Barbara Stewart

Barbara Joy Stewart (born 1952) is a New Zealand politician. She is a member of the New Zealand First party.

For the composer, see Barbara Stewart (composer).

Early life

Stewart was born in Wairoa in 1952. She obtained a BEd and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies, both from the University of Waikato. Before entering politics, she was a teacher and a company training officer.[1]

Political career

Stewart was initially a member of the National Party and acted as secretary for the Feilding branch 1987–90.[1]

Member of Parliament
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2002–2005 47th List 6 NZ First
2005–2008 48th List 6 NZ First
2011–2014 50th List 5 NZ First
2014–2017 51st List 5 NZ First

Stewart was elected to Parliament in the 2002 election as a list MP, having been ranked sixth on the New Zealand First party list.[1] In 2006, she introduced a Member's bill to Parliament to reduce the size of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 120 members to 100 members. The bill passed its first reading 61 votes to 60 on 16 March 2006, but was defeated at its Second Reading on 8 November 2006.

In the 2008 general election Stewart was fifth on the New Zealand First list, but the party lost all its parliamentary seats, winning no electorates and polling below the 5% threshold.

At the 2011 election Stewart was re-elected to Parliament following a resurgence in the New Zealand First vote, where she had been ranked fifth on the party list. Stewart had stood in the Waikato seat but was unsuccessful in defeating Lindsay Tisch, the incumbent National Party of New Zealand MP. Stewart was elected whip by the new NZ First caucus following the 2011 election and remained in this role following her re-election in 2014.[2]

In 2013, Stewart voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill, which aims to permit same sex marriage in New Zealand, with all of her follow New Zealand first MPs.

Stewart announced that, following the death of her husband, she will not stand for re-election in 2017.[3]

References
  1. "Members of Parliament". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  2. "New Zealand Parliament - Stewart, Barbara". Parliament.nz. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  3. "NZ First MP Barbara Stewart's husband's death has prompted her decision to leave Parliament". Stuff.co.nz. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
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