2009 Mount Albert by-election

New Zealand by-election January 2017 November 2021 2009 Mount Albert by-election New Zealand 2009 presidential no 2008 New Zealand general election 2008 general 2011 New Zealand general election 2011 general yes 2009 06 13 20,943 (c. 60.8%) 110px David Shearer New Zealand Labour Party 13,260 63.31% 115px Melissa Lee New Zealand National Party 3,542 16.91% 100px Russel Norman Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 2,567 12.26% 105px John Boscawen ACT New Zealand 968 4.62% Member Helen Clark New Zealand Labour Party David Shearer New Zealand Labour Party Mt albert electorate 2008.png 300px The 2009 Mount Albert by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Mount Albert on 13 June 2009.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10567602 Date set for Mt Albert by-election The New Zealand Herald 20 April 2009 15 February 2010 There were fifteen candidates in the election.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/france/news/article.cfm?l_id=42&objectid=10573259 Mt Albert by-election candidates named The New Zealand Herald 7 February 2010 19 May 2009 David Shearer of the Labour Party won the election with 63% of the vote. The seat was vacated by former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark, who resigned from the New Zealand Parliament on 17 April 2009http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10567284&pnum=1 Haere ra Helen and Heather 18 April 2009 Audrey Young The New Zealand Herald following her appointment to head the United Nations Development Programme. Main issues surrounding the campaign included the building of the Waterview Connection and the Auckland Region becoming a supercity.http://www.3news.co.nz/The-muscle-to-protect-Mount-Alberts-services/tabid/419/articleID/103547/Default.aspx The muscle to protect Mount Albert's services Russel Norman Russel Norman 10 May 2009 7 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20120406085228/http://www.3news.co.nz/The-muscle-to-protect-Mount-Alberts-services/tabid/419/articleID/103547/Default.aspx 6 April 2012 dead Background The Mount Albert electorate is based around the neighbourhoods of western and central Auckland City. It includes the suburbs of Point Chevalier, Kingsland, Avondale, Waterview, as well as the eponymous Mount Albert. It has been held by the New Zealand Labour Party since its creation in 1946; Helen Clark was its representative from 1981 until 2009 and enjoyed a large majority in Mt Albert, winning 59% of the electorate vote in the 2008 election while Labour only won 42% of the party vote.http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/electorate-26.html Official Count Results – Mt Albert NZ Chief Electoral Office 22 November 2008 5 April 2009 Prior to the election, National had 58 seats in the House of Representatives, Labour had 42, Green had 9, ACT had 5, Māori had 5, Progressive had 1, and United Future had 1. Labour had lost one seat since the general election, as a result of the resignation of Clark, which caused the by-election. Key dates The key dates for the by-election are as follows:http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0904/S00241.htm Mt Albert by-election date announced 20 April 2009 20 April 2009 New Zealand Government Scoop.co.nz Writ Day – Monday 11 May Nominations Open – Tuesday 12 May Nominations Day – Tuesday 19 May Advance Voting start – Wednesday 27 May Election – Saturday 13 June Official Results – Thursday 25 June Returns of Writs – Tuesday 30 June Results http://electionresults.org.nz/2009_mt_albert_byelection/ Official Count Results – Mt Albert 24 June 2009 4 September 2009 20 May 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100520192511/http://www.electionresults.org.nz/2009_mt_albert_byelection/ dead Candidates There were fifteen candidates in total. David Shearer (Labour) Former UN Deputy Special Representative and 2002 candidate for Whangarei David Shearer won the Labour nomination from a field of eight candidates including lawyer Helen White and Auckland City councillor Glenda Fryer.