Megan Woods

Last updated

New Zealand Parliament
The Honourable
Megan Woods
MP
Profile--meganwoods-390x2-UNC.jpg
Woods in 2023
17th Minister of Energy and Resources
In office
26 October 2017 –27 November 2023
YearsTermElectorateListParty
2011 –2014 50th Wigram 47 Labour
2014 –2017 51st Wigram20 Labour
2017 –2020 52nd Wigram6 Labour
2020 –2023 53rd Wigram5 Labour

In opposition: 2011–2017

Woods's candidacy, which began in late 2010, was centred on job creation in her electorate. She stated in her Labour selection speech that "Growing up here in the 1980s, I watched people lose their jobs. I saw workplaces like the Addington Workshops shut their doors forever. Now I am 36 years old and am watching jobs disappear from our communities again." [5] Woods also cited the rising cost of living for everyday people as a major concern.

During the 2011 election, Woods won the seat with 45.11% of the vote and a majority of 1,500 votes. [12] Woods won re-election in the 2014 election with an increased majority. [13]

Woods was previously Labour Party's spokesperson for the Environment and Climate Change and has served prior as the Party's spokesperson for Tertiary Education and associate spokesperson for Science and Innovation. [14] [15]

During the 2017 general election, Woods retained Wigram for Labour by a margin of 4,594 votes. [16]

In government: 2017–2023

Woods was elected as a Cabinet Minister by the Labour Party caucus following Labour's formation of a coalition government with New Zealand First and the Greens. [17] As of 2017, Woods is the Minister of Energy and Resources. On 12 April, Woods announced that the Government would halt future gas and oil exploration but clarified that the existing 22 contracts would be allowed to continue. [18]

On 27 June 2019, in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's first major reshuffle of the coalition government, Woods was appointed Minister of Housing, replacing Phil Twyford. [19]

On 19 June 2020, Woods was given joint responsibility with Air Commodore Darryn Webb for overseeing isolation and quarantine facilities for travellers entering New Zealand, as part of the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [20] [21]

During the 2020 general election, Woods served as the Labour Party's campaign chairperson. [22] She retained her seat of Wigram by a final margin of 14,770 votes. [23] In early November 2020, she retained her ministerial portfolios of Housing, Energy and Resources, and Research, Science and Innovation, while picking up the position of Associate Minister of Finance. [24]

In late February 2021, Woods defended the Government's Progressive Home Ownership Scheme, which had cost NZ$17 million but only resettled 12 families in the last seven months. In response, National's housing spokesperson Nicola Willis described the programme as a failure and contended that Woods was out of touch. [25]

During the 2023 general election campaign, Woods served as Labour's campaign chairperson for a second time. [22] In early June 2023, she attracted media attention after publishing a Twitter post likening the opposition National Party's proposal to bring back the NZ$5 prescription fee to the dsytopian novel and TV show The Handmaid's Tale . In response, National's deputy leader Willis stated she was offended by Woods' post and accused the Labour Government of "going into the gutter" and making "ridicolous, baseless attacks." [26]

In Opposition, 2023–present

During the 2023 election held on 14 October, Woods was re-elected in Wigram by a margin of 1,179 votes. [27] On 5 December 2023, she was granted retention of the title The Honourable , in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council. [28]

In late November 2023, Woods became spokesperson for climate change, energy, resources and associate finance in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins. [29]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Conway, Glenn (20 September 2010). "Anderton follower chosen for Wigram". The Press . Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. ↑ Woods, Megan (1997). Re/producing the nation : women making identity in New Zealand, 1906–1925 (Masters thesis). UC Research Repository, University of Canterbury. doi:10.26021/3628. hdl:10092/4827.
  3. ↑ "Dr Megan Woods". Plant & Food Research. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  4. ↑ Woods, Megan (2002). Integrating the nation: Gendering Maori urbanisation and integration, 1942–1969 (Doctoral thesis). UC Research Repository, University of Canterbury. doi:10.26021/4042. hdl:10092/4352.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Megan Woods to stand for Labour in Wigram". Newshub . 19 September 2010. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "Official Count Results – Christchurch Central". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  7. ↑ Gay, Edward; Ihaka, James (13 October 2007). "New faces aplenty in local government shake-ups". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Christchurch City Mayor". Local Elections 2010. Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  9. ↑ The People's Mayor Announces. 18 July 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  10. ↑ Booker, Jarrod (12 September 2010). "Anderton presses on with mayoral bid". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  11. ↑ "Parker re-elected in Christchurch". The Dominion Post . 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  12. ↑ "Official Count Results – Wigram". Electoral Commission. 10 December 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "Official Count Results – Wigram". Electoral Commission. 20 September 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "About Megan". Megan Wood's website. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017.
  15. ↑ "Megan Woods". New Zealand Labour Party. Archived from the original on 26 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Wigram – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Who's in? Who's out?". Radio New Zealand . 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  18. ↑ "Oil, gas exploration move a 'kick in the guts' for Taranaki – mayor". Radio New Zealand. 11 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  19. ↑ Cooke, Henry (27 June 2019). "PM takes housing off Phil Twyford in first major reshuffle". Stuff . Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  20. ↑ Cooke, Henry (19 June 2020). "Housing Minister Megan Woods taking on responsibility for border management". Stuff . Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "Housing Minister Megan Woods to oversee managed isolation and quarantine facilities". Radio New Zealand . 19 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  22. 1 2 Malpass, Luke (27 May 2023). "Professionals, true believers and mad men: the teams behind the election campaigns". The Post . Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "Wigram – Official Result". Electoral Commission . Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  24. ↑ "Ministerial List for Announcement on Monday" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Progressive Home Ownership Scheme houses just 12 families in seven months". Radio New Zealand . 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  26. ↑ Palmer, Russell (1 June 2023). "National brands Labour's Handmaid's Tale tweet as 'appalling'". Radio New Zealand . Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  27. ↑ "Wigram - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  28. ↑ "Retention of the title "The Honourable"". New Zealand Gazette . 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet". Radio New Zealand . 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Wigram
2011–present		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Greater Canterbury Regeneration
2017–2020		Ministerial post abolished
Preceded by Minister for Research, Science and Innovation
2017–2022		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Energy and Resources
2017–2023		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Housing
2019–2023		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Building and Construction
2022–2023		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Infrastructure
2023		Succeeded by
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