Jim Anderton
Minister of Economic Development | |
---|---|
In office 10 December 1999 – 19 October 2005 | |
Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Trevor Mallard |
1st Leader of the Alliance | |
In office 7 May 1995 – 20 April 2002 | |
Deputy | Sandra Lee |
Preceded by | Sandra Lee |
Succeeded by | Laila Harré |
In office 1 December 1991 – 10 November 1994 | |
Deputy | Sandra Lee |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Sandra Lee |
Leader of the NewLabour Party | |
In office 1 April 1989 – 13 October 2000 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wigram Sydenham (1984–1993) | |
In office 14 July 1984 – 26 November 2011 | |
Preceded by | John Kirk |
Succeeded by | Megan Woods |
25th President of the Labour Party | |
In office 15 May 1979 – 8 September 1984 | |
Vice President | Stu McCaffley |
Preceded by | Arthur Faulkner |
Succeeded by | Margaret Wilson |
Personal details | |
Born | James Patrick Byrne 21 January 1938 Progressive (2002–2011) |
Spouse | Carole Anderton |
Profession | Businessman, politician |
Signature | |
James Patrick Anderton
Anderton's political career began when he was elected to the Manukau City Council in 1965. After serving for five years as Labour Party president, Anderton successfully stood as the Labour candidate for Sydenham in Christchurch in 1984. However, he soon came into conflict with the party's leadership, and became an outspoken critic of the Fourth Labour Government's free-market reforms, called Rogernomics. In April 1989, believing that Labour was beyond change, Anderton resigned from the party.
As leader of the
Early life
Jim Anderton was born on 21 January 1938[1] in Auckland to Matthew Byrne and Joyce Savage. His father left the family and his mother married Victor Anderton. Matthew Byrne died in a train accident in 1946 and Victor Anderton adopted Jim in 1951.[2] Jim undertook all his education in Auckland, attending Seddon Memorial Technical College and the Auckland Teachers' Training College. He graduated as a qualified teacher, but spent only two years in a teaching role (at St Peter's College, Auckland) before moving on to work as a child welfare officer in Wanganui.[3]
In 1960, he married Joan Caulfield and they had five children, two girls and three boys.
Anderton later moved into business, working as an export manager for a textiles company before establishing a manufacturing company, Anderton Holdings, with his brother Brian in 1971 and also bought a superette in Parnell.[3]
Entering politics
Anderton joined the Labour Party in 1963 and first attended a Labour party branch meeting in Mangere in 1964.[3] His political career began in 1965 when he was elected to the Manukau City Council on a Labour ticket. In 1971, he stood for the Auckland City Council as a Labour candidate unsuccessfully and was the highest polling un-elected Labour candidate.[6]
Three years later, in 1974, he challenged Dove-Myer Robinson, the incumbent Mayor of Auckland City, for the mayoralty, but was beaten by 7,000 votes. In the same local election, he also stood for the Auckland City Council and was successful.[7][8][9] David Lange, who also ran on the Labour ticket as a city councillor said "Like the other candidates, I contributed $50 to pay for an advertisement in the New Zealand Herald in support of the Labour ticket. When I opened the paper to look at our advertisement I saw a photograph of Jim Anderton and no mention of the other candidates. Here was a warning of much to come".[10]
Anderton had another tilt at the
Following the sudden death of Frank Rogers in 1980 there was intense press speculation that Anderton (who was the proprietor of a business situated in the electorate) would stand to replace him in the Onehunga by-election.[14] Despite briefly considering standing, he eventually declined the nomination, refusing to renege on the promise he made to members at the 1979 party conference that he would not stand for a parliamentary seat at, or before, the 1981 election.[15] Soon afterwards Anderton was also rumoured to be contemplating replacing the retiring Arthur Faulkner in the Roskill electorate, but after a hostile reaction to the notion in caucus Anderton was dissuaded from seeking the Roskill nomination.[16] In the attempted leadership coup against Labour leader Bill Rowling in 1980 by his deputy, David Lange, Anderton was among those (such as party secretary John Wybrow) who sided with Rowling.[17]
Following Labour's
Anderton got involved in the public discourse over the
Many in the Labour Party (who were already critical of Anderton) used the Air New Zealand incident to attempt to remove him as president. A group of MPs (Michael Bassett, Roger Douglas, Mike Moore and Richard Prebble) organised a challenge for the presidency at the 1982 party conference. They approached former MP and party vice-president Joe Walding to stand, though he declined.[25] Instead Bassett, the most acerbic critic of Anderton in the group, declared he would stand for the presidency of the party. An open conflict drew the ire of many in the party and eventually Bassett withdrew his candidacy. He was subsequently dumped from the shadow cabinet in February 1982 as a result.[26] At the conference Anderton was challenged by Allan O'Neill, president of the Auckland Carpenters Union, but won easily 1,120 votes to 126.[20]