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10568780 Goff thinks fresh face has winning edge 27 April 2009 19 May 2009 The New Zealand Herald Audrey Young Shortly after his selection, media attention focused on articles he wrote for Foreign Affairs and World Today (in 1998 and 2001 respectively) arguing for the use and regulation of private military companies by Western governments for peacekeeping missions where they are unwilling to contribute troops.http://www.fsa.ulaval.ca/personnel/VernaG/EH/F/cons/lectures/mercenaries.htm https://archive.today/20120730212159/http://www.fsa.ulaval.ca/personnel/VernaG/EH/F/cons/lectures/mercenaries.htm dead 2012-07-30 Outsourcing War Fall 1998 13 February 2010 David Shearer David Shearer This was at odds with the position of Labour Party Leader and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff.http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/labour-names-david-shearer-as-mt-albert-candidate/11/7505 Labour Names David Shearer As Mt Albert Candidate New Zealand Press Association 3 May 2009 7 February 2010 National Party Leader and Prime Minister John Key said this was "a hypocritical position" because Labour claimed during 2008's election campaign that National had a secret privatisation agenda.http://www.stuff.co.nz/2370557/Labour-accuses-National-of-by-election-dirty-tricks Labour accuses National of by-election dirty tricks 28 April 2009 19 May 2009 Stuff New Zealand New Zealand Press Association Media speculation prior to the selection suggested that the Labour Party nomination would go to then-current list MP Phil Twyford. Twyford announced that he would not seek the seat on 21 April. This followed media reports that the Labour Party was unwilling to allow Twyford's list place to be taken by defeated Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10567827 Twyford's list decision closes door on Tizard The New Zealand Herald 22 April 2009 15 February 2010 Patrick Gower Melissa Lee (National) First-term list MP Melissa Lee beat 2008 candidate Ravi Masuku for the National Party nomination on 5 May.http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/2384285/Nats-pick-Lee-for-Mt-Albert Nats Pick Lee for Mt Albert 5 May 2009 5 May 2009 Dominion Post Tracy Watkins Lee faced allegations that her production company Asia Vision had spent New Zealand on Air money making a promotional video for the National Party ahead of the 2008 election. Lee called the allegations "ridiculous", saying that all work on the video was done on a voluntary basis. New Zealand on Air investigated and cleared Lee of any misconduct. The Green Party complained to the Electoral Commission, saying that the video should have been declared as an election expense.http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/2412934/Lee-gaffe-sets-back-her-poll-chances Lee gaffe sets her poll chances back 15 May 2009 17 May 2009 scoop.co.nz Martin Kay If Lee had won the by-election, the next (58th) person on the National Party list – Conway Powell – would have become a list MP, as Lee was already a list MP. note: originally Cam Calder would have been the next list MP, but the day before the election (12 June) list MP Dr Richard Worth resigned from parliament over sexual allegations,http://www.nzherald.co.nz/audrey-young/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501219&objectid=10578103 Worth's exit the best decision The New Zealand Herald Audrey Young 12 June 2009 15 February 2010 so Calder became an MP regardless.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10582179 Sex allegation against Worth withdrawn The New Zealand Herald Patrick Gower 3 July 2009 15 February 2010 Russel Norman (Green) Green Party co-leader Russel Norman was the only nomination from his party and was the first candidate from a party then in Parliament to declare his candidacy. In 2008, he stood in Rongotai, finishing third with 15.84% of the vote.http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/greens-norman-sets-sight-mt-albert-2672150 Norman sets sights on Mt Albert 30 April 2009 5 May 2009 tvnz.co.nz If Norman had won the by-election, the next (10th) person on the Green Party list – David Clendon – would have become a list MP, as Norman was already a list MP. John Boscawen (ACT) ACT selected list MP John Boscawen on 2 May. In the 2008 election, Boscawen ran in the seat of North Shore, coming fourth with 4% of the vote.http://www.act.org.nz/news/strong-message-is-needed-for-change https://archive.today/20090508082539/http://www.act.org.nz/news/strong-message-is-needed-for-change dead 8 May 2009 Strong Message is Needed for Change 2 May 2009 5 May 2009 ACT New Zealand If Boscawen had won the by-election, the next (6th) person on the ACT list – Hilary Calvert – would have become a list MP, as Boscawen was already a list MP. Judy Turner (United