman for issues in rural communities such as farming regulations and mental health. [3] Cameron has been critical of several climate change measures taken by the New Zealand government, stating that some scientists and politicians are "perpetuating an environment of fear" against rural farmers. Cameron advocates for more regional solutions to tackle environmental issues, rather than top-down government policy. [8] Cameron was an advocate of the End of Life Choice Act 2019. [9]

During parliamentary question time on 18 November 2021, Cameron asked Minister for Rural Communities Damien O'Connor, who was absent and was represented by his colleague Stuart Nash, if he had met the leaders of farming advocacy group Groundswell NZ. In response, Nash alleged that the group promoted racism and vaccine hesitancy. When Cameron reiterated his question, Nash told Cameron to avoid posing with someone holding an anti-vaccination sign at a Groundswell protest. Nash's remarks were criticised as slanderous by Groundswell NZ leader Bryce McKenzie, who emphasized the group's efforts to combat racism and anti-vaccination sentiment among its members and social media platforms. [10] A few days after the exchange with Nash, Newshub reported that in 2019 Cameron had made online comments referring to Jacinda Ardern as a "feckless wench" and "vacuous teenager", and endorsing the repurposing of the MAGA acronym to stand for "Make Ardern go away." He had also described Donald Trump as "making his country awesome". When asked about the comments, Cameron expressed regret for what he described as "flippant remarks", made while he was "a civilian, not a parliamentarian". [11]

Cameron recontested Northland at the 2023 general election. He placed sixth in the electorate but was returned for a second term as a list MP. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Jones</span> New Zealand politician

Shane Geoffrey Jones is a New Zealand politician. He served as a New Zealand First list MP from 2017 to 2020 and was previously a Labour list MP from 2005 to 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacinda Ardern</span> Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023

Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern is a New Zealand former politician who served as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was a Labour member of Parliament (MP) as a list MP from 2008 to 2017, and for Mount Albert from 2017 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart Nash</span> New Zealand politician

Stuart Alexander Nash is a politician from New Zealand. He was a list member of the House of Representatives for the Labour Party from 2008 to 2011, and was re-elected in the 2014 election as representative of the Napier electorate. He entered Cabinet in October 2017, with the portfolios of Police, Revenue, Small Business and Fisheries. On 28 March 2023, following several breaches of conduct, including using his position to attempt to influence police procedures, it was revealed Nash communicated confidential details surrounding a Cabinet meeting to two of his donors, and Nash was removed from all Cabinet positions by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. In early April 2023, Nash confirmed that he would not be contesting the 2023 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poto Williams</span> New Zealand politician

Munokoa Poto Williams is a New Zealand Labour Party politician and a member of Parliament. She was elected in a 2013 by-election and served as Minister of Conservation and Minister for Disability Issues in the Sixth Labour Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Seymour (New Zealand politician)</span> Politician from New Zealand (born 1983)

David Breen Seymour is a New Zealand politician. He is the leader of ACT New Zealand and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Epsom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 New Zealand general election</span> Election on 23 September 2017

The 2017 New Zealand general election took place on Saturday 23 September 2017 to determine the membership of the 52nd New Zealand Parliament. The previous parliament was elected on 20 September 2014 and was officially dissolved on 22 August 2017. Voters elected 120 members to the House of Representatives under New Zealand's mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting system, a proportional representation system in which 71 members were elected from single-member electorates and 49 members were elected from closed party lists. Around 3.57 million people were registered to vote in the election, with 2.63 million (79.8%) turning out. Advance voting proved popular, with 1.24 million votes cast before election day, more than the previous two elections combined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 New Zealand general election</span> New Zealand general election in October 2020

The 2020 New Zealand general election was held on Saturday 17 October 2020 to determine the composition of the 53rd New Zealand Parliament. Voters elected 120 members to the House of Representatives, 72 from single-member electorates and 48 from closed party lists. Two referendums, one on the personal use of cannabis and one on euthanasia, were also held on the same day. Official results of the election and referendums were released on 6 November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen White (politician)</span> New Zealand politician

Helen Ione White is a New Zealand politician. In 2020 she became a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party. She currently represents the Mount Albert electorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">52nd New Zealand Parliament</span> Meeting of the New Zealand Parliament

The 52nd New Zealand Parliament was a meeting of the legislature in New Zealand, which opened on 7 November 2017 following the 2017 general election and dissolved on 6 September 2020. The New Zealand Parliament comprises the Sovereign and the House of Representatives, which consists of 120 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kieran McAnulty</span> New Zealand politician

Kieran Michael McAnulty is a New Zealand Labour Party politician. First elected to parliament in 2017, he is a Cabinet minister and the Member of Parliament for the Wairarapa electorate. Formerly the Chief Government Whip, McAnulty is now the Minister of Local Government and Minister for Emergency Management, among other portfolios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt King (politician)</span> New Zealand politician

Ronald Matthew King is a New Zealand politician who was a Member of Parliament for the National Party from 2017 to 2020. During his time as an opposition MP, King's roles included membership of the Justice, Māori Affairs, and Transport and Infrastructure Select Committees, and National's spokesperson for Regional Development, Rural Communities, and Transport. While in parliament he promoted a bill to create a new offense for "king hits" but it was defeated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harete Hipango</span> New Zealand politician

