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DeutschBenjamin Doyle
Benjamin Doyle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Doyle in 2023 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Green party list | |
| Assumed office 22 October 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Darleen Tana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benjamin Cody Doyle[1] 1991 or 1992 (age 32–33) |
| Political party | Green |
| Children | 1 |
Benjamin Cody Doyle (born 1991 or 1992) is a New Zealand politician, representing the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand[2] as a Member of Parliament since replacing Darleen Tana, who was removed in 2024. Doyle became the first non-binary Member of Parliament.
Early and personal life
[edit]Doyle was born in 1991 or 1992,[3] and grew up in Whangaparāoa.[4] They are of Ngāpuhi, Scottish, and Irish descent. They lived in Auckland through high school and university.[5]
Doyle was a teacher at Auckland Girls' Grammar School and Manurewa High School.[5] Later, they held positions of head of Māori at Melville High School and head of social sciences at Rototuna Senior High School.[2][6] They then worked as a kaupapa Māori researcher and facilitator at the University of Waikato,[6] and as a community organiser for artists and LGBTQIA+ communities.[7] Until becoming an MP, they worked at Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.[5]
Doyle identifies as non-binary, takatāpui and whaikaha (disabled).[2][8][9] As of 2024[update], they live in Hamilton with their partner and child.[5]
Political career
[edit]| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–pres. | 54th | List | 18 | Green | |
Doyle spoke against allowing the anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (known as Posie Parker) into New Zealand, saying "Posie Parker should not be allowed into Aotearoa. In letting her enter, the minister has chosen to allow hateful anti-trans rhetoric into Aotearoa. That is unacceptable."[6]
Doyle contested the Hamilton West electorate in the 2023 election.[7] They were 18th on the Green Party list.[10] Doyle came third in the Hamilton West electorate with 3,230 votes.[11] The Green Party won 12 list seats in the election, and therefore Doyle was not elected at 18th on the party list.[12]
Following the removal of Darleen Tana as a List MP in October 2024, Doyle was declared elected on 22 October 2024.[1] They said about Tana's removal:[5]
I made a really intentional decision about not getting involved in that because I was aware of the fact that I was implicated in it. But if I was seen to be involved in that process, it would be perceived as biassed and it would be perceived as having motivations.
Doyle is the first non-binary member of New Zealand's parliament.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Temel, Kristina (22 October 2024). "Declaration by Electoral Commission That Benjamin Cody Doyle is Elected a Member of Parliament". New Zealand Gazette. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "Benjamin Doyle candidate profile". Green Party. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024.
- ^ Lardies, Gabi (23 October 2024). "Who is Benjamin Doyle, the soon-to-be Green MP replacing Darleen Tana?". The Spinoff. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Benjamin Doyle profile". University of Waikato.
- ^ a b c d e f Lines-MacKenzie, Jo (4 November 2024). "Meet Parliament's first non-binary member". Waikato Times. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Allen, Benji (24 March 2023). "New Hamilton West Candidate Condemns Posie Parker". Waikato Independent.
- ^ a b "Green Party Announces Benjamin Doyle As Candidate For Hamilton West". Scoop New Zealand. 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Who is Benjamin Doyle, who the Greens want to replace Darleen Tana?". Radio New Zealand. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Te Wake, Whatitiri; Gunson, Isaac (25 October 2024). "Exclusive: Meet Benjamin Doyle, the Green Party's newest MP". Te Ao Māori News.
- ^ "Green Party candidate list includes nine Māori". Te Ao News. 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Hamilton West - Official Result". Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "2023 General Election - Official Result". Retrieved 18 November 2024.