Helen Mary Smith (25 May 1927 – 26 December 2007) was a New Zealand artist, teacher and politician. She was a Porirua City Councillor from 1973 until 2001.
Biography edit
Smith was a mathematics teacher at a girls high school in Wellington.[1]
After joining the Values Party, Smith stood in the Porirua electorate at the 1972 election placing third. Smith stood as Values candidate for in Porirua at the 1975 and 1978 elections as well, with 2,176 and 2,043 votes; coming third each time and gaining the highest number of votes of any Values Party candidate in the country in 1978.[2][3] In 1977 she was appointed the Values Party spokesperson on health, education and welfare.[4]
Smith organised a 1974 petition to Parliament criticising Porirua MP Gerry Wall for introducing the Hospitals Amendment Bill, which proposed to restrict therapeutic abortions to public hospitals. Wall said the petition was not "adequately representing" the electorate. The petitioners accused Wall of using a position of constitutional authority to promote a personal view and urged for abortion law reform be put up for full discussion and debate with the bill being referred to a select committee.[5] In 1975 parliament's social services committee recommended that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration.[6]
She then won a seat on the Porirua City Council at a 1973 by-election.[1] Re-elected for the council in 1974, Smith was also the runner-up in the 1977 Porirua mayoral election. As well as standing for mayor she stood for the council as well and was successful.[7] Smith was an activist in Porirua over several community issues. From 1980 to 2001, when she was narrowly defeated (leaving no artists on the council[8]) Smith was chairperson of the Community Development Committee, which saw her responsible for the library services in Porirua, widely considered to be excellent. She was also strong supporter for the Pataka Complex and an art gallery in Porirua. The Porirua City Council has named a room in the local Pataka Museum and a prize after her.
She lived in Tītahi Bay with her husband Dr Allan Smith[9] and had four children and five grandchildren. She died on 26 December 2007 from cancer.[10]
References edit
- ^ a b "Values seat on council". The Press. Vol. CXIII, no. 33172. 12 March 1973. p. 1.
- ^ Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. p. 321. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
- ^ New Zealand election results
- ^ "Values — 'back to square one'". The Press. 4 April 1977. p. 6.
- ^ "Petition criticises Dr Wall". The Press. Vol. CXIV, no. 33650. 27 September 1974. p. 16.
- ^ "Abortion bill to be considered". The Press. Vol. CXV, no. 33803. 27 March 1975. p. 2.
- ^ Cleland, Marian (10 October 1977). "Mayor With A Problem Thanks Porirua Voters". The Evening Post. p. 12.
- ^ "Pukerua Bay artist seeks seat on Porirua Council". Stuff (Fairfax). 13 July 2010.
- ^ "Long-serving doctor honoured". Stuff (Fairfax). 10 October 2013.
- ^ "Book keeps memories alive". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
External links edit
- http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22382043?search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Btext%5D=Helen+Smith+Porirua+Values+Party
- http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/kapi-mana-news/3910348/Pukerua-Bay-artist-seeks-seat-on-Porirua-council
- Helen Smith Family Award
- U.S. The Spokesman-Review, 9 September 1973, "Helen Smith is the first elected representative of a new political party which sent shock-waves through both the established parties at New Zealand's general election, and which each of them would dearly love to assimilate before next time."
- two references to her from Index NZ; Evening Post 10 September 2001 p18 & Dominion Post 17 January 2008 pB7.