The Honourable
Ginny Andersen
MP
Andersen in 2023
52nd Minister of Justice
In office
24 July 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byKiri Allan
Succeeded byPaul Goldsmith
42nd Minister of Police
In office
20 March 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byMegan Woods
Succeeded byMark Mitchell
2nd Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications
In office
1 February 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byDavid Clark
Succeeded byJudith Collins
14th Minister for Seniors
In office
1 February 2023 – 27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChris Hipkins
Preceded byAyesha Verrall
Succeeded byCasey Costello
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
Assumed office
23 September 2017
ConstituencyList (2023–present)
Hutt South (2020–23)
List (2017–20)
Personal details
Born1975 (age 48–49)
New Zealand
Political partyLabour
SpouseGeoff Gwyn
RelationsBill Andersen (great-uncle)
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury
WebsiteLabour Party profile

Virginia Ruby Andersen[1][2][3] (born 1975)[4] is a New Zealand politician. She has been a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party since the 2017 New Zealand general election.

Andersen held the offices of Minister of Police and Minister of Justice in the final months of the Sixth Labour Government.

Early life and career

Andersen was born in 1975.[4] Her parents were both teachers at low-decile schools around the country and her childhood was spent all over New Zealand including Great Barrier Island, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa before settling in Christchurch where she attended Phillipstown School and later Avonside Girls' High School. Her high school principal was Marian Hobbs, who later became a cabinet minister under Helen Clark. Bill Andersen, a noted activist and trade union leader, was her great-uncle.[5]

While living in the Christchurch suburb of Linwood, Anderson became aware of the negative social impacts of gangs and drugs which were present in the area. She "grew up with kids whose parents were on methadone" and "had friends who took their life at a really young age because the parents were ... addict[s]”.[6]

After leaving school, she studied political science and Māori at the University of Canterbury, becoming fluent in te reo Māori,[7] before spending three years traveling overseas.[6] On her return to New Zealand, she continued her studies completing a master's degree in political science in 2004. Her thesis addressed indigenous self-determination based on the Crown's Treaty settlement with Ngai Tahu.[8]

Following that, she worked at the Office of Treaty Settlements, and in 2004, became private secretary for Margaret Wilson on treaty negotiations. After that, she became a political adviser for David Cunliffe and then Trevor Mallard.[6][9]

Andersen wanted a family, which she felt was incompatible with the long work hours in Parliament,[6] so in 2006, took a job with the New Zealand Police. She was employed as a policy unit manager focussing on gang problems, and organised crime. She became a strategic adviser on Māori, Pacific and ethnic services with a focus on reducing Māori reoffending. When John Key became prime minister, she was seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to work on the Methamphetamine Action Plan.[10] She also worked on the government's Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill which enabled vehicles owned by boy racers to be crushed.[11] In a 2023 interview, Andersen stated that working under Key's National Party government as a public servant was her inspiration to run for election as a Labour candidate.[6]

Early political career

At the 2008 election Andersen was a campaign volunteer for her former Beehive colleague Chris Hipkins, who was the Labour candidate in the Remutaka electorate.[6] Hipkins was successful and Andersen was his campaign manager for the 2011 election.[11] She was selected as a Labour candidate for the 2014 election, running in the Ōhāriu electorate and placed 37 on the Labour Party list.[1][12] She was not elected, but her loss to the long-standing incumbent, Peter Dunne of United Future, was by only 710 votes, the third lowest margin in the country.[13] She was ranked at 37 on the Labour Party list.

After the election, Andersen served as the Labour Party's vice president from 2015 to 2017, when she stood down to focus on her parliamentary candidacy for the 2017 general election. In October 2016, Andersen was selected as Labour's candidate for the electorate of Hutt South for the 2017 election over Hutt City Councillor Campbell Barry and list candidate Sarah Packer.[1] She replaced long-serving member of parliament Trevor Mallard as the Labour Party candidate who had, in July of that year, said he would serve as a list-only candidate for the election with the intention of becoming Speaker of the House.[1][2][14]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2017–2020 52nd List 28 Labour
2020–2023 53rd Hutt South 45 Labour
2023–present 54th List 17 Labour

