Clare Curran

Clare Elizabeth Curran[1] (born 1960) is a New Zealand politician who served as a member of the New Zealand Parliament for Dunedin South from 2008 to 2020. She was the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications, and Digital Media and Associate Minister for the Accident Compensation Corporation in the current Labour-led coalition government.[2] In late August 2019, Curran announced that she would be retiring at the 2020 general election.[3][4]

The Honourable Clare Curran
25th Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media
In office 26 October 2017 – 7 September 2018
Prime Minister	Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by	Simon Bridges (as Minister for Communications)
Succeeded by	Kris Faafoi
Minister for Government Digital Services
In office 26 October 2017 – 24 August 2018
Prime Minister	Jacinda Ardern
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Megan Woods
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Dunedin South
In office 8 November 2008 – 17 October 2020
Preceded by	David Benson-Pope
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Majority	8,717
Personal details
Born	1960 (age 60–61) Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington
Profession	Public relations
Website	clarecurran.org.nz

Early life and education

Curran grew up and was educated in Dunedin; she attended Moreau College where she achieved School Certificate. She has a BA double major in Anthropology and History from the University of Otago, and BA Honours in Anthropology from Victoria University of Wellington.[5]

During an interview with the University of Otago's student magazine Critic Te Arohi in early March 2020, Curran acknowledged that she had been charged with possession for marijuana during her youth, for which she paid a NZ$50 fine.[6][7][8]

Career

Curran worked in communications for Australian unions over a number of years before returning to New Zealand in 2002 with her young family. She continued to work in public relations in Dunedin.[5]^{[better source needed]}

Curran joined the New Zealand Labour Party in 2006. She quickly rose to prominence within the Otago-Southland hierarchy, becoming a member of the Council of the New Zealand Labour Party.[9]

In 2006 Curran presented a paper to the Otago-Southland region of the Labour Party on "capturing the language" on climate change policy.[10]

In May 2006 Curran was appointed to a contractual role within the Ministry for the Environment following a recommendation from Environment Minister David Parker's office to provide communications advice on the Government's climate change strategy. This appointment was the subject of an investigation by the State Services Commission into the appropriateness of Curran's engagement.[11] The report found that the Ministry had failed to adequately identify Curran's conflict of interest with respect to her relationship with Minister Parker.[12] The report found that a staff member in Parker's office had described Curran as Parker's "right-hand woman" and in an email to Environment Ministry Chief Executive Hugh Logan, and recommended that Curran meet with Logan to discuss communications. Logan resigned as Chief Executive of the Ministry hours before the State Services Commission's report into the Curran affair was released.

She is currently a member of many unions and political groups. She is a member of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and the Service & Food Workers Union. She is also a member of Greenpeace. She was also on the Council of the New Zealand Labour Party as Otago-Southland regional representative.[13]

Parliamentary career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate	List	Party
2008–2011	49th	Dunedin South	45	Labour
2011–2014	50th	Dunedin South	28	Labour
2014–2017	51st	Dunedin South	none	Labour
2017–2020	52nd	Dunedin South	23	Labour

Fifth National Government, 2008–2017

In 2007, Curran launched a bid to unseat sitting MP David Benson-Pope as the Labour Party candidate for Dunedin South.[14][15] Curran won the selection contest ahead of Benson-Pope and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union's Don Pryde.[16] Curran won the 2008 election against National's Conway Powell.[17] However, in 2011, National Party candidate, Jo Hayes, reduced Curran's majority from 6449 in 2008[18] to 4175 in 2011,[19] and National gained a majority of the party vote in Dunedin South by 1837 votes.[19] In the 2014 election, Curran was successful against National's Hamish Walker.[20]

In the 49th New Zealand Parliament, she was a member of the Commerce Committee and was the Labour spokesperson for Communications and Information Technology.

