Margaret Austin
| The Honourable Margaret Austin CNZM | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 25th Minister of Internal Affairs | |
|
In office 1990–1990 | |
| Prime Minister |
David Lange Geoffrey Palmer |
| Preceded by | Michael Bassett |
| Succeeded by | Graeme Lee |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Yaldhurst | |
|
In office 14 July 1984 – 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Mick Connelly |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 April 1933 (age 85) Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Political party |
Labour United |
| Profession | Teacher |
Margaret Elizabeth Austin CNZM (born 1 April 1933) is a former New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1984 to 1996, representing first the Labour Party and then briefly United New Zealand.
Biography
Early life and career
Austin was born in Dunedin in 1933.[1] She attended the University of Canterbury and graduated with a Diploma of Teaching. She went on to teach in Christchurch and in 1971 became the Head of Science at Christchurch Girls' High School and later became Senior Mistress at Riccarton High School in 1977. She was also a member of the Educational Administration Society and was its President for three years.[1]
Political career
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1984–1987 | 41st | Yaldhurst | Labour | |
| 1987–1990 | 42nd | Yaldhurst | Labour | |
| 1990–1993 | 43rd | Yaldhurst | Labour | |
| 1993–1995 | 44th | Yaldhurst | Labour | |
| 1995–1996 | Changed allegiance to: | United NZ | ||
She was first elected to Parliament in the 1984 election as the MP for Yaldhurst, an electorate in western Christchurch. After Labour's re-election at the 1987 election, Austin was elected her party's Senior Whip following Michael Cullen's elevation to cabinet.[1]
During her time in Parliament, Austin served as a Minister of Research and Development, Internal Affairs and of Arts, Culture and Heritage. She held the seat for the Labour Party until 1995 when the seat was abolished, in preparation for the changeover to MMP, and she joined with six other MPs to found the centrist United New Zealand Party. Like all United New Zealand MPs (but Peter Dunne), Austin was not re-elected in the 1996 election; Austin stood in the new Ilam electorate where she came third.[2]
In 1993, Austin was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal.[3]
Later activities
She later became Chancellor of Lincoln University. In the 2008 New Year Honours, Austin was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.[4]
Further reading
- A Guide to quality education: handbook for quality, access and participation in New Zealand education prepared by the Labour Opposition, Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Labour Party, 1992
- Ministerial brief: Margaret Austin, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Department of Internal Affairs, 1990
- NZPPTA Principals' Council Conference 1993, Auckland: education for an effective society, Sheraton Hotel, Auckland, July 11–14 [NZPPTA Principals' Council Conference (1993: Auckland, N.Z.)], Wellington, [N.Z.]: The Association, 1993
- Austin's contribution is: "Speech notes."
- Positioning Polytechnics for the 90s: Association of Polytechnics in New Zealand Annual Conference, October 1991, hosted by Carrington Polytechnic at the Sheraton Hotel, Auckland : edited proceedings [Association of Polytechnics in New Zealand. Annual Conference (1991 : Auckland, N.Z.)], Auckland, [N.Z.]: Carrington Polytechnic, 1991
- Austin's contribution is noted under the title: "Opposition Spokesperson on Education."
- Strategies to achieve excellence: expanding the potential of young Maori through education: 7 September 1993, the James Cook Centra, Wellington [prepared by Institute for International Research], Auckland, [N.Z.]: The Institute, 1993
- Austin's contribution is a paper entitled: "[T]he agenda for change and it's [sic] effects on education."
- Austin, Margaret E. (chair); et al. (1997), Achieving excellence: a review of the education external evaluation services: self management, self-review, self improvement, whaia te iti kahurangi (strive for the ultimate), Wellington, [N.Z.]: State Services Commission, ISBN 0-478-08931-7
- Ogonowska-Coates, Halina (ed.) (1995), Invincible women : a collection of herstories / commissioned by the Christchurch College of Education Te Whare Whai Matauraka ki Otautahi, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: The College, ISBN 0-908858-01-9
- This book contains a profile of Austin, with eleven other women.
- Scott, Noel; Austin, Margaret E.; Mallard, Trevor (1985), Interim report of Government Committee on Transition Education to Hon. Russell Marshall, Minister of Education, Hon. Kerry Burke, Minister of Employment, Wellington, [N.Z.]: The Committee
Notes
- 1 2 3 Who' Who 1987, p. 32.
- ↑ "Electorate Candidate and Party Votes Recorded at Each Polling Place - Ilam, 1996" (PDF). Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ↑ "The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – register of recipients". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ↑ "New Year honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
References
- Who's Who in the New Zealand Parliament 1987. Wellington: Parliamentary Service. 1987.
- Temple, Philip (1994). Temple’s Guide to the 44th New Zealand Parliament. Dunedin: McIndoe Publishers. p. 53. ISBN 0 86868 159 8.
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mick Connelly |
Member of Parliament for Yaldhurst 1984–1996 |
Constituency abolished |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Michael Cullen |
Senior Whip of the Labour Party 1987–1990 |
Succeeded by Trevor Mallard |