Izzy I. Ford (née Gray; born 19 January 1974) is a New Zealand local-body politician and former rugby union player. She served as deputy mayor of Porirua from 2016 to 2022.

Izzy Ford
Deputy mayor of Porirua
In office
2016–2022
Preceded by'Ana Coffey
Succeeded byKylie Wihapi
Personal details
Born
Izzy I. Gray

(1974-01-19) 19 January 1974 (age 50)
Porirua, New Zealand
EducationBishop Viard College
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Rugby union career
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Wellington heaps (351)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1999–2005 New Zealand 5 (5)
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Women's rugby union
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2002 Spain Team competition

Early life and family edit

Ford was born in Porirua on 19 January 1974, and was educated at Bishop Viard College.[1][2] She is married to Glynn Ford, and they have three children,[2] including Jayden Ford, who in July 2023 was the 166th-ranked amateur golfer in the world.[3][4]

Rugby union edit

Ford made her debut for the New Zealand women's national rugby team, the Black Ferns, against Canada at Palmerston North in 1999. She was named in the 2002 Women's Rugby World Cup squad for New Zealand.[1]

In 2017, Ford became the first woman appointed to the Wellington Rugby Board for 20 years; Fran Wilde had served on the board in 1996.[5][6]

Local politics edit

Ford was first elected as a Porirua city councillor for the Eastern Ward in 2013.[2] She was re-elected in 2016 and 2019, when she was the top-polling candidate in the Eastern Ward.[7][8] Ford stood for the Porirua mayoralty at the 2019 local-body elections, and finished third out of six candidates.[8] She served as the deputy mayor of Porirua from 2016 to 2022.[2][9] Ford was re-elected to the council in the 2022 local elections for the Onepoto Ward.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Izzy Gray #95". New Zealand Rugby. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Candidates for mayoralty: Izzy Ford". Porirua City Council. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  3. ^ Geenty, Mark (27 October 2016). "Jayden Ford, 12, in top-three at NZ amateur after stunning start". Stuff. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Player profile: Jayden Ford". World amateur golf ranking. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  5. ^ Campbell, Georgina (3 April 2017). "First woman in Wellington Rugby's board". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  6. ^ Fallon, Virginia (4 April 2017). "Porirua's deputy mayor first female on Wellington Rugby board in 20 years". Stuff. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  7. ^ "2016 elections declaration of result". Porirua City Council. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b "2019 election results". Porirua City Council. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Porirua City mayor Anita Baker reappoints Izzy Ford". Scoop Regional. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 Porirua City Election Results". Porirua City Council. Retrieved 12 November 2022.