Bill Andersen

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Gordon Harold "Bill" Andersen (21 January 1924 – 19 January 2005) was a New Zealand

communist, social activist and trade union
leader.

Biography

Andersen was born in Auckland on 21 January 1924, the youngest child of Hans (Skip) Andersen and Minnie Boneham. He was educated at Panmure School.[1]

Andersen was one of the participants in the

Socialist Unity Party, which broke away from the Communist Party of New Zealand over the Sino-Soviet split, and he also led its successor, the Socialist Party of Aotearoa
.

Andersen's opposition to then

staff ensured the two leaders were seated next to each other.

Bill Andersen supported the Ngāti Whātua occupation of Bastion Point, now the site of Ōrākei marae. He organised union support for the Māori claiming ownership of the land.[1]

He remained an active trade unionist all his life. In May 2003 he was arrested on a picket line for obstruction. He kept working at the National Distribution Union and Northern Drivers Charitable Trust until the week of his death.

Andersen died on 19 January 2005 aged 80. Despite requests for no funeral, a large group gathered for a memorial ceremony to him at Ōrākei Marae which was attended by workers and activists as well as cabinet ministers, local councillors and mayors.[1]

He is the great-uncle of Labour MP Ginny Andersen.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Locke, Cybèle. "Andersen, Gordon Harold (Bill)". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  2. .
  3. ^ Smith, Mike (11 May 2014). "Ginny Andersen a rising star". The Standard. Retrieved 3 September 2020.