While in Opposition, Curran spoke out against the closure of public broadcaster TVNZ 7,[21] the Government's controversial move to include software in the Patents Bill,[22] KiwiRail job losses,[23] TV coverage of the Paralympics,[24] and the lack of a telecommunications watchdog in New Zealand.[25] Curran also advocated for the return of rail engineering to the former Hillside Engineering site in South Dunedin and highlighted South Dunedin's vulnerability to extreme weather events and rising sea levels.[3][4]

Labour Coalition Government, 2017–2020

Curran posing with the new Government in 2017

Curran was elected as a Cabinet Minister by the Labour Party caucus following Labour's formation of a coalition government with New Zealand First and the Greens.[26] On 26 October, Curran assumed the portfolios of Minister of Broadcasting, Communications, and Digital Media and Minister for Government Digital Services. In addition, Curran was also allocated the associate portfolios for the Accident Compensation Corporation and the State Services Commission.[2]

Curran signing the Digital 7 Charter in February 2018

At the 2017 NetHui, Curran publicly proposed as part of her 100-day plan the formation of a chief technology officer (CTO) role for Government of New Zealand.[27] As of February 2018, no CTO had been selected despite over 60 candidates expressing interest in the role. Curran commented that "after careful consideration she had decided not to make an appointment at this stage and the search for a suitable candidate would be widened."[28]

In late March 2018, Curran became the subject of media attention after it emerged that she had secretly met with Radio New Zealand broadcaster and senior manager Carol Hirschfeld on 5 December 2017 outside of parliamentary business. Curran initially claimed the meeting was coincidental but later admitted it had been pre-arranged. These revelations led to Hirschfeld's resignation from her position as senior manager at Radio NZ. The meeting was related to the Labour-led government's plans to expand public broadcasting through Radio New Zealand. Curran's actions drew criticism from the National Party's broadcasting spokesperson Melissa Lee, who accused Curran of engaging in a cover-up.[29][30]

On 24 August 2018, Prime Minister Ardern dismissed Curran from the Cabinet after Curran acknowledged that she had kept a second meeting off the records. In February, Curran had met with tech entrepreneur Derek Handley at her Beehive office to discuss his interest in the vacant Chief Technology Officer role. Curran had failed to disclose the meeting in her ministerial diary and to inform staff or officials about it. Curran apologized to the Prime Minister for her actions and also resigned from her positions as Minister of Government Digital Services and Minister of Open Government. Curran kept her Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media and associate ACC portfolios.[31][32][33]

On 5 September 2018, Curran "appeared flustered" and "stumbled over her answers" when answering questions during question time from opposition National MP Melissa Lee regarding Curran's use of a personal Gmail account for Ministerial use.[34] Two days later Curran resigned as a Minister of Broadcasting and Associate Minister of ACC, saying she could "no longer endure the relentless pressure I've been under".[35]

On 27 August 2019, Curran announced that she would be retiring from Parliament and not seek election at the 2020 general election.[3][4] As of late August 2019, Curran sits on Parliament's Justice and Electoral select committees.[36] On 2 March 2020, former lawyer, journalist and director of the British Council New Zealand, Ingrid Leary, was nominated as the Labour candidate for Dunedin South to succeed Curran.[37]

Ahead of her retirement, Curran gave an exclusive interview to Donna Chisholm. In it she talked in detail about the "toxicity and bullying" she experienced in her political career, and in particular about the pressures she felt during her time as a minister, which culminated in her demotion and resignation. This led to her receiving months of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Curran made a number of allegations about parliamentary colleagues. She specifically alleged that in 2012 Dunedin-based National list MP Michael Woodhouse and other National MPs had taken part in an event where she was mocked with a toilet seat emblazoned with her photo. She supplied to Chisholm an image of Woodhouse with the seat. Curran also stated that in 2006, before she entered Parliament, National MP Nick Smith had compared her to Joseph Goebbels, and that during their time in Parliament, Jacinda Ardern had been derided for her then childless status by National MPs Maggie Barry and Amy Adams. Barry's remarks in 2012 had received public attention.[38] In addition to naming National MPs who she alleged had engaged in bullying, Curran told Chisholm about an incident with a senior Labour colleague at the end of her first year in Parliament, who she did not name. This colleague she described as telling her that she was "a victim, a femme fatale, and that [she] used [her] sexuality as a weapon."[39] When asked for comment on the toilet seat allegation by the New Zealand Herald, Woodhouse responded "To be honest I cannot really remember it, and I don't think an eight-year-old photo is a burning issue of the day."[40] The independent MP Jami-Lee Ross, who left the National Party in a high-profile incident that included accusations of bullying against him, and who himself had dealt with mental health issues, apologised to Curran for the tactics of his former party.[41]