Sixth Labour Government, 2017–2023

While Andersen lost the Hutt South election to National Party candidate Chris Bishop, she entered parliament via the party list, ranked at 28 for Labour.[15] In her first term, Andersen was a member of the justice committee and the deputy chair of the governance and administration committee.[16]

Andersen was responsible for the Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill, a private member's bill that proposed allowing people who have suffered a miscarriage with three days paid bereavement leave. The bill was selected for debate in 2018 and passed unanimously in 2021.[17][18][19] The bill made New Zealand one of the first countries in the world to provide specific paid leave for miscarriage bereavements.[20][21]

In September 2020, controversy arose over the unusual arrangements for Andersen's office space rented by the Labour Party in Hutt South.[22] Rent for MPs’ offices are paid by Parliamentary Services. However, a sublease arrangement, which had been in place for decades under Andersen's predecessor Trevor Mallard, meant that Parliamentary Services (using public money) were paying the Labour Party $6,000 per annum to cover the rent, but the Labour Party was only paying the landlord, the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU), $1,500 a year. The $4,500 overpayment went to the Labour Party which used it for campaigning and other expenses.[22][23] Once the arrangement became public, Andersen cancelled it.[24]

At the 2020 New Zealand general election, Andersen was again Labour's candidate for Hutt South,[25] and defeated National's Chris Bishop by 3,777 votes.[26][27] In her second term, Andersen was appointed the chair of the justice committee.[16]

On 31 January 2023, in a Cabinet reshuffle marking the appointment of Chris Hipkins as prime minister, Andersen was promoted into the Cabinet. She was named Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Seniors, Associate Minister of Immigration and the Associate Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.[28] Andersen picked up two additional appointments following scandals involving two other ministers. She became Minister of Police on 20 March 2023 following the dismissal of Stuart Nash[29] and Minister of Justice following Kiri Allan's resignation on 23 July 2023.[30]

As minister, Andersen oversaw the progress of reforms related to digital identity,[31] legal aid,[32] and public safety.[33][34] Her ministerial tenure came after incidents of ram-raiding burglaries increased 400% over five years.[35] As small business and police minister, Andersen was involved in the rollout of fog cannons to protect small business owners and introduced new legislation that made ram-raiding an offence under the Crimes Act 1961.[33][36] As small business minister, she chaired a meeting of the OECD committee on SMEs and entrepreneurship in Paris in June 2023.[37]

Opposition, 2023–present

During the 2023 New Zealand general election on 14 October, Andersen lost her Hutt South seat to National Party candidate Chris Bishop by a margin of 1,332 votes.[38] Andersen however was re-elected to Parliament as a list MP.[39] Labour lost the election and Andersen was assigned opposition spokesperson roles in the police, prevention of family and sexual violence, social investment, and associate social development portfolios.[40]

In early November 2023, Andersen was the subject of a Labour Party investigation after a complaint that she had bullied a female teenaged Labour Party volunteer over a period of three years. Andersen yelled at the female volunteer and her brother at a Labour Party Lower Hutt election night event on 14 October. According to the complaint, Andersen was angry that the teenager had not knocked on enough doors during the 2023 election campaign. Andersen subsequently issued a statement apologising for the hurt that her comments had caused and resolved to fully engage in the process to resolve the matter.[41][42] On 13 November, Andersen apologised to the complainant and her daughter.[43] That same day, Andersen was the subject of a second complaint by a male volunteer, who alleged Andersen had bullied and "bodyshamed" him. Andersen disputed the bullying allegations.[44]

On 5 December 2023, Andersen was granted retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of her term as a member of the Executive Council.[45]

