Gerry Brownlee

The New Zealand politician Gerard Anthony Brownlee (born 1956), generally known as Gerry Brownlee, served from 17 November 2003 to November 27, 2006 as deputy-leader of the National Party — during that period the second-largest party in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus forming the core of the Opposition.

Early career

Born in Christchurch, Brownlee has lived there ever since. After leaving high school, he worked in his family's timber business, and received training in carpentry. Later he qualified as a teacher. He then taught woodwork and crafts at high-school level at Ellesmere College, and later at St Bede's College (which he himself had attended as a pupil). At St Bede's he taught woodwork and graphics and developed the Te Reo Maori department.

Entry into Parliament

In the 1993 elections, Brownlee stood as the National Party candidate in the Sydenham electorate, where he campaigned — unsuccessfully — against Jim Anderton of the newly-formed Alliance. In the 1996 elections he contested the nearby seat of Ilam, and won by a comfortable margin. He has remained the MP for Ilam since that point, although his majority declined until making a strong recovery in the 2005 election.

Junior Parliamentary Whip

In Parliament, Brownlee has served as the National Party's Junior Whip and as its spokesperson on superannuation, energy, transport, local government, and the ACC. Most regard him as a powerful performer in Parliamentary debates, and he has come into the spotlight on a number of occasions, mostly as the result of his somewhat aggressive political style. In early 2002, a court ordered Brownlee to pay damages to a protester whom he had threatened.

Controversy

Gerry Brownlee received criticism during the 1999 election campaign when during a private closed meeting he ejected an elderly protester from off a platform containing several National Party candidates. The ejection took place with what many, including watching media-representatives, considered excessive force.Said protester then brought charges against Brownlee. After a brief trial the Court found Brownlee had done nothing wrong.

Deputy leader

Some circleswho? considered Brownlee a potential challenger to the party leadership of Bill English (2001-2003). Eventually, however, English gave way (28 October 2003) to Don Brash, a former governor of the Reserve Bank. Brownlee then featured high on the list of potential deputy-leaders, but he declined to pursue the position, and Nick Smith became Brash's deputy (28 October 2003).

Shortly after his selection, however, Smith opted to take several weeks of stress-leave, saying that the protracted leadership disputes had exhausted him. When Smith returned to Parliament, Brownlee challenged him for the deputy-leadership. Informed of the challenge, Smith resigned, and Brownlee won the caucus vote unopposed (17 November 2003). (For an alternative version of events, see Nick Smith.) Initially Smith alleged that Brownlee had undermined him during his period of stress-leave, but he later dropped those allegations in the interest of party unity.Fact|date=August 2008

Spokesman for Maori Affairs

After becoming a deputy leader, Brownlee continued his confrontational and colourful style of political debate. Following the controversy surrounding Brash's Orewa speech (27 January 2004), he became the National Party's spokesperson for Maori Affairs in place of Georgina Te Heuheu, who resigned from the position after refusing to endorse party-leader Brash's comments. Brownlee's approach to this portfolio involved criticising the government's policies regarding perceived special treatment for Māori, an issue at the core of National's 2005 election manifesto.

Current responsibilities

After the resignation of former National Party Leader of the Opposition Don Brash (27 November 2006), internal party discussion apparently ensued over the post of deputy parliamentary party leader. Bill English, Simon Power and Judith Collins all appeared to aspire to the position. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3878850a6160,00.html - Link no longer available as of 2008-02-25]

On November 26 2006 Brownlee announced that he would step aside as Deputy Leader, with Bill English set to take over. Brownlee made his announcement in the interests of party unity after English threatened to no longer act as the spokesman for economic issues unless he gained the deputy-leadership.Fact|date=August 2008 A special National Party caucus meeting confirmed the proposed new hierarchy the following day. On 1 December 2006 John Key confirmed Brownlee as the third-ranked National Party MP with responsibility for Energy, SOEs, and State Services; the Shadow Leader of the House, and the chair the National Party's Strategy Committee.

Political views

References