Public profile and views

As a Member of Parliament, Curran has lobbied for the return of heavy rail engineering work to Hillside Engineering in South Dunedin, climate change adaptation and mitigation in the South Dunedin and Taieri Plain, and placing Dunedin on the priority list for state housing assistance. She also helped secure visas for the parents of Nisha Vijayan, a nurse at the Dunedin Hospital whose husband had died unexpectedly.[36] In June 2011, Curran was sent out of Parliament for wearing a rugby shirt in the Otago rugby union team Highlanders' blue, gold, and maroon colours in protest of their new lime green colour.[42]

References

1. "New Zealand Hansard – Members Sworn [Volume:651;Page:2]". New Zealand Parliament.
2. "Ministerial List". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
3. Walls, Jason (27 August 2019). "Labour MP Clare Curran steps down – a year after she was sacked from Cabinet". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
4. "Labour MP Clare Curran announces retirement, one year after Cabinet ouster". 1 News. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
5. "Clare Curran for Dunedin South – Home". clarecurran.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
6. "Critic – Te Arohi was live". Facebook. Critic Te Arohi. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
7. "Dunedin South MP Clare Curran admits cannabis fine". Stuff.co.nz. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
8. "Dunedin South MP Clare Curran admits cannabis arrest". The New Zealand Herald. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
9. "Clare Curran Biography". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
10. Hosking, Rob (1 December 2007). "Labour Massages the Message". National Business Review. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
11. Rennie, Iain. "Investigation into the Engagement of Clare Curran" (PDF). State Services Commission. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
12. "Ministry botched Curran hiring". Dominion Post. 14 November 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
13. "New Zealand Council Members". Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
14. "Benson-Pope faces challenge for Dunedin seat". The Dominion Post. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
15. "Ousted Benson-Pope to stay loyal". The Dominion Post. 3 February 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
16. "Benson-Pope loses hold on Dunedin South". The New Zealand Herald. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
17. McLean, Elspeth (28 November 2011). "Curran dismisses commentator's strong criticism". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
18. "Official Count Results – Dunedin South". Chief Electoral Office. 22 November 2008. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
19. "Official Count Results – Dunedin South". Electoral Commission. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
20. "Agony and ecstasy for Dunedin party faithful". Otago Daily Times. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
21. "Curran questions Govt's TV funding priorities". 3 News NZ. 7 June 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
22. "Innovation 'crushed' by change to Patents Bill". 3 News NZ. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
23. "Kiwirail costs disputed by MP". 3 News NZ. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013.
24. "TV ignoring NZ's Paralympians: Labour". 3 News NZ. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
25. "Labour calls for telco watchdog following fines". 3 News NZ. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
26. "Who's in? Who's out?". Radio NZ. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
27. "Hon. Clare Curran: CTO proposal in the government's 100-day fast track". CIO New Zealand. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
28. "Government to 'widen' search for chief technology officer after none of 60 candidates convinces". Stuff. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
29. Walters, Laura; Cooke, Henry (27 March 2018). "Curran's 'informal' meeting with Carol Hirschfeld planned for an hour". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
30. "Carol Hirschfeld resigns over Clare Curran meeting". Otago Daily Times. NZME. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
31. "Jacinda Ardern sacks Clare Curran from Cabinet, removes her from two portfolios after second failure to declare a meeting". 1 News. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
32. Hurley, Emma (24 August 2018). "Prime Minister removes Clare Curran from Cabinet". Newshub. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
33. "Clare Curran sacked from Cabinet, PM Jacinda Ardern announces". The New Zealand Herald. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
34. "Embattled minister Clare Curran struggles to explain using personal email for Government business". Stuff.co.nz. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
35. Cooke, Henry (7 September 2018). "Clare Curran resigns as minister, citing 'intolerable' pressure". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
36. Houlahan, Mike (31 August 2019). "Curran's career in perspective". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
37. Houlahan, Mike (2 March 2020). "Labour picks Dunedin South seat candidate". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
38. Trevett, Claire (27 July 2012). "Barry mocked for childless snipe". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
39. Chisholm, Donna. "I physically felt like I was going to die': Clare Curran opens up on politics, toxicity and trauma". The Spinoff. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
40. "Labour MP Clare Curran reveals 'traumatised' impact of 'dirty politics' campaign". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
41. Manhire, Toby. "'We wanted to break her' – Jami-Lee Ross weighs in on Clare Curran story". The Spinoff. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
42. Vance, Andrea; Chapman, Kate (7 June 2011). "MP removed from Parliament for wearing rugby shirt". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2019.

External links

• Official website
• Parliamentary biography