Member of Parliament
Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984–1987 | 41st | Sydenham | Labour | ||
1987–1989 | 42nd | Sydenham | Labour | ||
1989–1990 | Changed allegiance to: | NewLabour | |||
1990–1991 | 43rd | Sydenham | NewLabour | ||
1991–1993 | Changed allegiance to: | Alliance | |||
1993–1996 | 44th | Sydenham | Alliance | ||
1996–1999 | 45th | Wigram | 1 | Alliance | |
1999–2002 | 46th | Wigram | 1 | Alliance | |
2002–2005 | 47th | Wigram | 1 | Progressive | |
2005–2008 | 48th | Wigram | 1 | Progressive | |
2008–2011 | 49th | Wigram | 1 | Progressive |
In 1983 he was selected as the Labour candidate for the Christchurch seat of Sydenham against 6 local contenders.[27] The outgoing MP for Sydenham John Kirk declared that he did not support Anderton as the official Labour candidate and saw Anderton's selection a sign that Labour was moving too far to the left.[28] In the 1984 general election, Anderton was elected as MP for Sydenham. This election resulted in the formation of the Fourth Labour Government.[29] Some on the left of the party, including Helen Clark, tried to persuade Anderton to remain president of the party, however he declined to stand again at the 1984 conference believing the president should not also be an MP.[30] Anderton was appointed chairperson of Labour's caucus sub-committee on industrial relations. Prime Minister David Lange sacked Anderton from the role on 3 August 1986 and replaced with Fran Wilde ostensibly for a poor meeting attendance record, but more likely due to curb Anderton's ability to criticise labour market restructuring. After it was revealed he in fact had the second highest attendance record Anderton received a caucus-level apology.[31]
Anderton soon came into conflict with the party's leadership, and became one of the most outspoken critics of Minister of Finance Roger Douglas. Douglas and his allies, Richard Prebble and David Caygill, were determined to implement radical reforms of the country's economic system, known unofficially as "Rogernomics". This involved a monetarist approach to controlling inflation, the removal of tariffs and subsidies, and the privatisation of state assets, all of which were regarded by Anderton as a betrayal of the party's left-wing roots, and an abandonment of the party's election platform.
Anderton's severe criticism of Douglas and his reforms earned him the enmity of many within the party, including some of those who otherwise shared Anderton's frustration; his public comments were seen as damaging the party's public image. He released a policy document on 27 July 1988 which was described by Jim Sutton as "looking like a Soviet prescription for a Polish shipyard". This caused much laughter in the Labour caucus.[32] His stance of vocally and publicly opposing Labour's neoliberal direction led him to eschew the prospect of becoming a cabinet minister in the Lange ministry.[3] At the 1988 Labour Party conference in Dunedin, Anderton announced his intention to stand for the party presidency once again. In a highly publicised and bitterly contested campaign, he lost to vice-president Ruth Dyson 473 votes to 575. Optics from the divided conference were damaging to Labour's image showing a clear left/right divide with the left backing Anderton and the right coalescing around Dyson.[33]
1989 split from Labour
Although many ordinary members of the Labour Party (who were unhappy at the way the party's parliamentary wing was behaving) backed Anderton, he became increasingly isolated in parliament. When Anderton disobeyed party instructions to vote in favour of selling the Bank of New Zealand (which Labour had explicitly promised not to do), he was suspended from caucus. In April 1989, believing that Labour was beyond change, Anderton resigned from the party. He later said, "I did not leave the Labour Party; the Labour Party left me."[34] All but one of Anderton's electorate staff in Sydenham left with him.[3] Fellow MP and then-cabinet minister Michael Bassett commented "while Anderton liked to portray his differences as ideological, we knew from past experience that his real problem was that he wasn't the one in control of the government, and he could see no way of seizing power".[35]
On 1 May, Anderton announced the creation of the NewLabour Party, intended to represent the real spirit of the original Labour Party. Its primary goals were state intervention in the economy, retention of public assets, and full employment. In the 1990 general election Anderton retained his Sydenham seat, ensuring that NewLabour (and Anderton's criticism) would not fade away. A long-serving office manager and campaign director, Jeanette Lawrence, said Anderton retaining his seat at the 1990 general election was the "happiest she ever saw him".[3] He was the first MP in New Zealand political history to leave an established party, found another and be re-elected to Parliament representing that new party. In parliament, Anderton attacked the policies of the new National Party government, particularly Ruth Richardson's continuation of Rogernomics.
