Andy Foster

{{for|the American sports commissioner|Andy Foster (sports commissioner)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Andy Foster

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100}}

| image = Official_photo_of_Andy_Foster.png

| alt =

| smallimage =

| caption =

|constituency_MP1 = New Zealand First party list

|term_start1 = 14 October 2023

|parliament1 = New Zealand

| office2 = 36th Mayor of Wellington

| term_start2 = 19 October 2019

| term_end2 = 15 October 2022

| predecessor2 = Justin Lester

| successor2 = Tory Whanau

| deputy2 = Sarah Free

| majority2 = 62

| office3 = Wellington City Councillor for Onslow-Western Ward

| term_start3 = 2004

| term_end3 = 2019

| alongside3 =

| predecessor3 =

| successor3 =

| office4 = Wellington City Councillor for Western Ward

| term_start4 = 1992

| term_end4 = 2004

| alongside4 =

| predecessor4 =

| successor4 =

| birth_name = Andrew John Whitfield Foster

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|12|21|df=y}}

| birth_place = Pembury, Kent, England

| spouse = Ann

| children = 2

| party = New Zealand First (2017–present)

| otherparty = {{ubl|National (until 1993)}}

| alma_mater = Victoria University of Wellington

| profession =

| website = {{URL|http://andyfoster.org.nz/}}

}}

Andrew John Whitfield Foster {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100}} (born 21 December 1961) is a New Zealand politician. He was elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives as a list MP for the New Zealand First party in the 2023 New Zealand general election.

He was previously Mayor of Wellington from 2019 to 2022 and a Wellington City Councillor for nine terms from 1992 until 2019.

Foster has described himself as a "Bluegreen", a conservative environmentalist.

Early life and family

Foster was born on 21 December 1961 in Pembury, Kent, England, and moved with his family to New Zealand aged 5, originally settling in the Wellington suburbs of Ngaio and Khandallah before becoming a long-term Karori resident.{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/83028403/wellington-mayoral-candidate-profile-andy-foster |title= Wellington mayoral candidate profile: Andy Foster |publisher= Stuff.co.nz |author= MacDonald, Nikki |date= 22 August 2016 |access-date= 28 June 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&db=NZNaturalisations&h=11009 |title=New Zealand, naturalisations, 1843–1981 |year=2010 |publisher=Ancestry.com Operations |access-date=23 October 2019 |url-access=subscription}} He became a naturalised New Zealand citizen in 1978. Foster later studied at Victoria University of Wellington, gaining a Bachelor of Arts in history and economic history and a Bachelor of Commerce in business management.

He shares two children with his wife, Ann.

Local government political career

In the late 1980s Foster became politically active and joined the National Party and worked as a parliamentary researcher for National for three years. When party colleagues were looking for people to stand in local government, Foster accepted nomination and stood for election in the 1992 local elections for the Wellington City Council on a Citizens' ticket. He was successful winning a seat from the Western Ward.{{cite report |last=Bly |first=Ross |date=1992 |title=City of Wellington: Local Body Elections, 1992 |publisher=Wellington City Council }} Citizens did not operate as a ticket post-election. He held a seat in the Western Ward until 2004 when local electoral boundaries were re-drawn and he stood for the newly created Onslow-Western Ward and held a seat from there until 2019.{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/82253145/wellington-mayoral-contest-heats-up-as-councillor-andy-foster-joins-the-race |title=Wellington mayoral contest heats up as councillor Andy Foster joins the race |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |author=Forbes, Michael |date=20 July 2016 |access-date=28 June 2017}}

