Stephen Rainbow
Dr Stephen Laurence Rainbow (born 26 January 1961) is a New Zealand politician and activist.
Doctor Stephen Rainbow | |
---|---|
Wellington City Councillor for Lambton Ward | |
In office 1989–1995 | |
Preceded by | Margaret Bonner |
Succeeded by | Ward abolished |
Wellington City Councillor for Southern Ward | |
In office 1995–1998 | |
Preceded by | Peter Parussini |
Succeeded by | Alick Shaw |
Personal details | |
Born | Christchurch, New Zealand | 26 January 1961
Political party | Labour Party (1977-84) Green Party (1989-95) Progressive Green (1995-99) National (1999) |
Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington |
Biography
Early life
Stephen Rainbow was born in Christchurch in 1961. He grew up on a tobacco farm south of Nelson and was educated in Richmond at Waimea College.[1] Later he attended Victoria University of Wellington from 1982 and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts, and in 1991 with a PhD in Political Science.[2]
Rainbow and his partner Anna Frusin (who was born in the Soviet Union) had three children together; Alexandra, Larissa and Solomon.[2]
Political career
Rainbow became politically active in the 1970s joining the Labour Party and served on Labour's New Zealand Council.[2] In 1983 he contested the Labour nomination to replace retiring party leader Bill Rowling in the Tasman seat, but lost to Ken Shirley.[1][3] He did not renew his membership in 1984 and later joined the newly formed Green Party and stood for election in 1989 for the Wellington City Council on a Green ticket. He was successful and became the country's first Green councillor.[4] The next year he contested the seat of Wellington Central for the Greens at the 1990 general election, finishing third out of seven candidates.[5]
Rainbow was re-elected to the Wellington City Council in 1992 and 1995. On both occasions he also stood for Mayor without success, finishing fourth in 1992 and seventh in 1995.[6][7]
By 1994 Rainbow was leading the opposition to the Green Party's membership of the Alliance, a broad left-wing coalition, thinking the Alliance's emphasis on social justice type issues detracted focus from environmental issues.[8][9] In 1995 Rainbow co-founded the Progressive Green Party, a "Bluegreen" environmentalist party with a more right-wing emphasis.
In 1998 Rainbow decided not to seek re-election. By that time the Progressive Greens had disbanded and most members had joined the "Bluegreen" wing of the National Party, including Rainbow. At the 1999 general election he stood as a list only candidate for National, ranked 51 he was not allocated a seat.[10]
Other activities
Rainbow is also a gay rights activist. He served as Chairman of Auckland-based phone support and LGBT advocacy service OUTLine and also a board member of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.[11]
Notes
- Naylor, Shani (8 January 1990). "Green's a Good Colour for Steve Rainbow". The Evening Post.
- Taylor 1998, pp. 613.
- "Labour contender for Tasman". The Press. 15 August 1983. p. 2.
- Zatorski, Lidia (7 April 1999). "Green Rainbow could be on Blues party list". The Evening Post. p. 3.
- Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place (Technical report). New Zealand Chief Electoral Office. 1990.
- Bly, Ross (1992). City of Wellington: Local Body Elections, 1992 (Report). Wellington City Council.
- "How You Voted". The Evening Post. 9 October 1995. p. 14.
- Scherer, Karyn (3 May 1994). "Dissident Greens may form new party". The Evening Post.
- Edwards, Brent (16 May 1994). "Breakaway party no threat, says Alliance leader". The Evening Post.
- "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- "Stephen Rainbow becomes new OUTLine Chair". GayNZ.com. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
References
- Taylor, Alister, ed. (1998). New Zealand Who's Who, 1998 edition. Auckland. ISSN 1172-9813.
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Margaret Bonner |
Wellington City Councillor for Lambton Ward 1989–1995 |
Ward abolished |
Preceded by Peter Parussini |
Wellington City Councillor for Southern Ward 1995–1998 |
Succeeded by Alick Shaw |