Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, January 9, 2020 Hard, Dirty Politics Recalled
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Te Awamutu YourC community newspaper for over 100 years Thursday, January 9, 2020 Just Marilyn a Dame Lights back on It has been a hard season for Te Awamutu’s Community Christmas Tree — so it is back on for a bit more of the Apple-eating MP taunted furious Prime Minister festive/New Year break. Organiser Dean Taylor By DEAN TAYLOR / NZME STAFF says the tree was out of action for a few days earlier in Anyone of an age will remem- December due to vandalism. ber the era of politics when iron Contact Electrical repaired fisted men fought hard and dirty to secure their party had control the main vandalism and the of New Zealand’s Parliament. tree was restored as much as And no-one could forget Robert possible. Muldoon — 11 terms in the house Wind has also played for his electorate of Tamaki in havoc with the lights, and an both Government and opposition, electrical fault, possibly and three terms as Prime Minister caused by wind causing a during the turbulent late 1970s breakage, put the tree out of and early 1980s until the fateful action again around decision to call a snap election in Christmas and New Year. 1984. The lights will stay on for Amid this turmoil was our own another week or two. representative — Marilyn Waring, made a Dame companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit Holidays Ahoy in the New Year Honours for services to women and economics. challenge She was the National MP for Waipa¯District Libraries’ Raglan (our electorate at that Holidays Ahoy! Summer time) — a young woman who Challenge gets underway made a big difference to the New today and runs for two weeks. Zealand political landscape in Check the What’s On on just a few years — especially page 8 or contact contact when she showed she had a library supervisor Sheree conscience and sided with the Gross on 872 0055 to find out Labour opposition over a nuclear- how to participate. free New Zealand. In fact, her crossing the floor of the House contributed to Mul- Snap happy doon’s decision to call the snap election — which he famously photographers lost in a landslide. Once again Te Awamutu It wasn’t the end of Muldoon, Courier is keen to run our who served three more terms — regular ‘Snap Happy' page two in opposition and his last during the New Year. when National came back to If you have taken a great power, also by a landslide, with photo over the Christmas- Jim Bolger at the helm. New Year break of local Marilyn Waring isn’t one for people enjoying summer, or titles. visitors enjoying our district After being elected to Parlia- ment in 1975 — at age 23 — she and you are happy to share it asked to be referred to as ‘Ms with our readers, send it to Waring’ in the House, only to be [email protected] told it wasn’t appropriate. She The shot must be clear could be Miss or M. Waring, the and high-resolution with Speaker’s office declared. caption details (where, when, “So I became Marilyn Waring. what, who) and a contact And that’s all I am,” she says, Professor Marilyn Waring speaking at the 2017 Te Awamutu Walk of Fame induction of her friend, and phone number. even after having been appointed former employee, the late Katherine O’Regan. Photo / Dean Taylor Alternatively you can drop a Dame Companion. the photo and details to our She was just the 15th woman In her recent autobiography, mentary office. She recounts eat- self might not have accepted a office at 97 Sloane Street. elected in New Zealand, and one The Political Years, she ing an apple to taunt him as he damehood. of only four women in Parliament describes at times laughing as drank and grew enraged. at the time. Muldoon berated her in a parlia- Marilyn admits her younger ■ Continued page 2 And save 120 litres! sprinkler system gs have an inbuilt (Do mselves) when they dry the Play your part. Water saving tips @ smartwater.org.nz/tips 2 Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, January 9, 2020 Hard, dirty politics recalled ■ From page 1 14,045 “I must have mellowed with age,” she says. “I thought, well look, Dame Patsy 14,045* will give it to me and Jacinda is the Prime CIRCULATION 14,045* Minister. So if I’m going to do it, it feels like a good time. “But you know, it’s pretty good for a kid born in Nga¯ruawa¯hia.” Marilyn’s appointment in the New Year Honours recognises decades of ser- vice to women and economics, as well as her many other labels: Academic, econo- mist, feminist, human