17 May 2012

Always the bridesmaid

28/09/2011 10:17:00 a.m.

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SUE Kedgley has been a Green party MP since 1999 and a tireless campaigner for safe, healthy food as well as animal welfare. While the Greens have only ever been the bridesmaid in our parliament, never quite managing to get to Cabinet, Kedgley has made considerable impact and as their Wellington Central candidate was the Green’s highest polling politician in electorate vote. Her decision to retire after the current parliamentary term is a major loss for her party. We asked her about her political career and what she plans for her future.
NAME: Sue Kedgley
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Member of Parliament
PLACE I CALL HOME: Wellington
MY PASSIONS ARE: Animal welfare, healthy food, gardening.
MY HERO IS: The Dalai Lama
What were your early influences that sparked your interest in politics? Attending Victoria University and getting onto the student executive politicised me. It was a hotbed of student activism in the late sixties. Another radicalising influence was my involvement in the women’s liberation movement in the early seventies.
What was your first political action? An anti-Vietnam protest march on parliament, when American Vice President Lyndon Johnson visited New Zealand. We chanted in unison, ‘hey, hey LBJ, how many babies did you kill today?’
You worked for eight years in the United Nations Secretariat in New York. What did you do there and how did it prepare you for New Zealand politics? I worked in the Women’s Secretariat of the UN, and then in organising international conferences.  It gave me a global perspective and an interest in international politics. And I was actively involved in women’s issues and on the UN Union throughout my time there.
What were the highlights of your time as a Wellington City Councillor? I helped save Chaffers (now Waitangi) Park, various heritage buildings such as the Odlins and Prudential buildings, and helped stop high rise development all over our waterfront. When I was chair of the transport committee, I initiated a study into light rail, so it’s good to see that study being updated. And I loved representing Wellingtonians, and promoting their interests and concerns.
What have been your proudest political moments? Having my Flexible Working Hours Bill become law, helping get rid of sow crates, and helping save the Overlander, Wellington’s trolley buses, and the Johnsonville line.
What makes a good MP? There’s no particular prescription, but it helps to be passionate about issues, a good campaigner, have leadership skills and a real interest in people.
You have successfully campaigned for food safety, what do you like to eat? Anything fresh, organic, free range, and especially anything that is home grown.
What is the most important green issue for Wellington? Creating a sustainable, creative, liveable city which people want to live and work in, and visit.
Are you weary of politics and what will you do after Parliament? No. I love politics, but I am ready for a break and it’s time to hand the torch to the next generation.
Please finish these sentences:
When I get the time I like to read …
biographies
My favourite activity on a Saturday morning is … sleeping in, going out to coffee with my family, reading the papers and gardening.
My next project is … learning to chill out after twelve years of fairly frenetic activity, and writing a few books.
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Cover Story

Best of Wellington 2011

Briefs

  • A question of nutrition

    Controversial Washington-based nutritionist Sally Fallon-Morell is to speak in Wellington on March 29.
    Fallon-Morell is the co-founder of the American food lobby group the Weston A. Price Foundation and the author of Nourishing Traditions. She advocates for the consumption of nutritionally dense foods such as lacto-fermented vegetables, stocks and broths, and whole raw dairy products.
    Fallon-Morell will speak at St Patrick’s College Hall on March 29.

  • Relay for cancer

    Organisers say Sunday’s Relay for Life is full to capacity with hundreds of Wellingtonians registered for the event.
    A total of 88 teams, made up of 10 to 500 members, plan to take part with a further 25 teams on the waiting list.
    The 24 hour relay, the Cancer Society’s biggest fundraising event of the year, takes place at Frank Kitts Park from 4pm on March 31.

  • Osteoarthritis awareness

    Arthritis New Zealand has launched a nationwide campaign raise awareness about osteoarthritis. 
    Arthritis is New Zealand’s leading cause of disability, affecting 305,000 adults, and osteoarthritis is its most common form.
    The campaign features television commercials and an interactive website.


  • Wild walk

    Take part in the Big Walk at Zealandia on March 31.
    Walkers can choose a two, five or 10 kilometre walk catering to all fitness levels.
    Money raised will go to the Foundation for Youth Development.

  • School pool

    The opening of the new Khandallah School pool this week means hundreds of children will be able to continue their swimming lessons.
    The pool was the first to receive a grant from Wellington City Council’s Schools Pools Partnership Fund, a fund set up in 2010 to help schools improve their pool facilities.
    Grants from the fund have also been made for pools at Wellington East Girls’ College, Barhampore School and Tawa School.

  • Easter bikers

    Motorcyclists are invited to get on their bikes and collect Easter eggs for families support from the Wellington City Mission.
    The charity run on April 1 is organised by motorcycle lobby group BONZ.
    Eggs can be donated at Red Baron Motorcylces in Alicetown. The registration fee for bikers is $10, plus the cost of Easter eggs.

  • Crafty

    Made on Marion opens on the site of the former Golding Handicrafts site in Marion St, from April 1.  They will continue to supply craft materials.

  • Ze upgrade

    Taranaki Street fuel users will notice that the Z Energy’s former Shell Service Station is closed.  Z are doing a “total revamp”.
    The job will take four weeks.

  • Newlands Moves

    Developer Ayal Aharoni has agreed to build only 90 instead of 220 houses on his six and a half hectares above Ngauranga Gorge in Newlands.  Only low density occupation will be allowed on the remaining 8.4 hectares.


  • Baring Head

    There's a new  draft plan out for what should happen at Baring Head.  It outlines how the Greater Wellington Regional council would like to manage the newest addition to its regional parks network. Grazing animals will go, motorised vehicles will be prohibited, predators will be controlled, and the lighthouse will be preserved. Submissions are invited.


  • It’s a wonder

    A new childcare centre in Newtown says it is dedicated to helping kids grow up healthy in mind, body and spirit. Little Wonders Childcare on Rintoul Street is an independent early childhood education and learning centre, the sixth centre to be opened by its Auckland-based owner. It caters to 100 children aged between three months and five years old and has been open for a little more than seven weeks.

  • Festival treats

    CHILDREN have not been forgotten by organisers of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.
    For a perfect first theatrical experience White tells the story of friends Cotton and Winkle who live in a world where there is no colour and everything is startlingly white. That is until a brightly coloured egg tumbles out of the sky and changes their world for ever.
    White plays at Capital E from March 7-11.
    The tale of Peter and the World also promises to be a magical night for all ages. Sergei Prokofiev’s classic children’s tale is told through film and live music from the NZ Symphony Orchestra at the Michael Fowler Centre on March 9.
    March 11 is Young Writers and Readers Day and readings from children’s writers and illustrators Lynley Dodd and Gavin Bishop.

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