Christine Fletcher

Christine Elizabeth Fletcher QSO (née Lees, born 25 January 1955) is a New Zealand politician. Currently an Auckland Council councillor, she was previously a National Party Member of Parliament from 1993 to 1999, and served one term as Mayor of Auckland City between 1998 and 2001. In October 2010 she became the co-leader of the Auckland local body ticket Citizens & Ratepayers after winning the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward on the new Auckland Council.[1]

The Honourable Councillor Christine Fletcher QSO
37th Mayor of Auckland City
In office 1998–2001
Preceded by	Les Mills
Succeeded by	John Banks
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Eden
In office 1990 – 1996
Preceded by	Richard Northey
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Epsom
In office 1996 – 1999
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Richard Worth
Personal details
Born	Christine Elizabeth Lees (1955-12-02) 2 December 1955 New Zealand
Political party	National

Early life and family

Fletcher was born in 1955, the daughter of Shirley and Ted Lees, the founder of heavy machinery and marine engine company Lees Industries.[2] Educated at St Cuthbert's College, Auckland,[3] she was married to Angus Fletcher, and was thus the sister-in-law of former Fletcher Challenge CEO Hugh Fletcher and his wife Chief Justice Sian Elias.

Political career

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate	List	Party
1990–1993	43rd	Eden		National
1993–1996	44th	Eden		National
1996–1999	45th	Epsom	22	National

At the 1990 general election, Fletcher was the National Party candidate for the Eden electorate, and defeated the Labour incumbent, Richard Northey. She then held the seat at the 1993 election. After Labour MP Peter Dunne became an independent MP in October 1994 Fletcher approached him to join the National Party. Dunne declined the offer however.[4]

She won the new Epsom electorate in the 1996 election,[5] and was subsequently appointed to the ministerial roles of Local Government, Women's Affairs and Cultural Affairs. However, she resigned as a minister on 11 September 1997,[6] because she objected to the sale of the assets of the Auckland Regional Services Trust proposed by National.[7]

Mayor of Auckland City

Fletcher retired as an MP in 1999, having been elected Mayor of Auckland City at the 1998 local-body elections. She was the second woman to hold the office, after Cath Tizard. Fletcher's mayoralty was characterised by the decision to progress with the Britomart Transport Centre in downtown Auckland. In 2001 she was defeated by John Banks, another former National MP. She continued her opposition to Banks in the following years, particularly opposing the Eastern Transport Corridor, which Banks had proposed as a major motorway, and which she noted she had been opposing for more than a decade by then.[8]

In the 2002 New Year Honours, Fletcher was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[9]

She ran again for the mayoralty in October 2004, but finished third behind Dick Hubbard and Banks.[10]

Life after mayoralty and return to politics

Auckland Council
Years	Ward	Affiliation
2010–2013	Albert-Eden-Roskill	Citizens & Ratepayers
2013–2016	Albert-Eden-Roskill	Communities & Residents
2016–2019	Albert-Eden-Roskill	Communities & Residents
2019–present	Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa	Communities & Residents

After her mayoral term, Fletcher became involved in various community organisations, including the Motutapu Trust, a conservation body involved in protecting Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf.[7]

She was a contributor in 2004 to a book by the Better Democracy group, promoting citizen participation in the New Zealand democratic process.[11]

In 2010 she announced her candidacy for the Albert-Eden-Roskill ward on the new Auckland council,[12] where she eventually succeeded in polling highest for one of the two available councillor seats in her ward. She considered that working for a CBD rail tunnel was one of her main priorities, extending the capacity of Britomart, whose construction she had successfully fought for in her mayoral term.[7]

Fletcher was re-elected in 2013, 2016, and 2019.

References

1. Orsman, Bernard (12 October 2010). "Defeated but defiant: right wing's new faces hint at old-style politics". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
2. Hayter, Rebecca (March 2013). "Devotion to diesel" (PDF). Boating New Zealand: 58–60. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
3. Middleton, Julie (7 September 2004). "Counting the beat with Christine Fletcher". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
4. Edwards, Brent (15 October 1994). "'Join us', Nat MP tells Dunne". The Evening Post. p. 2.
5. "Electorate Candidate and Party Votes Recorded at Each Polling Place – Epsom, 1996" (PDF). Retrieved 12 July 2013.
6. "Resignation of Hon Christine Fletcher: press release from Jim Bolger, Prime Minister". New Zealand Government. 11 September 1997. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
7. Thompson, Wayne; Davison, Isaac (11 October 2010). "Election results: Auckland Super City Wards". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
8. "Fletcher Submission To The Transport Committee". Press Release: Christine Fletcher. 29 June 2004. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
9. "New Year honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
10. "Local vote: city councils". New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2004.
11. "Consensus is the way forward for Auckland". Scoop Independent News. 30 July 2004. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
12. Morgan, Scott (21 April 2010). "Fletcher takes a stand". Central Leader.

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Richard Northey	Member of Parliament for Eden 1990–1996	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Epsom 1996–1999	Succeeded by Richard Worth
Political offices
Preceded by Les Mills	Mayor of Auckland City 1998–2001	Succeeded by John Banks