Harete Makere Hipango is a New Zealand politician. She was a member of parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party and sat on the Māori Affairs Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum</span> Referendum in New Zealand

The 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum was a non-binding referendum held on 17 October 2020 in conjunction with the 2020 general election and a euthanasia referendum, on the question of whether to legalise the sale, use, possession and production of recreational cannabis. It was rejected by New Zealand voters. The form of the referendum was a vote for or against the proposed "Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill". Official results were released by the Electoral Commission on 6 November 2020 with 50.7% of voters opposing the legalisation and 48.4% in support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Luxon</span> Prime Minister-designate of New Zealand

Christopher Mark Luxon is a New Zealand politician and business executive who is the leader of the Opposition and leader of the New Zealand National Party since 2021. He became Member of Parliament (MP) for Botany in 2020. He was previously the chief executive officer of Air New Zealand from 2012 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">53rd New Zealand Parliament</span> Current New Zealand parliamentary term

The 53rd New Zealand Parliament was a meeting of the legislature in New Zealand. It opened on 25 November 2020 following the 17 October 2020 general election, and dissolved on 8 September 2023 to trigger the next election. It consisted of 120 members of Parliament (MPs) with five parties represented: the Labour and Green parties, in government, and the National, Māori and ACT parties, in opposition. The Sixth Labour Government held a majority in this Parliament. Jacinda Ardern continued as prime minister until her resignation on 25 January 2023; she was succeeded by Chris Hipkins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howl of a Protest campaign</span> Protests in New Zealand

The Howl of a Protest campaign were a series of peaceful protests in New Zealand which occurred on the 16 July 2021. The protests were organised by the farming advocacy group Groundswell NZ in opposition to the Government's new and proposed freshwater regulations, winter grazing rules, indigenous biodiversity regulations, and vehicle emissions feebate scheme. The scheme was particularly contentious among farmers, tradespersons and the agricultural sector since it proposed adding a fee up to $5,000 on motor vehicles with high tailpipe emissions in order to fund electric vehicle subsidies.

Groundswell NZ is a farming advocacy group in New Zealand that was formed to oppose the New Zealand Government's National Policy Statement on Freshwater. The group has also sought to oppose or revise freshwater, indigenous biodiversity, climate change, pastoral land reform policies, and the Three Waters reform programme affecting farmers and rural communities On 16 July 2021, Groundswell NZ staged a nationwide Howl of a Protest campaign in between 47 and 57 cities and towns throughout New Zealand to protest what they regarded as "increasing Government interference, unworkable regulations, and unjustified costs" on the rural sector. On 21 November 2021, Groundswell NZ held a second series of nationwide protests known as the Mother of All Protests.

The Mother of All Protests was a series of nationwide protests in New Zealand on 21 November 2021, organised by the farming advocacy group Groundswell NZ to oppose the government's rural sector regulations and policies. Protests took place in 70 cities and towns across New Zealand. Due to controversy around racist signage in the previous Howl of a Protest campaign, Groundswell issued a list of approved messages for participants.

DemocracyNZ is a registered political party in New Zealand. The party was established and is led by former National Party MP Matt King following the anti-vaccination occupation at parliament. The party claims to be centrist and stand for democracy, equality, and unity for New Zealanders. Its public statements have been focused on opposition to New Zealand's pandemic response and to climate change regulations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voices for Freedom</span> Anti-vaccination group in New Zealand

Voices for Freedom (VFF) is an anti-vaccine advocacy group in New Zealand that formed in December 2020 to oppose the New Zealand Government's COVID-19 mitigation policies and vaccination rollout. The organisation is founded and led by food blogger and former Advance New Zealand candidate Claire Deeks, Libby Jonson and Alia Bland. Voices for Freedom has been criticised by NZ Skeptics, The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman, and "FACT Aotearoa" for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccinations.

References

  1. ↑ Kissun, Sudesh (2 February 2021). "From the cowshed to the Beehive". Rural News Group.
  2. ↑ "Speech – Members Sworn". New Zealand Parliament.
  3. 1 2 "Election 2020: ACT promises to scrap subsidies for forestry investment, let regional councils set freshwater rules". Stuff . 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Milne, Jonathan (13 October 2020). "ACT candidates freely choose to do as they're told". Newsroom . Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Mark Cameron". ACT New Zealand . Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Northland – Official Result". Electoral Commission . Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission . Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  8. ↑ Kissun, Sudesh. "MP promises to ACT on farmers' behalf". Rural News Group . Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Who are they? Introducing the new ACT MPs". Newsroom . 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  10. ↑ Kelly, Rachael (18 November 2021). "Nash says Groundswell stands for 'racist, anti-vax' sentiment". Stuff . Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  11. ↑ Small, Zane (23 November 2021). "ACT MP Mark Cameron regrets 'flippant remarks' about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern". Newshub . Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "2023 General Election - Preliminary Count". Electoral Commission. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.