Foster stood for Mayor of Wellington on four occasions; first in 2001, coming fourth, then in 2016 placing fifth.{{cite web|url=http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/elections/results/2001/2001results.html|title=Election Results – 2001|publisher=Wellington City Council|access-date=17 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001121559/http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/elections/results/2001/2001results.html |archive-date=1 October 2006 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title= Election 2016: Preliminary results for the Mayor |url= http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/elections/elections-2016/results/mayor |publisher= Wellington City Council |access-date= 10 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161010113400/http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/elections/elections-2016/results/mayor |archive-date= 10 October 2016 |url-status= dead}} Foster announced his third campaign for the mayoralty at the 2019 local elections and gained endorsement from Sir Peter Jackson.{{Cite news |date=16 August 2019 |title=Sir Peter Jackson backs Andy Foster for Wellington mayoralty |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/115055850/sir-peter-jackson-backs-andy-foster-for-wellington-mayoralty |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |access-date=16 August 2019 }} In a surprise, he narrowly beat the one-term incumbent, Justin Lester, by 62 votes after special and last-minute votes had been counted.{{cite news |title=Wellington Mayor Andy Foster wins by just 62 votes |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12277721 |access-date=18 October 2019 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=18 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/10/live-updates-new-zealand-local-body-election-results-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012024117/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/10/live-updates-new-zealand-local-body-election-results-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2019|title=As it happened: New Zealand local body election results 2019|date=12 October 2019|work=Newshub}}{{Cite web|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/local-elections/13-10-2019/winners-losers-big-losers-and-gigantic-losers-from-the-2019-local-elections/|title=Winners, losers, big losers, and gigantic losers from the 2019 local elections|first=Hayden|last=Donnell|date=13 October 2019|work=The Spinoff}} Lester became the first Wellington mayor in 33 years to be replaced after just one term.

Foster was the president, and is now a life member, of TRAFINZ, which represents local authority views in New Zealand regarding road safety and traffic management.{{cite web |title=Trafinz |url=http://www.trafinz.org.nz |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=TRAFINZ }} As a city councillor he was appointed to the boards of council-owned companies Capital Power (1991–1992),{{cite web |title=Our history and ownership |url=https://www.welectricity.co.nz/about-us/history-and-ownership/ |website=Wellington Electricity |access-date=14 October 2022 |language=en}} Wellington International Airport from 1996 to 1998,{{cite web |title=Andrew John Whitfield FOSTER – Wellington – NEW ZEALAND |url=https://www.companiesnz.com/person/2638165/andrew-john-whitfield-foster |website=www.companiesnz.com |access-date=14 October 2022}} and Wellington Water's predecessor Capacity Infrastructure (2004–2014).{{Cite web |date=15 August 2017 |title=New Zealand First announces Wellington region candidates |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1708/S00317/new-zealand-first-announces-wellington-region-candidates.htm |publisher=Scoop.co.nz |access-date=15 August 2017 }}{{cite web |title=History of Wellington Water – Wellington Water |url=https://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/about-us/history-of-wellington-water/ |website=www.wellingtonwater.co.nz |access-date=14 October 2022}}

= Mayor of Wellington, 2019–2022 =

Significant policies undertaken in his tenure included the funding of the climate change "Te Atakura – First to Zero" action plan and the announcement of preferred options for the Let's get Wellington Moving transport infrastructure package. This included a second Mount Victoria Tunnel and a mass transit route from the Wellington railway station via the Basin Reserve to Newtown and Island Bay.{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Kate |date=2022-06-29 |title=Let's Get Wellington Moving: Top takes on Wellington's light rail decision |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/129114650/lets-get-wellington-moving-top-takes-on-wellingtons-light-rail-decision |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Stuff |language=en}}

In April 2021, local mana whenua iwi Ngati Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whanui were invited to have a representative with voting rights at council committee meetings.{{Cite web |last=George |first=Damian |date=2021-04-28 |title=Iwi to have voting rights on Wellington council committees, with mayor's support |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/124966897/iwi-to-have-voting-rights-on-wellington-council-committees-with-mayors-support |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Stuff |language=en}} On 30 April 2022, a new strategic partnership was signed with local Iwi at Pipitea Marae.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-28 |title=Tākai Here to be signed at Pipitea Marae |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2022/04/takai-here-signing |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Wellington City Council |language=en-NZ}}

In July 2021, Foster received acclaim from colleagues typically referenced as his political adversaries for his decision to light up the exterior of the council-owned Michael Fowler Centre with the colours of the transgender flag following confirmation a group considered by some to be transgender-exclusionary would speak there.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} In addition, Foster attended a counter-rally with Labour Party councilors Fleur Fitzsimons and Teri O'Neill, draped in the transgender flag.{{cite web |title=How trans issue sprouted a moment of unity in fractious Wellington council |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/125740081/how-trans-issue-sprouted-a-moment-of-unity-in-fractious-wellington-council |website=Stuff |access-date=14 July 2021}}