Future) United Future party president and former MP (2002–2008) Judy Turner was announced as her party's candidate on 14 May.http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0905/S00264.htm Judy Turner standing for United Future in Mt Albert 14 May 2009 14 May 2009 scoop.co.nz United Future New Zealand In 2008, Turner stood in the East Coast seat, coming fifth with 3.3 percent of the vote. Other candidates Ben Boyce Ben Boyce is the second half of the comedy duo Bill and Ben. They stood on a "no policies, no promises, no disappointment" platform in 2008 and out-polled all other minor parties. Simonne Dyer Businesswoman Simonne Dyer was selected by The Kiwi Party on 4 May. In 2008 she was her party's candidate for Rodney, where she finished second to last with 1.55% of the vote.http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0905/S00041.htm Candidate for Mt Albert selected by Kiwi Party 4 May 2009 5 May 2009 scoop.co.nz The Kiwi Party Dakta Green Former National Party chair of the Pakuranga electorate Dakta Green was selected as the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate on 2 May.http://www.alcp.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=145:stop-the-arrests-vote-dakta-green&catid=40:media-releases&Itemid=56 Stop the Arrests – vote Dakta Green 2 May 2009 5 May 2009 Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party Green had been arrested a number of times in the campaign for drugs offences. In response, Green has alleged police harassment and political interference in his campaign.ALCP: State Interference in By-Election Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0905/S00132.htm 11 May 2009 15 February 2010 Julian Pistorius Julian Pistorius was a 32-year-old computer programmer and former deputy leader of Libertarianz.http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0905/S00170.htm Libz Announce Candidate For Mt Albert 13 May 2009 Scoop 13 May 2009 Jackson Wood Jackson Wood was the then-editor of Victoria University student magazine Salient. He announced his independent candidacy on 21 April, being the first person to do so. He campaigned from Wellington, instead of Auckland,http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45546274944 Jackson James Wood for Mount Albert 5 May 2009 Facebook save for an open-invite slingshot battle on top of Mount Albert on 6 June, which he invited all other candidates to attend.http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0905/S00062.htm Wood challenges candidates 5 May 2009 17 May 2009 scoop.co.nz Jackson Wood Malcolm France Climaction coordinator. France's policies include:http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0905/S00256.htm People before Profit against Motorways and the Man Malcolm France 20 May 2009 7 February 2010 Civil disobedience against motorway No supercity $15 minimum wage. France smeared a chocolate lamington cake on ACT candidate Boscawen in protest of the supercity. ACT candidate smeared with Cake at by-election debate http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10574498 The New Zealand Herald 25 May 2009 27 May 2009 PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT:Lemington Steal 25 May 2009 https://peoplebeforeprofitalliance.blogspot.com/2009/05/lemington-steal.html 27 May 2009 3 News > Video > Politics > Lamington attack interrupts Mt Albert debate http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/Politics/tabid/370/articleID/105752/cat/68/Default.aspx#video 3 News video 25 May 2009 27 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20120224195214/http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/Politics/tabid/370/articleID/105752/cat/68/Default.aspx#video 24 February 2012 dead Rusty Kane Advocates binding citizens initiated referendums.http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0905/S00338.htm Rusty Kane: The Full Interview Rusty Kane 26 May 2009 7 February 2010Rusty referenda Taranaki Daily News Rusty Kane 26 June 2009 Anthony van den Heuvel Van den Heuvel is of the Human Rights Party. Jim Bagnall Bagnall contested the election for the Union of Fathers.https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/05/19/1245b041e401 15 candidates to contest Mt Albert by-election Radio New Zealand 19 May 2009 5 February 2010 Ari Baker Independent candidate Campaign Waterview Connection SH20 Waterview Connection A main issue in the campaign was the "Waterview Connection" – the connection of the Southwestern