Marama Davidson
| Marama Davidson MP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Green party list | |
|
Assumed office 4 November 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Russel Norman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Relations | Rawiri Paratene (father) |
| Children | Six |
| Website | Green Party profile |
Marama Davidson (born as Marama Paratene) is a New Zealand politician who entered New Zealand parliament in 2015 as a representative of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Early life and family
Davidson was born in Auckland and is of Ngāti Porou, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi descent.[1] Her father is the actor Rawiri Paratene. Both her parents were Māori language campaigners in the 1970s.[2] During her youth, the family moved a lot; Davidson started school in Wellington, but subsequently lived in Dunedin and Christchurch. At age nine, her family moved to Whirinaki in the Hokianga, where she spent the rest of her childhood. She started her degree in Hamilton and finished it in Auckland, from where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.[1][3] She also holds a Graduate Diploma in International Diplomacy for Indigenous Studies through Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.[1]
She is married to Paul Davidson, with whom she has six children; their last child was born in 2008.[4][5]
Professional career and community engagement
Davidson worked for the Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2012.[6] She has worked part-time for Breastfeeding New Zealand.[7] She was a 'Think Tank Member' for the Owen Glenn Inquiry on Child Abuse and Domestic Violence.[8] She is a founding member of Te Wharepora Hou Māori Women’s Collective.[6]
Political career
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 2015–present | 51st | List | 15 | Green |
Davidson is an environmentalist and human rights advocate.[2][9] In June 2013 she stood for the Greens in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election, where she came fourth with 11.15% of the vote.[2][10]
At the 2014 election she stood in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate.[11] She was ranked 15th on the Greens party list and entered parliament in 2015 with the resignation of Russel Norman.
She has called for liberalisation of abortion law, in addition to better sex education, improved access to contraception, and more support for adoption, having had an abortion as a teenager.[12]
In October 2016, Marama Davidson took part in the Women's Peace Flotilla, which intended to highlight the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Other passengers aboard included the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire and retired US Army colonel Ann Wright. On 5 October, the Women's Peace Flotilla's ship Zaytouna Oliva was intercepted by the Israeli Navy. In response to the boarding of the Women's Peace Flotilla, Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei called on the Israeli authorities to release Marama and other activists and to end the blockade of Gaza.[13][14]
References
- 1 2 3 "Marama Davidson". Māori Television. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- 1 2 3 Bennett, Adam (26 May 2013). "Greens select child abuse campaigner for Ikaroa-Rawhiti". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ "Marama’s story". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "Topic: Teina Davidson: 3 years old". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "We talk to Marama Davidson about Home Birth". Home Birth Aotearoa. June 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- 1 2 "About Marama Davidson". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "A Mum Did This – Marama Davidson". Mums on Top. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ Harvey, Sarah; Kilgallon, Steve (3 July 2013). "Davidson to stay with Glenn inquiry". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "Marama Davidson selected as Green Party candidate for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti" (Press release). Green Party. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ "Results of the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ de Graaf, Peter (23 August 2014). "Candidates urged to keep promises". The Northern Advocate. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ Davidson, Marama (2 November 2014). "Marama Davidson: For Lent, give up judgment". Herald on Sunday. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ Sachdeva, Sam (6 October 2015). "Green MP Marama Davidson detained in Israel, PM John Key says it's a 'less-than-perfect look'". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ↑ Davidson, Isaac (7 October 2016). "Green Party MP Marama Davidson heading home after release from Israeli detention centre". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 April 2017.