Poto Williams

Last updated

New Zealand Parliament
Poto Williams
MP
Hon Poto Williams.jpg
Williams in 2020
14th Minister of Conservation
In office
14 June 2022 1 February 2023
YearsTermElectorateListParty
2013 2014 50th Christchurch East Labour
2014 2017 51st Christchurch East28 Labour
2017 2020 52nd Christchurch East25 Labour
2020 2023 53rd Christchurch East21 Labour

Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel resigned in October 2013 to contest the Christchurch mayoralty, triggering a by-election. [9] Williams won selection as Labour's candidate over five other candidates including future Christchurch city councillor Deon Swiggs and James Caygill (son of former Labour Finance Minister David Caygill). [10] She convincingly defeated National's candidate Matt Doocey, securing 61 per cent of the vote. [11] [12] On 28 January 2014, Williams was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives for the first time. [13] After Alfred Ngaro, she is the second Cook Islander to be a New Zealand MP.

Williams held her electorate over National candidate Jo Hayes by 4,073 votes in the 2014 general election. [14] She defeated Hayes again in 2017, by 7,480 votes, [15] and new National candidate Lincoln Platt in 2020 by 17,336 votes. [16]

Opposition, 2013–2017

In her first year as an MP, Williams was appointed to the Health Committee and was Labour's associate spokesperson for social development, the community and voluntary sector, and housing (Christchurch). [17]

After the election she nominated Andrew Little to succeed David Cunliffe as Labour leader. [18] In the 2014–2017 term, Williams served on the Health and Social Services committees and was Labour's spokesperson on disability issues and the community and voluntary sector. [17] She became Labour's junior whip when Jacinda Ardern became leader in September 2017. [17]

Sixth Labour Government, 2017–2023

On 19 October 2017, a Labour-led coalition government was formed with support from New Zealand First and the Green parties. [19] [20] Williams was nominated and elected an Assistant Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. The National Party challenged her nomination for the office because Williams had not been sworn in as a member of Parliament for that term yet. Speaker Trevor Mallard dismissed the challenges because it is not a requirement for members of Parliament to be sworn in to be nominated as a presiding officer. [21]

Following a cabinet reshuffle in late June 2019, Williams was appointed as a minister outside Cabinet, becoming Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector as well as an Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Social Development and Immigration. [22] [23] [24] When Labour was returned to government in the 2020 general election, she was transferred into the roles of Minister of Police and Minister for Building and Construction and also became an associate minister in the children and public housing portfolios. [25]

Williams' appointment as police minister came as a surprise to some commentators as she was seen to be a contrast with her predecessor, Stuart Nash. [26] Through 2022, Williams was under pressure in the role as a surge of gang activity caused conflict between the Tribesmen and Killer Beez gangs in Auckland. [27] Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern acknowledged that "focus" in the police portfolio had been lost [28] [29] and, in a reshuffle on 13 June 2022, reassigned Willilams to be Minister of Conservation and Minister for Disability Issues. [30]

On 13 December 2022, Williams announced that she would not be contesting the 2023 New Zealand general election and would step down at the end of the 2020–2023 term. While describing her job as an MP and Cabinet as an "extraordinary and amazing privilege," Williams stated that the Christchurch East electorate needed "someone with fresh eyes and fresh energy." [31] [32] On 10 February 2023, Williams was granted retention of the title "The Honourable" for life, in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council. [33]

Political positions

In May 2017, Williams suggested removing the presumption of innocence afforded to alleged perpetrators of sexual assault. [34] She voted in favour of the Abortion Legislation Bill in March 2020 [35] and against the End of Life Choice Bill in December 2019. [36]

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References

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  2. Williams, Poto (18 June 2015). "Williams, Poto: Maiden statements". Hansard. New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
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  12. "Chch by-election an easy Labour win". The Press . 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  13. (28 January 2014) 696 NZPD 1.
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  15. "Christchurch East – Official Result 2017 election". Electoral Commission . Retrieved 1 July 2019.
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  27. "Christopher Luxon urges Poto Williams to be removed as Police Minister". Radio New Zealand . 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
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  36. "Vote – New Zealand Parliament (End of Life Choice Bill)". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Christchurch East
2013–present
Incumbent
Political offices
New title Minister for Disability Issues
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Conservation
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Building and Construction
2020–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Police
2020–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
2019–2020
Succeeded by