motorway at Mount Roskill with the Northwestern motorway at the suburb of Waterview, on the northern edge of the seat. Transit New Zealand announced in 2008 (during the last year of the Fifth Labour Government) that its preferred option was for a two-lane tunnel costed at NZ$1.97 billion. The final cost of NZ$3.1 billion cited by the National Government included an expansion to a three-lane tunnel, upgrades to connecting roads and financing costs.http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/ Transit – Waterview Connection Transit New Zealand 8 February 2008 In May 2009, National's Transport Minister Steven Joyce announced that he was "not comfortable" with this cost, preferring a surface option costing NZ$1.1 billion.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10554464&pnum=0 Cost blowout threatens tunnel plan The New Zealand Herald Mathew Dearnaley 31 January 2009 15 February 2010 Although this option is over a billion dollars cheaper, the plan will require the demolition of 365 houses along the route in addition to the ones required for the tunnel option.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10572162 Western ring route dooms 365 houses 14 May 2009 17 May 2009 Matthew Dearnaley The New Zealand Herald Labour called the option "second class" and that the decision was dismissive of the wishes of the people of Mount Albert.http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/05/12/lee-isolated-on-waterview-option/ Lee isolated on Waterview option 12 May 2009 17 May 2009 New Zealand Labour Party scoop.co.nz Green Party candidate Russel Norman described the plan as "better than the worst of all options", but added that the best anti-congestion investment would be public transport.http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/emotions-run-high-motorway-meeting-2735208 Emotions run high at Waterview Motorway Connection meeting 13 May 2009 17 May 2009 One News Television New Zealand National's candidate Melissa Lee backed the surface option, saying that the decision would bring certainty to the area. She also suggests that the tunnel option was "unaffordable".http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/national-news/2405786/Mt-Albert-tunnel-plan-dropped Mt Albert tunnel plan dropped 13 May 2009 Michael Field New Zealand Press Association Manawatu Standard scoop.co.nz 15 February 2010 New Zealand Press Association Meanwhile, Independent candidate Jackson Wood proposed a series of zeppelins to carry cars without the need for any construction.http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0905/S00152.htm Jackson Wood Floats New Solution To Waterview 12 May 2009 Jackson Wood 15 February 2010 Melissa Lee was widely criticised for claiming that the SH20 Waterview Connection would stop criminals from South Auckland committing crime in Mt Albert.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10572203 MP: Motorway would keep South Auckland criminals out The New Zealand Herald 14 May 2009 15 February 2010http://www.3news.co.nz/Home/Story/tabid/209/articleID/104183/Default.aspx Political gaffes leave Melissa Lee's campaign in tatters 14 May 2009 19 May 2009 3 News https://web.archive.org/web/20120224195140/http://www.3news.co.nz/Home/Story/tabid/209/articleID/104183/Default.aspx 24 February 2012 dead Her party leader John Key called her comments "stupid" and Lee later apologised.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10572257 Manukau mayor accepts Lee's apology 14 May 2009 17 May 2009 The New Zealand Herald This happens..... people coming in from South Auckland get to Mount Albert, right?...and the thing it's like, hopefully, we could divert some of that traffic and criminals away from Mount Albert... Melissa Lee TVNZ Newshttp://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/lee-steps-into-another-controversy-2735404/video Lee steps into another controversy Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Press Association Television New Zealand 14 May 2010 13 July 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110613162554/http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/lee-steps-into-another-controversy-2735404/video 13 June 2011 Auckland governance May 2009 The governance of the Auckland Region was another issue that was raised in the by-election campaign. The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance released its report at the end of March and the ruling National Party outlined its plans before campaigning began. Labour did not support the current legislation relating to the supercity, and filibustered on the weekend of 15–18 May 2009, by proposing about 1000 amendments to the legislation, as the government was not sending it to the select committee process, and that a referendum was not being held for Aucklanders to decide whether a supercity was wanted. Labour filibuster on Supercity bills http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/2415569/Labour-filibuster-on-Supercity-bills The Dominion Post New Zealand 15 May 2009 27 May 2009 Super City filibuster is beaten at last << Alf Grumble https://alfgrumblemp.