Editing Matt Robson

{{short description|Australian-born New Zealand politician}}
{{other people}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Matt Robson
| honorific-suffix    = 
| image               = 
| caption             = 
| order               = 5th [[Minister of Corrections (New Zealand)|Minister of Corrections]]
| term_start          = 10 December 1999
| term_end            = 15 August 2002
| primeminister       = [[Helen Clark]]
| predecessor         = [[Clem Simich]]
| successor           = [[Mark Gosche]]
| order1              = 4th [[Minister for Courts]]
| term_start1         = 10 December 1999
| term_end1           = 15 August 2002
| primeminister1      = [[Helen Clark]]
| predecessor1        = [[Georgina te Heuheu]]
| successor1          = [[Margaret Wilson]]
| constituency_MP3    = [[New Zealand Progressive Party|Progressive Party]] [[list MP|list]]
| parliament3         = New Zealand
| term_start3         = 27 July 2002
| term_end3           = 17 September 2005
| constituency_MP4    = [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance]] [[list MP|list]]
| parliament4         = New Zealand
| term_start4         = 12 October 1996
| term_end4           = 27 July 2002
| birth_name          = Matthew Peter Robson
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1950|1|5}}
| birth_place         = [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], Australia
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| restingplace        = 
| restingplacecoordinates = 
| birthname           = 
| nationality         = Australian<br>New Zealander
| party               = [[New Zealand Progressive Party|Progressive]] (2002–2012) <br /> [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance]] (1991–2002)<br> [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] (before 1989)
| otherparty          = <!--For additional political affiliations-->
| spouse              = Petronella Townsend
| partner             = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married-->
| relations           = 
| children            = 
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = 
| occupation          = Teacher
| profession          = Lawyer
| religion            = 
| signature           = 
| website             = 
}}
'''Matthew Peter Robson''' (born 5 January 1950) is an Australian-born New Zealand politician. He was deputy leader of the [[New Zealand Progressive Party|Progressive Party]], and served in the [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] from 1996 to 2005, first as a member of the [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance]], then as a Progressive.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Robson was born in [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], Australia. He attained an MA (Hons) in Political Studies and later studied law, and worked both as a lawyer and a teacher. He also spent three years in the [[Netherlands]] as a technical editor.

Robson was originally a member of the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]], holding several positions within the party organisation. In 1981 he became chairman of Labour's {{NZ electorate link|Otara}} electorate committee and was campaign manager to [[Colin Moyle]] in the seat at the {{NZ election link|1984}} before resigning as chairman and from the party itself in 1989, taking almost 300 members with him.<ref>{{cite news |first=Fue |last=Ualesi |title=Otara |date=22 October 1990 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |page=7, section 3 }}</ref> He was deeply opposed to the neo-liberal economic policies of [[Roger Douglas]], the Labour Party's [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Minister of Finance]], and when [[Jim Anderton]], a Labour MP, quit the party, Robson followed him. Robson was heavily involved in the establishment of Anderton's [[NewLabour Party (New Zealand)|NewLabour Party]] (NLP), which later became the core of the Alliance. He was NLP spokesperson for industrial relations and immigration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Simon |title=Anderton in finance role |work=[[New Zealand Herald]] |date=23 April 1990 |page=3 }}</ref> He contested the {{NZ electorate link|Otara}} electorate for NewLabour in the {{NZ election link|1990}}. At the 1992 local-body elections he put himself forward as a candidate for the [[Maungakiekie]] ward of the [[Auckland City Council]]. Standing as an [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance]] candidate (the NLP was a component party of the Alliance) he was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news |title=Where the votes went in the local polls |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=12 October 1992 |page=8, section 2 }}</ref>

In December 1992, following the [[1992 Wellington Central by-election|Wellington Central by-election]], Robson was designated NLP spokesperson for defence to replace [[Keith Locke]] whom Anderton considered too left-wing.{{sfn|Grant|2022|p=452}} Later he was the Alliance candidate for {{NZ electorate link|Onehunga}} in the {{NZ election link|1993}}.<ref>{{cite tech report |ref={{sfnref|Election results|1993}} |title=Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place |publisher=New Zealand Chief Electoral Office |year=1993 |pages=}}</ref> In 1994 when Anderton briefly resigned as Alliance leader, and co-deputy leader [[Sandra Lee-Vercoe|Sandra Lee]] was temporarily elevated to the leadership, Robson was elected her temporary replacement co-deputy leader beating Democrats leader [[John Wright (New Zealand politician)|John Wright]] for the position.{{sfn|Grant|2022|p=255}} He also became acting president of NewLabour during Anderton's absence between May and August 1995.{{sfn|Grant|2022|p=259}}

