Name Muriel Newman Role New Zealand Politician | Party ACT New Zealand | |
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Books How to Live Off the Smell of an Oily Rag Education Rutgers University, University of Auckland | ||
Muriel newman
Muriel Newman (born 6 April 1950) is a former New Zealand politician. She was the deputy leader of ACT New Zealand.
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Early years
Newman was born in northern England, but arrived in New Zealand at the age of eight. She was raised in Whangarei. She gained a BSc in mathematics from University of Auckland, and then a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Rutgers University in the United States. After working in the education sector for twenty years, she entered the business world with Michael Hill International, eventually becoming the deputy general manager of the New Zealand operation before being elected to Parliament. She has been a president of the Northland Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Northland Health Board, and member of the Northland Conservation Board.
Member of Parliament
Newman was a founding member of the ACT New Zealand party, and was one of its candidates in its first election. She was elected to Parliament as a list MP. In 2004, when Richard Prebble stepped down as ACT's leader, Newman chose to step forward as a candidate to succeed him. In the end, the leadership was won by Rodney Hide, but Newman nevertheless emerged with the role of deputy leader.
She remained a list MP until the 2005 election, in which only two ACT MPs were returned.
After Parliament
After leaving Parliament in 2005 Newman established the New Zealand Centre for Political Debate (since renamed the New Zealand Centre for Political Research). The organisation has had many prominent New Zealand and overseas guests write columns including: Sir Roger Douglas (Finance minister of the New Zealand Labour party from 1984 to 1988 and ACT New Zealand co-founder), Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Prof. David Bellamy, Dr Don Brash, Alan Duff, Richard Epstein, Lord Nigel Lawson, Owen McShane, Johan Norberg, Professor Peter Saunders, and others.