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/super-city-filibuster-is-beaten-at-last/ 17 May 2009 15 February 2010 Debates Unitec Auckland University Plunket Public Service Association Combined Churches (Ecumenical Group) of Mt Albert Bfm NiuFM/531PI Radio Live Q+A David Shearer and Melissa Lee were interviewed by Paul Holmes on TVNZ's show on Sunday, 10 May. Mt Albert candidates David Shearer and Melissa Lee http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/q-paul-holmes-interviews-melissa-lee-and-david-shearer-2724350/video video 10 May 2009 12 June 2009 On Sunday, 7 June, Russel Norman and John Boscawen were interviewed on the show. Mt Albert candidates Russel Norman and John Boscawen http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/q-mt-albert-candidates-russell-norman-and-john-boscawen-13-47-2772638 video 7 June 2009 12 June 2009 Back Benches On Wednesday, 10 June, John Boscawen, Melissa Lee, Russel Norman, David Shearer and Judy Turner (the candidates from five main parties) appeared on the TVNZ show Back Benches.Back Benches Episode 19, Series 2009 http://tvnz.co.nz/back-benches/s2009-e19-video-2777149 video 10 June 2009 11 June 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090820063304/http://tvnz.co.nz/back-benches/s2009-e19-video-2777149 20 August 2009 This episode was filmed and aired on 10 June, and was reshown on 12 June, on the channel TVNZ7. Polls Party Candidate ONE News/Colmar Brunton–released 7 Junehttp://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/labour-well-ahead-in-mt-albert-2771457 Labour well ahead in Mt Albert ONE News Television New Zealand 7 June 2009 9 June 2009 Labour well ahead in Mt Albert http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/labour-well-ahead-in-mt-albert-2771457/video ONE News Television New Zealand video 7 June 2009 9 June 2009http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/news2008/colmar_brunton/june09/june_2009_mt_albert_byelectionpoll_report.pdf Mt. Albert (By-Election) Electorate Poll ONE News/Colmar Brunton Television New Zealand 7 June 2009 15 February 2010TV3/Reid–released 10 Junehttp://www.3news.co.nz/News/Mtalbertbyelection/David-Shearer-to-win-Mt-Albert-seat---3-News-poll/tabid/419/articleID/108067/cat/874/Default.aspx David Shearer to win Mt Albert seat 10 June 2009 3 News TV3 15 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20120224195546/http://www.3news.co.nz/News/Mtalbertbyelection/David-Shearer-to-win-Mt-Albert-seat---3-News-poll/tabid/419/articleID/108067/cat/874/Default.aspx 24 February 2012 deadhttp://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10577675 Labour's Shearer strolling to by-election win in Mt Albert: Poll 10 June 2009 15 February 2010 The New Zealand HeraldLabourDavid Shearer59%61.7%NationalMelissa Lee 21% 20.6%GreenRussel Norman 15% 13%ACTJohn Boscawen 3.3% 3.6%Others1.7%1.1%Sample 500 750Margin of error 4.4% 3.6% Shearer's huge majority meant that a low turnout was predicted, because voters may have felt that the result was inevitable.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10577080 Grim poll result caps bad week for Nats The New Zealand Herald 8 June 2009 Audrey Young 15 February 2010 Actual turnout was 20,943, a 41% decrease on that of the 2008 general election.http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/Electorates/EPData/7/9/1/DBHOH_Lib_EP_MtAlbert_Data_3-Mt-Albert-Electoral-Profile.htm Mt Albert: Electoral Profile Parliamentary Library 26 August 2009 5 February 2010 See also List of New Zealand by-elections References Mount Albert by-election, 2009 External links Elections New Zealand – Mount Albert by-election page Category:2009 elections in New Zealand Mount Albert 2009 Category:Politics of the Auckland Region Category:2000s in Auckland Category:June 2009 in New Zealand