In regard to leaving Labour in 1989, he later recalled: "I have no regrets about any of that. Under the same circumstances I would do exactly the same again."[34] Anderton was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[36]
Alliance
Anderton and NewLabour were at the centre of the Alliance Party established in 1991. He became leader of the new party and in the 1993 election, was joined in parliament by Alliance colleague Sandra Lee. Jim Bolger spoke to him after the 1993 election where Anderton was "courteous and sensible and spoke about co-operating, but made it clear he would never enter into a coalition with a National-led government".[37] He briefly stepped down as leader of the Alliance in November 1994 following the suicide of his daughter the year before,[38] but returned in May 1995.[3][39]
In the 1996 election, the first to be held under the mixed-member proportional (MMP) system, the Alliance won 13 seats in Parliament. Anderton retained his constituency seat, now renamed Wigram, and he was joined in Parliament by 12 list MPs.[40]
Anderton was the most prominent critic of the rash of party-switching (sometimes called "
After the collapse of the National-New Zealand First coalition Anderton started a "Go Now" petition on 27 August 1998 calling on the government to resign and hold an election.[43] Former-Prime Minister Jim Bolger resigned from parliament triggering the 1998 Taranaki-King Country by-election. The Alliance performed surprisingly well, campaigning on opposition to the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment, they won 15% of the vote in a traditionally conservative electorate and finishing just two points behind Labour.[44] Following the by-election the Alliance and Labour began co-operating, informally to begin with, in recognition that it would be the only way to win power. Anderton, his chief advisor Andrew Ladley and Lee met with Labour leader Helen Clark, deputy Michael Cullen, secretary Tony Timms and Clark's advisor Heather Simpson met to agree on forming a coalition with one another if they each won enough seats at the next election. Ladley and Simpson drew up briefs on what a Labour-Alliance government would look like and how it would work.[45]
Fifth Labour Government
By the late 1990s, Labour under Clark's leadership had largely purged itself of the influence of Roger Douglas. Realising that the cost of a split in the left-wing vote would be a continuance of the National government, Labour and the Alliance agreed to form a coalition after the
The successful establishment of Kiwibank, a state-owned bank, is often cited as Anderton's greatest achievement.[34] It was initially opposed by both Clark and Cullen but Anderton eventually wore the Labour Cabinet down following several months of debate culminating with Annette King telling Cullen, "For God's sake, give him the bloody bank".[46]
Towards the end of the Alliance's first term in Government, Anderton came into conflict with the Alliance's administrative wing. Party president
In the election, Anderton was returned to Parliament, and the Progressives took the Alliance's place as Labour's coalition partner. Although Anderton won his electorate, the small amount of support the Progressives received (1.4% of the party vote) was enough for only one other Progressive (deputy leader Matt Robson) to enter Parliament. Anderton gave up the deputy prime minister's post to Minister of Finance and Labour deputy leader Michael Cullen. He remained Minister of Economic Development, and also held other ministerial portfolios. He ranked third in Cabinet, behind Clark and Cullen.
In the runup to the 2005 election Anderton renamed his party "Jim Anderton's Progressive Party". However, he was the only Progressive who returned to Parliament by a narrow margin after many left-wing voters voted for Labour to prevent a National government from being elected due to a split on the left. He became Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity, Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Forestry, Minister Responsible for the Public Trust, Associate Minister of Health, and Associate Minister for Tertiary Education.
The 2008 election saw a swing to the right, with National winning approximately 45% of the party vote to Labour's 34%. Anderton retained his seat but the Progressives' share of the party vote remained low, at less than one percent.[47] In a move described as "unorthodox" by the New Zealand Herald, Anderton announced that he would remain in coalition with Labour in opposition. He said that a priority for the Progressives would be to support better access to dental care.[48]
Christchurch mayoral candidacy
Anderton announced in May 2010 that he would contest the Christchurch mayoralty that October.[49] He initially said that if elected to the mayoralty he would not give up his seat in Parliament because he didn't want to cause an expensive by-election.[50] However, following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake Anderton announced he would stand down as MP for Wigram if elected mayor so he could fully focus on rebuilding the city.[51] Anderton was leading the polls until the earthquake hit.[52][53] He lost the election, taking 40.6% of the vote to incumbent mayor Bob Parker's 53.7% of the vote, with the rest of the vote split amongst numerous minor candidates.
Retirement
Anderton retired from Parliament at the
He was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services as a Member of Parliament.[58] On 3 September 2017, he had a special investiture ceremony at Nazareth House attended by the Governor-General (Dame Patsy Reddy), the Mayor of Christchurch (Lianne Dalziel), and former Prime Minister Helen Clark.[57]
Death
Anderton died in Christchurch on 7 January 2018, at age 79.[59][60][61] His funeral at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Christchurch was attended by hundreds, including the Prime Minister.[62] Anderton was buried at Onetangi Cemetery on Waiheke Island.[63]
Figures from across the political spectrum praised Anderton following his death, and the leaders of New Zealand's parliamentary parties paid tributes.[3][64]
Notes
- ISBN 9780862915933. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- ^ Stewart, Gary (5 November 2010). "The secret life of Matthew Byrne". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wright, Michael (7 January 2018). "The legacy of Jim Anderton: Former Deputy Prime Minister hailed 'one of the most highly-principled and idealistic' politicians". Stuff. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "Anderton, Jim - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Bassett 2008, p. 94.
