Grant Gillon
Encyclopedia
Grant Gillon is a New Zealand politician
. He was a member of parliament between 1996 and 2002, representing the Alliance Party
.
. The Democratic party later joined the Alliance
as one of the four founding parties.
Gillon was elected to Parliament as an Alliance
list MP in the 1996 elections
, having been ranked in eleventh place on the party list. He was re-elected to Parliament in the 1999 elections
. While an MP, Gillon was a Government Whip, Deputy Chair of the Government Administration Select Committee, members of the MMP Review Committee, a member of the Privileges, Officers of Parliament, Standing Orders, Members' Services, Business, Parliamentary Services, Legislative, Cabinet and other parliamentary committees.
In 2001, Gillon became leader of the Democratic Party
, replacing John Wright
.
When the Alliance
collapsed in 2002, Gillon and the Democratic Party
joined Jim Anderton
's breakaway party, the Progressive Coalition
. In the 2002 elections
, Gillon was ranked third on the Progressive Coalition
list, behind Jim Anderton
and Matt Robson
. Gillon left the Democratic Party
and moved to the Progressive Coalition
. Gillon became President of the Progressive Coalition
until he stood down in 2007.
He has served as the North Shore City Councillor (representing the Harbour Ward and Chair of the Strategy and Finance Committee) and Birkenhead/Northcote Community Board member, elected to both the City Council and Community Board.
Gillon is a past Chief Executive Officer for the ISEA union for teachers and past member of the Board of Directors of the multi-national SOE AsureQuality.
Gillon's published works include: Where There's Smoke, an expose of insurance evasion in relation to The Fire Service; New Zealand Government and Politics (chapters with Ray Miller on the role of an MP); and The Baubles of Office: The New Zealand General Election of 2005 (a chapter on The Progressives)and various conference papers.
Gillon has also worked as a dairy farmer, senior fire officer, and an entrepreneur in light manufacturing, printing, educational resource and publishing.
His daughter, Paula, is also active in Auckland local body politics. http://www.paulagillon.co.nz/About.html
Politics of New Zealand
The politics of New Zealand take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy. The basic system is closely patterned on that of the Westminster System, although a number of significant modifications have been made...
. He was a member of parliament between 1996 and 2002, representing the Alliance Party
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
.
Career
Gillon's political career began when he joined the Democratic PartyNew Zealand Democratic Party
The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit is a small leftist political party in New Zealand. It is based around the ideas of Social Credit, an economic theory which also attracted some degree of support in Canada and Australia...
. The Democratic party later joined the Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
as one of the four founding parties.
Gillon was elected to Parliament as an Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
list MP in the 1996 elections
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, having been ranked in eleventh place on the party list. He was re-elected to Parliament in the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
. While an MP, Gillon was a Government Whip, Deputy Chair of the Government Administration Select Committee, members of the MMP Review Committee, a member of the Privileges, Officers of Parliament, Standing Orders, Members' Services, Business, Parliamentary Services, Legislative, Cabinet and other parliamentary committees.
In 2001, Gillon became leader of the Democratic Party
New Zealand Democratic Party
The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit is a small leftist political party in New Zealand. It is based around the ideas of Social Credit, an economic theory which also attracted some degree of support in Canada and Australia...
, replacing John Wright
John Wright (politician)
John Wright is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1996 to 2002, representing the Alliance.Before entering Parliament he owned the Port-a-Loo company....
.
When the Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
collapsed in 2002, Gillon and the Democratic Party
New Zealand Democratic Party
The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit is a small leftist political party in New Zealand. It is based around the ideas of Social Credit, an economic theory which also attracted some degree of support in Canada and Australia...
joined Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton
James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest...
's breakaway party, the Progressive Coalition
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
. In the 2002 elections
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
, Gillon was ranked third on the Progressive Coalition
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
list, behind Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton
James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest...
and Matt Robson
Matt Robson
Matthew Peter Robson is a New Zealand politician. He is deputy leader of the Progressive Party, and served in the Parliament from 1996 to 2005, first as a member of the Alliance, then as a Progressive.-Early years:...
. Gillon left the Democratic Party
New Zealand Democratic Party
The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit is a small leftist political party in New Zealand. It is based around the ideas of Social Credit, an economic theory which also attracted some degree of support in Canada and Australia...
and moved to the Progressive Coalition
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
. Gillon became President of the Progressive Coalition
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
until he stood down in 2007.
He has served as the North Shore City Councillor (representing the Harbour Ward and Chair of the Strategy and Finance Committee) and Birkenhead/Northcote Community Board member, elected to both the City Council and Community Board.
Gillon is a past Chief Executive Officer for the ISEA union for teachers and past member of the Board of Directors of the multi-national SOE AsureQuality.
Gillon's published works include: Where There's Smoke, an expose of insurance evasion in relation to The Fire Service; New Zealand Government and Politics (chapters with Ray Miller on the role of an MP); and The Baubles of Office: The New Zealand General Election of 2005 (a chapter on The Progressives)and various conference papers.
Gillon has also worked as a dairy farmer, senior fire officer, and an entrepreneur in light manufacturing, printing, educational resource and publishing.
Personal
Gillon and his family have been long term residents of the North Shore. Gillon also performs community work and is a member of the Birkenhead Licensing Trust, Northart, Birkenhead-Northcote Glenfield Community Trust and other community organisations.His daughter, Paula, is also active in Auckland local body politics. http://www.paulagillon.co.nz/About.html