In October 2021, Foster expressed disagreement with the Sixth Labour Government's Three Waters reform programme, which proposes transferring the management of water utilities from local councils to four new entities.{{cite news |title=Wellington mayor disappointed by Government's move to force through Three Waters reforms |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington-mayor-disappointed-by-governments-move-to-force-through-three-waters-reforms/VFZ73PLQRNVUP7OWRH4HTVP66U/ |access-date=28 October 2021 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027053542/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington-mayor-disappointed-by-governments-move-to-force-through-three-waters-reforms/VFZ73PLQRNVUP7OWRH4HTVP66U/ |archive-date=27 October 2021|url-status=live}}

In October 2022, Foster became the second person in 36 years to hold the Wellington mayoralty for just one term. Voters selected Tory Whanau to replace him, with her gaining over twice as many votes after seven rounds of preferences.{{cite web |title=Elections 2022: Mayor |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/elections/2022-elections/results/mayor |website=Wellington City Council |access-date=8 October 2022 |language=en-NZ |date=8 October 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Daalder |first1=Marc |title=Whanau bucks trend in referendum on leadership |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/whanau-bucks-trend-in-referendum-on-leadership |access-date=8 October 2022 |work=Newsroom |date=8 October 2022 |language=en-AU}}

Member of Parliament

Foster stood unsuccessfully for Parliament on two occasions. In 1996, he stood as an independent in the 1996 New Zealand general election for {{NZ electorate link|Wellington Central}}."Young, Green and Keen" in The Evening Post 10 July 2001 p1 In the leadup to the {{NZ election link year|2017}} general election Foster contemplated standing for Parliament as a candidate for New Zealand First.{{cite news |author=Devlin, Colette |date=27 June 2017 |title=Wellington city councillor Andy Foster chasing seat in Parliament with NZ First |work=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/94144786/wellington-city-councillor-andy-foster-chasing-seat-in-parliament-with-nz-first |access-date=28 June 2017}} On 15 August 2017 he was confirmed as the New Zealand First candidate for the {{NZ electorate link|Wellington Central}} electorate. He was placed 18 on the party's list, too low to be elected.{{Cite web |date=29 August 2017 |title=The NZ First Party list for the 2017 General Election |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1708/S00592/the-nz-first-party-list-for-the-2017-general-election.htm |access-date=29 August 2017 |publisher=Scoop.co.nz}} Foster did not stand for Parliament while Mayor of Wellington.{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}

{{NZ parlbox|term=54th|start={{NZ election link year|2023}}|end=present|list=7|party=New Zealand First|electorate=List}}

{{NZ parlbox footer}}On 5 September 2023, Foster confirmed that he would be standing as New Zealand First's candidate in the Mana electorate during the 2023 general election. Foster had initially denied he was running for the party two weeks earlier.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Georgina |date=5 September 2023 |title=Election 2023: Former Wellington Mayor Andy Foster running for New Zealand First |work=The New Zealand Herald |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/election-2023-former-wellington-mayor-andy-foster-running-for-new-zealand-first/IPEMBGZQLNG7PC4HIB6L6AT77M/ |access-date=5 September 2023}} He was placed at 7 on the party list.{{cite web |title=New Zealand First Party List 2023 |url=https://www.nzfirst.nz/new-zealand-first-party-list-2023 |publisher=New Zealand First |access-date=21 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128035926/https://www.nzfirst.nz/new-zealand-first-party-list-2023 |archive-date=28 November 2023 |url-status=live}}

During the 2023 election, Foster came fourth place in the Mana electorate, gaining 1,848 votes.{{cite web |title=Mana - Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-20.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123104121/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-20.html |archive-date=23 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}} With New Zealand First's election night result of 6.46% entitling it to eight MPs, Foster was elected as a list MP.{{cite web |title=Official count – Overall Results |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/ |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107112928/https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/ |archive-date=7 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=2023 General Election: Successful candidates |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117114239/https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |archive-date=17 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}