Darien Fenton
| Darien Fenton MP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour party list | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 17 September 2005 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 February 1954 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Relations | Frederick Frost (grandfather) |
| Website | darienfenton.org.nz |
Darien Fenton (born 25 February 1954) is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament.
Personal life and early career
Fenton's grandfather, Fred Frost, was a Labour MP for New Plymouth from 1938 – 1943.
Fenton grew up in a Palmerston North state house. The New Zealand Herald's Kevin Taylor described Fenton as having the "most varied CV of any newcomer to Parliament", being active in the trade union movement. She held the offices of National Secretary of the Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota (SFWU), and vice president of the Council of Trade Unions. She is also the Vice President of the Labour Party Union Affiliates Council.[1]
Member of Parliament
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | List | 43 | Labour |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | List | 33 | Labour |
| 2011 – present | 50th | List | 18 | Labour |
Fenton stood as a list candidate for the Labour Party in the 2005 election, being ranked 43rd, and was elected to Parliament.
In 2006, her Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill, which extended the minimum wage to contractors, was drawn from the member's ballot.[2] The bill was sent to select committee, but the committee could not reach agreement on whether it should be passed.[3] It was subsequently voted down by the National coalition government after the 2008 election.[4]
In the 2008 election she stood unsuccessfully against National Party leader John Key in Helensville. Due to her place of 33 on the Labour list, she was returned to parliament.
In 2009 Fenton's Employment Relations (Statutory Minimum Redundancy Entitlements) Amendment Bill was drawn from the member's ballot.[5] It was defeated at its first reading in May 2010.[6]
In 2011, Fenton received public backlash when she commented on Sir Peter Leitch (known as The Mad Butcher for his chain of butchery shops) after he publicly stated he supported Prime Minister John Key. Fenton stated she would "never go near him again" and would refuse to buy anything from his stores.[7] Fenton later apologised for her comments on the Labour Party blog.[8]
In 2012, Fenton backed a bill that would have stopped libraries from charging for access to material and the internet.[9] It failed at its first reading 61-60.[10]
References
- ↑ Taylor, Kevin (24 September 2005). "New MPs: Darien Fenton". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ↑ "Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ↑ "Report of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee on the Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. 20 September 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ↑ "Fenton: National Votes Down $15 Minimum Wage". guide2.co.nz. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ↑ "Employment Relations (Statutory Minimum Redundancy Entitlements) Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ↑ "Labour's redundancy bill defeated". TVNZ. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- ↑ "Editorial: MP's silly gripe throwback to tribal politics". New Zealand Herald. 1 October 2011. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ↑ Fenton, Darien (29 September 2011). "Beer and apology". Red Alert.
- ↑ "MP takes aim at library fees". 3 News NZ. 28 September 2012.
- ↑ "Library bill falls at first reading". 3 News NZ. 8 November 2012.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Darien Fenton. |
- Official website
- Biography at New Zealand Parliament
- Darien Fenton on Facebook
- Darien Fenton on Twitter