Agnes Loheni
{{short description|New Zealand politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Agnes Loheni
|image = LOHENI, Agnes - List (cropped).png
|imagesize =
|caption = Loheni in 2023
|order =
|term_start =
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|predecessor =
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|primeminister =
|constituency_MP3 = National Party party list
|term_start3 = 31 January 2019
|term_end3 = 17 October 2020
|parliament3 = New Zealand
|predecessor3 = Chris Finlayson
|office4 =
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|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1971}}
|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
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|party = National
|religion =
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|spouse = Ward Kamo
|alma_mater =
|children = 5
|website =
}}
Agnes Loreta Loheni (born 1971) is a New Zealand politician and a former Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the New Zealand National Party. She was declared elected on 31 January 2019, following the resignation of Chris Finlayson.
Early life and career
Loheni was born in 1972 in Auckland, spending her formative years in Mount Albert.{{cite news |date=19 September 2017 |title=Getting candid with Agnes Loheni |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/96989532/getting-candid-with-agnes-loheni |work=Stuff |accessdate=9 April 2018}} She lived in a state house with as many as 15 family members in just three bedrooms, and was educated at Marist College, Auckland.{{Cite web |first=Derek |last=Cheng |date=29 January 2019 |title=Meet Parliament's new MP: Agnes Loheni, National Party list MP |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12197061 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=29 January 2019 }} Loheni is a Samoan New Zealander. She is the eldest daughter of Fepulea'i Pelasio Loheni and Filomena Mata'utia Loheni (Mena Loheni). She also has three sisters named Jackie, Gina and Charlene. Agnes, her mother Mena, and her sisters ran a local Samoan fashion brand called MENA.{{cite news |title=Agnes Loheni steps into political arena |url=http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/10_09_2017/local/24149/Agnes-Loheni-steps-into-political-arena.htm |accessdate=23 January 2019 |newspaper=Samoa Observer |date=10 September 2017}}{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.menashop.com/page/about-us.aspx |publisher=MENA |accessdate=23 January 2019}}
She is married and has five children. Loheni has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Auckland. After graduating she had a two-year OE based in London and then returned to New Zealand where she focused on running the family business selling contemporary Pasifika fashion.
Political career
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{{NZ parlbox
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|start=2019
|end=2020
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|party=New Zealand National Party
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In {{NZ election link|2017}} Loheni stood for the National Party in the {{NZ electorate link|Māngere}} electorate and was placed 49 on National's party list.{{Cite web |first= |last= |date= 30 July 2017 |title= National releases 2017 party list |url= https://www.national.org.nz/national_releases_2017_party_list |publisher= New Zealand National Party |accessdate= 30 July 2017 |archive-date= 30 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170730065618/https://www.national.org.nz/national_releases_2017_party_list |url-status= dead }} She was defeated by the incumbent Labour Member of Parliament William Sio, who won by a margin of 14,597 votes.{{cite web |title=Māngere – Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-23.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=26 October 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117212640/http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-23.html |archivedate=17 January 2020 |url-status=live}} Loheni was not ranked high enough on National's party list to be allocated a seat in parliament. In February 2018 Loheni and several other "next in line" list candidates attended National's parliamentary caucus meeting to help ease their transition into parliament should they enter during the course of the parliamentary term.{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/349942/national-caucus-presents-united-front|title=National caucus presents united front |date=8 February 2018 |accessdate=8 February 2018 |work=Radio New Zealand|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105015028/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/349942/national-caucus-presents-united-front|archive-date=5 November 2019|url-status=live}}
Loheni became a Member of Parliament on 31 January 2019, following the retirement of National MP Chris Finlayson, and was sworn in on 12 February.{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.org.nz/news-media/new-list-mp-new-zealand-national-party-5 |title=New list MP for the New Zealand National Party |date=31 January 2019 |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=13 February 2019}}{{cite journal |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20190212_20190212_04 |title=Resignations, list member vacancy, & members sworn |journal=Hansard |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |date=12 February 2019 |accessdate=13 February 2019}} She was appointed as National's associate spokesperson for small business and associate spokesperson for Pacific people by leader Simon Bridges.{{cite web |title=National announces spokesperson for Drug Reform |url=https://www.national.org.nz/national_announces_spokesperson_for_drug_reform |publisher=National Party |accessdate=23 January 2019 |date=22 January 2019 |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123163533/https://www.national.org.nz/national_announces_spokesperson_for_drug_reform |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |first=Audrey |last=Young |date=22 January 2019 |title=Simon Bridges kicks off political year with reshuffle and a new job for deputy Paula Bennett |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12194251 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=22 January 2019 }}