===Member of Parliament===
{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox|term=45th|start={{NZ election link year|1996}}|end=1999|electorate=List|list=7|party=Alliance (New Zealand political party)}}
{{NZ parlbox|term=46th|start={{NZ election link year|1999}}|end=2002|electorate=List|list=3|party=Alliance (New Zealand political party)}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2002}}|end=2005|term=47th|electorate=List|list=2|party=Jim Anderton's Progressive Party}}
{{NZ parlbox footer}}
Robson was elected to Parliament as an Alliance [[list MP]] in the {{NZ election link|1996}}, and again in the {{NZ election link|1999}}, having stood in {{NZ electorate link|Maungakiekie}}, and coming in third place at both elections. In the Labour-Alliance coalition government (1999–2002), Robson was [[Minister of Corrections (New Zealand)|Minister of Corrections]], [[Minister for Courts]], [[Minister for Land Information (New Zealand)|Minister for Land Information]], and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (with responsibility for [[foreign aid]]). Towards the end of 1999, however, the Alliance began to collapse, with a rift opening between the party organisation and its parliamentary leadership. In this dispute, Robson sided with the parliamentary leader, Anderton. When Anderton finally left the Alliance and established the Progressive Coalition (later renamed as the [[Jim Anderton's Progressive Party|Progressive Party]]), Robson followed him and became the new party's deputy leader. In the {{NZ election link|2002}}, the Progressives only won 1.7% of the vote.  However, Anderton easily held onto his seat, allowing Robson (standing in {{NZ electorate link|Manukau East}}, where he came fifth), as the 2nd-ranked person on the Progressive list, to return to Parliament.  However, the Progressives' strength was considerably weaker compared to that of the Alliance in 1999, so Robson lost his cabinet posts.

Robson has a relatively high public profile, compared to the size of his party, and is known for his views on foreign affairs and justice. Along with the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]]'s [[Keith Locke]], Robson campaigned on behalf of detained asylum-seeker [[Ahmed Zaoui]]. In 2002, Robson introduced a Private Member's bill providing for four weeks of paid annual leave for all workers, a proposal that the Labour Party initially opposed. Robson's legislation, however, ultimately forced Labour to either vote in favour of the bill or risk alienating its trade union supporters, who vociferously advocated it. The legislation was passed into law with Labour's support and took effect in 2007. Robson also introduced legislation to raise the minimum alcohol purchasing age to 20, and in Parliament espoused policies to combat drug and alcohol abuse.

In the {{NZ election link|2005}}, the Progressive vote collapsed further, and this time was not enough for Robson to remain in Parliament. He returned to practising law. In the {{NZ election link|2008}} he was again a candidate in {{NZ electorate link|Maungakiekie}}, but did poorly, finishing fifth, with 2.22% of the vote.<ref>[http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-25.html Maungakiekie results 2008.] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20081112063601/http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-25.html |date=12 November 2008 }}</ref> The Progressives received just under one percent of the party vote, not enough for Robson to be returned to Parliament.<ref>[http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/partystatus.html Party results, 2008.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209051141/http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/partystatus.html |date=9 February 2009 }}</ref> At the [[2009 Mount Albert by-election]] Robson campaigned for Labour candidate [[David Shearer]].{{sfn|Grant|2022|p=419}}

On 14 July 2022, Robson had the rare distinction of appearing twice, in positions 47 and 72, in the list of politicians, academics, activists promoting Russian propaganda published by the Ukraine Government.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cpd.gov.ua/reports/%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%BA%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D1%8F%D0%BA%D1%96-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%8C-%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%B2%D0%B7%D0%B2%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D1%96-%D1%80%D0%BE/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804135517/https://cpd.gov.ua/reports/%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%BA%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D1%8F%D0%BA%D1%96-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%8C-%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%B2%D0%B7%D0%B2%D1%83%D1%87%D0%BD%D1%96-%D1%80%D0%BE/ | archive-date=4 August 2022 | title=Спікери, які просувають співзвучні російській пропаганді наративи | date=14 July 2022 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Despite having achieved high political office in New Zealand, Robson did not become a [[naturalisation|naturalised]] citizen until 2000. Under the terms of New Zealand's Electoral Act 1993, any permanent resident before August 1975 has the right to vote and stand for election.<ref name="NZ_Herald_128859">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=128859 |title=No longer a 'foreign' minister |author=Bingham, Eugene |date=5 April 2000 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=14 July 2017}}</ref> 

Robson is married to Petronella Townsend who was an influential organisational figure in the Alliance and Progressive parties.{{sfn|Grant|2022|p=259}} At the {{NZ election link|2005}} she was a Progressive list candidate and stood in the seat of {{NZ electorate link|Auckland Central}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-2.html |title=Official Count Results -- Auckland Central |date=1 October 2005 |website=Electoral Commission |access-date=4 March 2020 }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Grant |first=David |title=Anderton: His Life and Times |year=2022 |publisher=Te Herenga Waka University Press |location=Wellington |isbn=9781776920563 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Clem Simich]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister of Corrections (New Zealand)|Minister of Corrections]] | years=1999–2002}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Mark Gosche]]}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Georgina te Heuheu]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister for Courts]] | years=1999–2002}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Margaret Wilson]]}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Paul Swain (politician)|Paul Swain]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister for Land Information (New Zealand)|Minister for Land Information]]|years=2000–2002}}
{{s-aft | after = [[John Tamihere]]}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-new|party}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[New Zealand Progressive Party|Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party]]|years=2002–2012}}
{{s-non|reason=Party dissolved}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sandra Lee-Vercoe|Sandra Lee]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Deputy Leader of the Alliance]]|alongside=[[Jeanette Fitzsimons]]|years=1994–1995}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Sandra Lee-Vercoe|Sandra Lee]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{NZ Alliance Party}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robson, Matt}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jim Anderton's Progressive Party MPs]]
[[Category:Alliance (New Zealand political party) MPs]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Australian emigrants to New Zealand]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of New Zealand]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand lawyers]]
[[Category:NewLabour Party (New Zealand) politicians]]
[[Category:New Zealand Labour Party politicians]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1990 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1993 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2005 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Politicians from Brisbane]]
[[Category:New Zealand list MPs]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians]]