Scoop's "Meet The MPs" Project: Catherine Delahunty

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• Scoop’s “Meet The MPs” Project:

She discusses her lifelong devotion to grassroots activism, which has informed her consensus-based approach to politics.

She also discusses her experience of Parliament so far, and her aspirations for the future.

Lifelong activist and Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty describes Parliament as “a pathologically adversarial place which dehumanises relationships”.

“This is by no means the pinnacle of how to make decisions, let alone pass laws,” she said. “This is power – pure and simple, raw and ugly.”

Ms Delahunty was born to a Wellington family strongly involved in left-wing political activism. From the age of two she accompanied her father on protests and marches, and ever since she has fought for social justice, environmental action and better education.

At the age of 15 she established New Zealand’s first high school union, which led to the SAS monitoring her. Her activism continued while studying arts at Victoria University, but she later dropped out to live in Coromandel.

“At Victoria we went on some great protests and I met some interesting people, but it didn’t stimulate me as human being. I was far more excited when I went out to the bush and learned that I was actually an animal connected to the earth.”

Ms Delahunty devoted over 15 years to opposing mining operations on the Coromandel peninsula, and later landed jobs at the Department of Conservation and Greenpeace.

She first became involved with the Greens in the late nineties as the party’s Auckland campaign manager. The late Rod Donald, formerly the Greens co-leader, encouraged her to stand for Parliament as a list candidate in 2002.

The 55-year-old, who is currently eighth on the party list, said she did not feel euphoric when she entered Parliament in 2008.

“It certainly wasn’t a lifelong ambition, and I certainly don’t think that I’ve reached some kind of high point.”

Ms Delahunty said her background in grassroots activism set her apart from many of her Parliamentary colleagues.

“The Greens are full of people who are not meant to be in Parliament,” she said. “Many of us come through very different pathways, and we have something to offer that the privileged do not.”

Her lack of tertiary qualifications has not hindered her, she said.

“Street credibility is a very important qualification. I actually think that practical experience as well as active reflection on your work is a very profound way to do things.”

She hopes to return to Parliament at the next election, but does not rule out further community work.

“I’ve got a lot of other fish to fry, and I don’t want to fry them here.”

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Q And A

What is your view on the decision taken by the Government in relation to the smacking referendum in terms of what it says about NZ democracy?

“I really support what the Government’s done, because I don’t think that the so-called referendum we’ve just held had anything to do with democracy. It had a lot to do with manipulation, loaded questions and a small fundamentalist party using language to capture and increase people’s paranoia.

“I’m not a great fan of referenda unless they are well-crafted constitutional issues, and I don’t think that was an example of either of those things.”

What is your view on the merits of MMP vs FPP? Should there be another referendum on the subject and what is your preferred outcome?

“That’s hardly a neutral question for a list MP. I think MMP has been really good for this country, obviously, and I think it creates diversity.

“The question is, for whom does first past the post benefit? It certainly benefits people with power in terms of the grey politics of elderly Pakeha males. If that’s what you want, go back to first past the post, but I’m not sure that’s what the citizens want.

“Do we need a referendum? I actually don’t see the reason for it. I think MMP has been a success in that people generally agree with it. There’s a small group of people who are very disempowered by a more diverse democracy, and they’re the ones who want it.”

Name a dream team of seven members of Parliament - people who you think exemplify how an MP should conduct him/herself. Your list of seven can only include three members of your own party.

“I don’t think my dream team comes from Parliament. I’d probably chose seven Maori women from different parts of the country who have exemplified the leadership, the staunchness, the compassion and the wisdom that we need in this country. And they’re not in Parliament – none of them.

“From my party, I’d have to say Jeanette Fitzsimons, Sue Bradford and Sue Kedgley all exemplify different aspects of amazing political experience.

“From other parties, it gets tricky. I haven’t really been in a position to observe people long enough, so I feel my judgments of them could be quite shallow.

“I quite like the way Hone Harawira throws in the challenges, so I’d probably include him for a bit of liveliness.

“I like Jacinda Ardern, who’s a new young Labour MP. I think she’s got an interesting background and good things to say. And Grant Robertson – those would probably be my two Labour picks.

“From National, I’d probably chose Nikki Kaye. Nikki Kaye’s a young Nat who actually asks questions and engages. I’ve worked with her on issues surrounding accessibility and I’ve found her really good.

“Nikki, Jacinda, Grant and Hone are all really useful contributors in Parliament.”

Matthew Backhouse is a journalism student at Massey University

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