rights activist, mentor. Sarah Verran 021 345 951 [email protected]@nzme.co.nz A professor of public policy at the [email protected] Verran Auckland University of Technology, [email protected]@[email protected] /021 345 951 Marilyn in her academic work challenges [email protected] the way economic wealth is measured by governments. It has for decades seen her [email protected]@nzme.co.nznzme.co.nz colin.thorsen@Caitlan Johnstonnzme.co.nz (reporter) Ext: 67710 cited as the founder of feminist economics — a mantle she says is sometimes used to [email protected]@[email protected] [email protected] push her out of the mainstream. [email protected] [email protected] Marilyn’s work for international [email protected]@nzme.co.nz development programmes is also exten- [email protected] sive, including leading major projects for the United Nations and sitting on expert [email protected]@nzme.co.nzWayne Michell panels, boards and advisory groups. Wayne Michell But she points to her supervision of 70 Wayne027Pip 494 Jensen Michell 7770 research degrees, mostly PhDs, as a Maraea027027 494 569 Jamieson 7770 4317 particular source of pride. 021PipMaraea Jensen023 59612 Jamieson “I’ve just been really lucky with the opportunities I’ve had to be in the position [email protected] 569 023 4317 59612 [email protected] of supervising the best work individuals Maraea Jamieson will ever do in their lives, contributing to 021 023 59612 new knowledge in the world,” she says. And while Marilyn avoided Parliament for a quarter of a century, she has played National’s Raglan candidate Marilyn Former Prime Minister Sir Robert Mul- [email protected] the role of tuakana to women in politics. Waring photographed by the Te Awa- doon — confrontation was part of his She says she’s received calls from mutu Courier during her 1975 campaign. style. members of every major political party seeking her advice, in what she jokes is an This is truly what they do. And this is It is hard to think of a more difficult “open-door policy for suffering women truly how the system operates and, yes, it time in New Zealand politics than under MPs”. hurts’.” Robert Muldoon during the era of Think “I think it’s been really important that Her heart goes out to women in politics Big, Nuclear Free NZ and the ’81 Spring- We’re online at nzmecommunitynews.pressreader.com I’ve been able to be there for anyone who today. bok Tour. needed that . I’ve felt very useful doing “I don’t think I would survive in a Dame Marilyn Waring was made a that,” she says. social media environment,” she says. Companion of the New Zealand Order of 2016 “Just to say: You’re not going crazy. “The letters were bad enough.” Merit in 2008. LOOK FOR THIS WEED SAUSAGEROLL Velvetleaf – an aggressive OF THE YEAR cropping weed, one 2018 BIANZ of the world’s worst. Check for it: • around gateways • in the first 3-4 rows of crops. Call 0800 800 401 for advice. waikatoregion.govt.nz/velvetleaf TE AWAMUTU STORE CAMBRIDGE STORE 299 ALEXANDRA ST, 27 EMPIRE ST, 07 777 8019 WWW.VOLAREBREAD.COM 07 444 5142 Thursday, January 9, 2020 Te Awamutu Courier 3 Langman earns honour for top netball career OPENSunday EVERY SUNDAY Lunch FROM 12PM Laura Langman was made an Officer of the Enjoy exquisite Mediterranean cuisine and award winning wines New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year The perfect place to celebrate special occasions honours. Outdoor play area for children. Te Awamutu Courier readers followed this amazing netballer and young woman from her early days growing up in Te Pahu¯ through to the highs and lows of her international career — due almost entirely to the efforts of retired sports editor Colin 702 Rukuhia Rd, RD2, Ohaupo, Hamilton | 07 825 2893 | www.vilagradwines.co.nz Thorsen. His last piece on Langman, written before his retirement in August last year, was a wonder- ful portrayal of a deter- mined and driven sportswoman. Despite being blessed with natural ability, world championship- winning Silver Ferns PROVIDING TRUSTING GLAZING netball captain Laura SERVICES FOR TE AWAMUTU AND Langman has always had a strong drive to perfect SURROUNDING REGIONS FOR any skill and would train relentlessly, her mother OVER 30 YEARS Christine told Colin. “From a young age she would challenge and push herself to be better. “Her Te Pahu¯ Prim- ary School crosscountry training is a prime example. She would train on a circuit with many hills as if it was the actual race. “To this day she still enjoys a ‘farm run’ as she calls it, saying it offers a variation from training inside a gym.