Marama Davidson
| Marama Davidson MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for List | |
|
Assumed office 4 November 2015 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Children | six |
| Website | Green Party profile |
Marama Davidson (born as Marama Paratene) is a New Zealand politician who entered New Zealand parliament in 2015 as a representative of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Early life and family
Davidson was born in Auckland and is of Ngāti Porou, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi descent.[1] Her father is the actor Rawiri Paratene. Both her parents were Māori language campaigners in the 1970s.[2] During her youth, the family moved a lot; Davidson started school in Wellington, but subsequently lived in Dunedin and Christchurch. At age nine, her family moved to Whirinaki in the Hokianga, where she spent the rest of her childhood. She started her degree in Hamilton and finished it in Auckland, from where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.[1][3] She also holds a Graduate Diploma in International Diplomacy for Indigenous Studies through Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.[1]
She is married to Paul Davidson, with whom she has six children; their last child was born in 2008.[4][5]
Professional career and community engagement
Davidson worked for the Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2012.[6] She has worked part-time for Breastfeeding New Zealand.[7] She was a 'Think Tank Member' for the Owen Glenn Inquiry on Child Abuse and Domestic Violence.[8] She is a founding member of Te Wharepora Hou Māori Women’s Collective.[6]
Political career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 2015–present | 51st | List | 15 | Green |
Davidson is an environmentalist and human rights advocate.[2][9] In June 2013 she stood for the Greens in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election, where she came fourth with 11.15% of the vote.[2][10]
At the 2014 election she stood in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate.[11] She was ranked 15th on the Greens party list and entered parliament in 2015 with the resignation of Russel Norman.
She has called for liberalisation of abortion law, in addition to better sex education, improved access to contraception, and more support for adoption, having had an abortion as a teenager.[12]
References
- 1 2 3 "Marama Davidson". Māori Television. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- 1 2 3 Bennett, Adam (26 May 2013). "Greens select child abuse campaigner for Ikaroa-Rawhiti". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ "Marama's story". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "Topic: Teina Davidson: 3 years old". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "We talk to Marama Davidson about Home Birth". Home Birth Aotearoa. June 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- 1 2 "About Marama Davidson". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "A Mum Did This – Marama Davidson". Mums on Top. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ Harvey, Sarah; Kilgallon, Steve (3 July 2013). "Davidson to stay with Glenn inquiry". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "Marama Davidson selected as Green Party candidate for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti" (Press release). Green Party. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ "Results of the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ de Graaf, Peter (23 August 2014). "Candidates urged to keep promises". The Northern Advocate. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ Davidson, Marama (2 November 2014). "Marama Davidson: For Lent, give up judgment". Herald on Sunday. Retrieved 3 September 2014.