- ^ "Declaration of Result of Election". The New Zealand Herald. 22 October 1971. p. 11.
- ^ a b c van Beynen, Martin (23 July 2010). "The final push". The Press. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "Declaration of Result of Election". The New Zealand Herald. 22 October 1974. p. 19.
- ^ "Declaration of Result of Election". The New Zealand Herald. 23 October 1974. p. 16.
- ^ Lange, David (2005). My Life. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin. p. 99.
- ^ "Mayor back by 5633". The New Zealand Herald. 24 October 1977. p. 2.
- ^ "Declaration of Result of Election". The New Zealand Herald. 24 October 1977. p. 11.
- ^ "Anderton has easy win in ARA poll". Auckland Star. 7 February 1977. p. 5.
- ^ "Onehunga Asks: Which Way Will Mr Anderton Jump?". The New Zealand Herald. 30 April 1980. p. 1.
- ^ "Anderton says 'no bid' on Onehunga". Auckland Star. 2 May 1980. p. 3.
- ^ Bassett 2008, p. 60.
- ^ Hayward 1981, p. 19.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 79.
- ^ Grant 2022, pp. 80–1.
- ^ a b Grant 2022, p. 81.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 80.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 74.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 75.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 76.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 77.
- ^ Shand, Greg (5 February 1982). "Dr Bassett Pays Penalty but Intends to Continue 'Fight'". The New Zealand Herald. p. 3.
- ^ "Electorate picks Aucklander". The Press. 8 August 1983. p. 1.
- ^ "Angry M.P. blasts Sydenham's choice". The Press. 8 August 1983. p. 1.
- OCLC 154283103.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 78.
- ^ Grant 2022, pp. 117–8.
- ^ Bassett 2008, p. 405.
- ^ Hewlett, Paul (4 September 1988). "Government sweeps clean at conference". Auckland Star. p. A3.
- ^ a b c d e "Jim Anderton remembered as champion of MMP, Kiwibank, paid parental leave". The New Zealand Herald. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Bassett 2008, p. 475.
- ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ Bolger, Jim (1998). A View from the Top (1st ed.). Auckland, New Zealand: Viking. p. 133.
- ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Anderton, Jim – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 274.
- ^ "Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill — Second Reading - New Zealand Parliament". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).
- ^ "Alliance Collapse Threatens Legality of Government". scoop.co.nz. 25 March 2002.
- ^ Grant 2022, p. 295.
- ^ Grant 2022, pp. 287–8, 291.
- ^ Grant 2022, pp. 294–5.
- ^ Watkins, Tracy (5 October 2011). "Anderton's persistence led to Kiwibank". Stuff. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "Election results 2008".
- ^ "Anderton to stay with Labour, even in opposition". The New Zealand Herald. 19 November 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "Anderton to run for mayor". The Press. Christchurch. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- ^ "Jim Anderton won't give up seat if elected mayor". NZPA. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
- ^ Booker, Jarrod (12 September 2010). "Anderton presses on with mayoral bid". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Anderton leads Christchurch mayoral poll". Stuff. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ "Post-quake Christchurch poll shock". Stuff. 29 September 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ "Dr Megan Woods".
- ^ Commission, New Zealand Electoral. "Official Count Results – Wigram". archive.electionresults.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ISBN 978-1991006-1-03.
- ^ a b Rutherford, Bridget (7 September 2017). "Ailing Jim Anderton recognised at special investiture ceremony". The Star. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2017". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- The Dominion Post. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "Former deputy PM Jim Anderton dies". The New Zealand Herald. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "Former Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton has died". radionz.co.nz. RNZ. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Gates, Charlie (11 January 2018). "New Zealand statesman Jim Anderton farewelled by family and friends". The Press – via Stuff.co.uk.
- ^ "Family say final goodbyes to Jim Anderton at Waiheke burial". The New Zealand Herald. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- RNZ. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
References
- ISBN 978-1-86971-094-1.
- Grant, David (2022). Anderton: His Life and Times. Wellington: Te Herenga Waka University Press. ISBN 9781776920563.
- Hayward, Margaret (1981). Diary of the Kirk Years. Auckland: ISBN 0589013505.
External links
- "Jim Anderton's valedictory speech to Parliament, 2011 (audio recording)". Nga Taonga. 2023.
- Mayoral campaign website (archived)
- Jim Anderton's Progressives, archived site of Anderton's now-dissolved party
- Profile at New Zealand Parliament