Deborah Morris

Deborah Morris-Travers^[1] (Born 9 August 1970) is a former New Zealand politician. She was a list MP for New Zealand First from 1996 to 1999.

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate	List	Party
1996–98	45th	List	9	NZ First
1998–99	Changed allegiance to:			Independent

Morris was an MP from 1996 to 1999, representing the New Zealand First party. She was first elected to Parliament in the 1996 elections as a list MP, and when her party formed a coalition with the National Party, she became a Minister. Her most prominent role was as Minister of Youth Affairs, where her own relative youth was seen as an asset — she was understood to be the youngest person ever appointed to ministerial rank (at the age of 26).^{[citation needed]} In 1996 she caused controversy by suggesting that young New Zealanders should have better access to contraceptives. Her suggestion was publicly opposed by the Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie-Boys.^[2]

When the coalition collapsed, and New Zealand First itself began to split up, Morris was one of the first MPs to leave the party, saying that she could no longer accept the "perpetual state of crisis" generated by its leader, Winston Peters.^{[citation needed]} Unlike some other New Zealand First defectors, Morris did not make a deal with the National Party to keep her ministerial portfolios, resigning from her position on 18 August 1998. Morris remained an independent until her resignation from Parliament in 1999. As she had been elected on the New Zealand First list, her replacement, Gilbert Myles, was also drawn from that list.

Republicanism

In 1994, Morris was a founding member of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand, and supports a New Zealand republic.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ "Every Child Counts - Every Child Counts Project leader wins major award". http://www.everychildcounts.org.nz/newsdetail.php?newsid=377. Retrieved 2007-01-03. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ Gavin Mclean (October 2006), The Governors, New Zealand Governors and Governors-General, Otago University Press, p. 281 

Persondata
Name	Morris, Deborah
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	9 August 1970
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death