Brendon Burns (politician)

Brendon Burns MP
Brendon Burns in 2010
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Christchurch Central
In office
2008 – 2011
Preceded by Tim Barnett
Succeeded by Nicky Wagner
Majority 935 (2.91%)
Personal details
Political party Labour
Children Two
Website http://www.brendonburns.co.nz/ brendonburns.co.nz

Brendon Burns is a former Labour Party Member of Parliament for the Christchurch Central electorate in the New Zealand Parliament.

Contents

Early life

Burns worked for 12 years in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. As editor of The Marlborough Express for seven years, he led various community initiatives and won the country’s top journalism award - a term at Cambridge University. He twice stood in the Kaikoura seat for Labour. He has an extensive career history in journalism having done political coverage in both print and radio mediums. He has run his own communications business Indaba Communications.

In 1999 he won the Qantas Award for best editorial writer.[1]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
2008–2011 49th Christchurch Central 49 Labour

Burns was selected to replace Tim Barnett who retired at the 2008 general election.[2] Burns has had a long history in political campaigning, twice failing to capture the Kaikoura electorate from the National Party. In 2008, Burns successfully held Christchurch Central for Labour, with a greatly reduced majority of 935. In 2011, Burns lost the seat to National's Nicky Wagner by 47 votes.

He was Labour's spokesman for broadcasting, and was a member of the environmental team.

In September 2010, Burns' Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot.[3] The bill would reverse the government's replacement of the Canterbury Regional Council with unelected commissioners[4] and force a special election to be held. It is currently waiting for its first reading.

References

  1. ^ Brendon Burns' CV from his website
  2. ^ "Barnett withdraws from politics". The Press. 19 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-15. http://www.webcitation.org/5d4sr6Zfh. 
  3. ^ "Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/3/f/a/00DBHOH_BILL10322_1-Environment-Canterbury-Democracy-Restoration-Amendment.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
  4. ^ Gorman, Paul (30 March 2010). "ECan councillors sacked". The Press. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3527341/ECan-councillors-sacked. Retrieved 17 August 2010. 

External links

Parliament of New Zealand
Preceded by
Tim Barnett		 Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central
2008 –		 Incumbent