Ross Robertson

Harold Valentine Ross Robertson QSO JP (born 22 May 1949), known as Ross Robertson, is a New Zealand politician for the Labour Party. He was a Member of Parliament from 1987 until his retirement in 2014. He also served as president of Parliamentarians for Global Action.[1]

For the Scottish footballer, see Ross Robertson (footballer).

Ross Robertson

QSO JP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Manukau East
In office
12 October 1996 – 20 September 2014
Succeeded byJenny Salesa
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Papatoetoe
In office
15 August 1987 – 12 October 1996
Preceded byEddie Isbey
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
Harold Valentine Ross Robertson

(1949-05-22) 22 May 1949
Wellington, New Zealand
Political partyLabour

Early life

Robertson was born in Wellington on 22 May 1949.[2] Before entering politics, he was an industrial engineer.

Political career

Member of Parliament
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
1987–1990 42nd Papatoetoe Labour
1990–1993 43rd Papatoetoe Labour
1993–1996 44th Papatoetoe Labour
1996–1999 45th Manukau East none Labour
1999–2002 46th Manukau East none Labour
2002–2005 47th Manukau East none Labour
2005–2008 48th Manukau East none Labour
2008–2011 49th Manukau East none Labour
2011–2014 50th Manukau East none Labour

Robertson was first elected to Parliament in the 1987 election, representing Papatoetoe replacing the retiring Eddie Isbey.[3] He would hold the seat until the 1996 elections, when the Papatoetoe seat was abolished. That same year, Robertson was then elected to represent the replacement seat of Manukau East.[4] In November 1990 he was appointed as Labour's spokesperson for Energy and Statistics by Labour leader Mike Moore.[5]

In the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand he was an assistant speaker, able to preside when any of the other presiding officers are unavailable.[4]

In 2006 Robertson reported to the New Zealand Police that a marijuana dealer was operating next to his electorate office in Ōtara.[6]

In 2013, Robertson voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill, which aimed to permit same-sex marriage in New Zealand, with fellow Labour MPs William Sio, Rino Tirikatene and Damien O'Connor.

On 6 June 2013, Robertson announced that he would retire from Parliament in order to pursue a career in local-body politics.[7]

Robertson was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order, for services as a Member of Parliament, in the 2015 New Year Honours.[8]

Local-body politics

Robertson was elected to the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board in the 2013 Auckland elections[9][10] and was re-elected in 2016[11] and 2019.[12]

References
  • Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946-1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
  1. "About Us - Who's Who". Parliamentarians for Global Action. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  2. Temple, Philip (1994). Temple's Guide to the 44th New Zealand Parliament. Dunedin: McIndoe Publishers. p. 80. ISBN 0-86868-159-8.
  3. Norton 1988, pp. 313.
  4. "Ross Robertson". New Zealand Parliament. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  5. "All Labour's 29 MPs get areas of responsibility". Otago Daily Times. 28 November 1990. p. 4.
  6. "MP reported tinnie house next door to his office". The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. 10 April 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  7. Shuttleworth, Kate (6 June 2013). "Labour MP Ross Robertson retires from Parliament". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  8. "New Year honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  9. "auckland.scoop.co.nz » Voter turnout appalling – Ross Robertson". Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  10. "Local elections 2013: Full Auckland results". NZ Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  11. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Auckland Council. "2019 local elections final results" (PDF).
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Eddie Isbey		 Member of Parliament for Papatoetoe
1987–1996		 Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Manukau East
1996–2014		 Succeeded by
Jenny Salesa
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