In November 2019 she stood for the National nomination in the safer seat of {{NZ electorate link|Botany}}, but lost to former Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon.{{Cite web |first=George |last=Block |date=4 November 2019 |title=National chooses former Air NZ boss Christopher Luxon as Botany MP candidate |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117151149/national-chooses-christopher-luxon-as-botany-mp |work=Stuff |accessdate=5 November 2019 }} In May 2020 she indicated that she was seeking the National nomination for the new seat of {{NZ electorate link|Takanini}},{{Cite web |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2005/S00091/national-mp-sets-sights-on-takanini-seat.htm |title=National MP Sets Sights On Takanini Seat |date=12 May 2020 |website=Scoop}} but a month later the party announced Rima Nakhle as its candidate.{{cite web |title=Rima Nakhle National's Candidate In Takanini |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2006/S00121/rima-nakhle-nationals-candidate-in-takanini.htm |website=Scoop |accessdate=14 June 2020}} Loheni was instead re-selected for {{NZ electorate link|Māngere}}.{{cite web |title=National Selects Māngere And Manurewa Candidates |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2006/S00198/national-selects-mangere-and-manurewa-candidates.htm |website=Scoop |accessdate=20 June 2020}}
During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Loheni contested Māngere a second time but was defeated by the Labour incumbent William Sio by a final margin of 19,396 votes.{{cite web |title=Māngere – Official Result |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-21.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=11 November 2020 }} Loheni had been ranked 28 on the National party list, but lost her seat in Parliament die to National's landslide defeat.{{cite news |last1=Whyte |first1=Anna |title=Analysis: The winners, losers, new faces and goodbyes of election 2020 |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/analysis-winners-losers-new-faces-and-goodbyes-election-2020 |accessdate=22 October 2020 |work=1News |date=18 October 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022090204/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/analysis-winners-losers-new-faces-and-goodbyes-election-2020 |archivedate=22 October 2020|url-status=live}}
During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Loheni stood as a list-only candidate for the National Party, ranked 25. While campaigning, she identified the cost of living crisis, crime and poor education and health outcomes as issues of concern to Auckland families.{{cite news |last1=Raman |first1=Venkat |title=Agnes Loheni assured of a seat in the next Parliament |url=https://indiannewslink.co.nz/agnes-loheni-assured-of-a-seat-in-the-next-parliament/ |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=Indian Newslink |date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630120019/https://indiannewslink.co.nz/agnes-loheni-assured-of-a-seat-in-the-next-parliament/ |archive-date=30 June 2023|url-status=live}} Despite National's election victory, Loheni was not ranked highly enough to enter Parliament.{{cite news |last1=Suisuiki |first1=Susanna |title=There's no Pacific flavour in this blue-suited, White-faced Parliament |url=https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/10/24/theres-no-pacific-flavour-in-this-blue-suited-white-faced-parliament/ |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=Newsroom |date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128162940/https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/10/24/theres-no-pacific-flavour-in-this-blue-suited-white-faced-parliament/ |archive-date=28 November 2023|url-status=live}}
Views
Loheni has taken an anti-abortion stance. She served on the Abortion Legislation Select Committee to consider the Abortion Legislation Act 2020. Loheni wrote a minority report for the committee criticising the bill for what she considered its lack of safeguards on late-term abortions and foetal abnormalities.{{cite news |last1=Dreaver |first1=Charlie |title=Select committee delivers report on abortion Bill |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/409570/select-committee-delivers-report-on-abortion-bill |accessdate=20 March 2020 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=14 February 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Wade |first1=Amelia |title=Abortion law reform passes third reading |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12317885 |accessdate=20 March 2020 |work=New Zealand Herald |date=18 March 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Loheni |first1=Agnes |title=Read MP Agnes Loheni's Minority Report on Labour's Abortion Bill |url=https://voiceforlife.org.nz/blog/read-mp-agnes-lohenis-minority-report-on-labours-abortion-bill/ |publisher=Voice for Life |accessdate=19 March 2020 |date=15 February 2020}}
References
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External links
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Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent
Category:New Zealand National Party MPs
Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election
Category:University of Auckland alumni
Category:People educated at Marist College, Auckland
Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election
Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election