Personal life

Andersen lives in Belmont, Lower Hutt.[46] She enjoys practising yoga.[6] She is married to Geoff Gwyn, a former police inspector, whom she met while working for the Police prior to becoming an MP.[47][48] They have two children together, but also parent her husband's two older children from a previous relationship.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Labour selects former Ohariu candidate Virginia Andersen to run in Hutt South electorate". Stuff. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 "2017 Candidates". New Zealand Labour Party. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Ginny Andersen". New Zealand Labour Party. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  5. ↑ Smith, Mike (11 May 2014). "Ginny Andersen a rising star". The Standard. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Witton, Bridie (29 April 2023). "Ginny Andersen to tackle National's tough talk on crime". Stuff. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Hon Ginny Andersen, Labour Party website
  8. ↑ Andersen, Virginia (2004). Indigenous self-determination within the liberal democratic state : Ngai Tahu rangatiratanga in the post-settlement era (Masters thesis). UC Research Repository, University of Canterbury. doi:10.26021/10863. hdl:10092/101809.
  9. ↑ "Labour announces Ohariu candidate". Radio New Zealand. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "Minister of Police: Who is Ginny Andersen?". 1 News. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  11. 1 2 Campbell, Georgina (4 January 2024). "MP Ginny Andersen on family life and her sharp political rise". NZ Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "2014 Candidates: updated May 8, 2014". Labour Party. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Official Count Results – Ōhāriu". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  14. ↑ Boyack, Nicholas (25 July 2016). "Labour MP Trevor Mallard vacates Hutt South electorate to apply for Speaker position". Stuff. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  16. 1 2 "Andersen, Ginny - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Two members' bills drawn from ballot". RNZ. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  18. ↑ "Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill (No 2)". bills.parliament.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  19. ↑ "Miscarriage bereavement leave bill passes unanimously in Parliament". RNZ. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  20. ↑ Mellen, Ruby; Pannett, Rachel (31 March 2021). "New Zealand becomes one of the first countries to legalize paid leave for miscarriages". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  21. ↑ McClure, Tess (25 March 2021). "New Zealand brings in bereavement leave for miscarriages and stillbirths". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  22. 1 2 Coughlan, Thomas (3 September 2020). "Taxpayer foots bill for Labour electorate funds in decades-old subletting arrangement". Stuff. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  23. ↑ Coughlan, Thomas (3 September 2020). "Ginny Andersen, undeclared donations, and the mysterious 1993 property transaction". Stuff. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  24. ↑ Coughlan, Thomas (19 March 2021). "Ginny Andersen admits knowledge of electorate office deal in 2017". Stuff. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  25. ↑ "Labour announces list for 2020 Election". New Zealand Labour Party. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "Hutt South – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  27. ↑ Whyte, Anna (18 October 2020). "Analysis: The winners, losers, new faces and goodbyes of election 2020". 1 News. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  28. ↑ "Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reveals Cabinet reshuffle". Radio NZ. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  29. ↑ "Junior minister Ginny Andersen takes over police role from Stuart Nash". The Spinoff. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  30. ↑ Daalder, Marc (23 July 2023). "Ginny Andersen becomes Justice Minister after Allan resigns". Newsroom. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  31. ↑ "Govt helps to protect New Zealanders digital identities | Beehive.govt.nz". beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  32. ↑ "Government delivers changes for fairer access to legal assistance | Beehive.govt.nz". beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  33. 1 2 "New law targeting ram raids passes first reading | Beehive.govt.nz". beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  34. ↑ "New law to crack down on fleeing drivers passes third reading | Beehive.govt.nz". beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  35. ↑ "400% increase in ram raids, few prosecutions - police data". RNZ. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  36. ↑ "Bill targeting ram raid offending passes first reading". RNZ. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  37. ↑ Vance, Andrea (9 November 2023). "A Minister in Paris: 3 days, 2 meetings and the $51k bill". www.thepost.co.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  38. ↑ "Hutt South - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  39. ↑ "2023 General Election - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  40. ↑ "Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet". Radio New Zealand. 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  41. ↑ Vance, Andrea (9 November 2023). "Labour investigates bullying complaint against MP Ginny Andersen". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  42. ↑ "Labour MP Ginny Andersen accused of bullying teenage volunteer". Radio New Zealand. 9 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  43. ↑ "Labour MP Ginny Andersen formally apologises after bullying accusation". Radio New Zealand. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  44. ↑ Wade, Amelia (13 November 2023). "New allegations against Ginny Andersen: Whistleblower says Labour MP 'definitely' bully, made 'manipulative' comments, 'body-shaming'". Newshub. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  45. ↑ "Retention of the title "The Honourable"". New Zealand Gazette. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  46. ↑ Upper Hutt Leader, 2 August 2017 https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/upper-hutt-leader/20170802/281840053747806
  47. ↑ Donoghue, Tim (1 December 2014). "Ex-cop escapes drink record". Stuff. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  48. ↑ Tso, Matthew (18 October 2020). "Hutt South not true blue as traditional Labour seat returns to red". Stuff. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
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