David Clendon
{{short description|New Zealand politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = David Clendon
|honorific-suffix =
|image = David Clendon (cropped).jpg
|alt =
|caption =
|constituency_MP = Green party list
|parliament = New Zealand
|term_start = 2 November 2009
|term_end = 23 September 2017
|predecessor = Sue Bradford{{refn|group=n|Normally, list MPs do not have individual predecessors or successors, but Bradford resigned during a sitting parliament and therefore was succeeded by Clendon.}}
|successor =
|order2 = Co-convenor of the Green Party
|alongside2 = Catherine Delahunty
|term_start2 = 2001
|term_end2 = 2004
|predecessor2 = Richard Davies
|successor2 = Paul de Spa
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|09|11|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Helensville, New Zealand
|death_date =
|death_place =
|restingplace =
|restingplacecoordinates =
|birthname =
|nationality =
|party = Green (1990–2017)
|otherparty =
|spouse =
|partner = Lindis
|relations =
|children = Kaya
|residence = Kerikeri
|alma_mater =
|occupation =
|profession =
|cabinet =
|committees =
|portfolio =
|religion =
|signature_alt=
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
David James Clendon (born 11 September 1955) is a New Zealand former politician. He was a list Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand from 2009 until 2017. He later served one term on the Far North District Council from 2019 to 2022.
Early life and career
Clendon is of Ngāpuhi, Te Roroa and Pākehā descent. He is a descendant of James Reddy Clendon, the United States Consul in New Zealand. He has a partner, Lindis, and one daughter, Kaya.{{cite web|url=http://www.greens.org.nz/people/davidclendon|title=David Clendon|work=Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|accessdate=23 May 2010|archive-date=8 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808163254/https://www.greens.org.nz/people/davidclendon|url-status=dead}}
Clendon left school aged 15. He worked in business, eventually managing an engineering supplies company.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-08 |title=The dissenting Greens: Who exactly are they? |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/336717/the-dissenting-greens-who-exactly-are-they |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} In 1994, he completed a Master of Science from Lincoln University.{{Cite thesis |title=Comprehensiveness, integration, and coordination : a study of their application and role in coastal management in Aotearoa/New Zealand |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10182/2637 |publisher=Lincoln University |date=1994 |degree=MSc |language=en |first=David J. |last=Clendon|hdl=10182/2637 }} He worked as an environmental management lecturer at Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland and as a sustainable business advisor.{{Cite web |date=31 May 2006 |title=Green hopefuls stress flexibility in choosing political partners |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/green-hopefuls-stress-flexibility-in-choosing-political-partners/MPTLI73S4LDYOACHQRHQMMISGU/ |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date=24 September 2009 |title=MP Sue Bradford resigns - New Zealand News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mp-sue-bradford-resigns/R2GTLSDHPW5WEVZILHNK563U7A/ |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
Clendon has been resident in Kerikeri since 2012.{{Cite web |date=11 October 2017 |title=Green MP who quit pops up in byelection |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/ex-green-mp-clendon-seeks-council-seat-in-far-north-byelection/PF3JX5NA2WKORTBVFQ5L2NEVGI/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
Early political career
Clendon joined the Green Party in 1990.{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-harbour-news/3123408/Green-MP-talks-transport |title=Green MP talks transport |first=Justin |last=Latif |work=North Harbour News |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=4 December 2009 |accessdate=23 May 2010}} In both the 1999 and 2005 elections, Clendon polled third in the seat of Waitakere,{{cite web |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/csv/56_Waitakere_cp.csv |title=56_Waitakere_cp |work=Elections New Zealand |format=Microsoft Excel document |accessdate=23 May 2010}}{{cite web |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-57.html |title=Official Count Results – Waitakere |work=Elections New Zealand |date=1 October 2005 |accessdate=23 May 2010}} ranked 19th{{cite web |title=Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partIII_1.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=22 April 2017}} and 12th on the party list, respectively.{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ainsley-thomson/news/article.cfm?a_id=6&objectid=10378709 |title=Greens' co-leader contest gets testy |work=The New Zealand Herald |first=Ainsley |last=Thomson |date=24 April 2006 |accessdate=23 May 2007}}
With Catherine Delahunty, Clendon was a co-convenor of the Green Party from 2001 to 2004. He did not contest the 2002 general election because the party's constitution bars co-convenors from standing for Parliament.
Along with MP Nándor Tánczos, former MP Mike Ward and 2005 election campaign manager Russel Norman, Clendon contested the Green's male leadership role in 2005 after the unexpected death of co-leader Rod Donald, saying that it made sense to "appoint an out-of-Parliament leader, rather than stretch the sitting MPs even further." In contrast to his leadership rivals, Clendon characterised himself as a left-wing conservative.{{Cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Anthony |date=30 April 2006 |title=Natural selection |work=Sunday Star-Times |pages=C.5}} Norman won the leadership after a vote at a party AGM in June 2006.{{cite press release|url=http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/green-co-leader-announced |title=Green Co-Leader announced |publisher=Green Party |date=3 June 2006 |accessdate=23 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522010554/http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/green-co-leader-announced |archivedate=22 May 2010 |df=dmy }}
Clendon contested the Helensville electorate for the Green Party in the 2008 general election and was ranked 10th on the party list. The party won nine MPs, so he was the highest-ranked Green Party candidate not to be elected.
Member of Parliament
{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
|term = 49th
|start = 2009
|end = 2011
|electorate = List
|list = 10
|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
}}
{{NZ parlbox
|term = 50th
|start = {{NZ election link year|2011}}
|end = 2014
|electorate = List
|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
|list = 8
}}
{{NZ parlbox
|term = 51st
|start = {{NZ election link year|2014}}
|end = 2017
|electorate = List
|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
|list = 11
}}
{{NZ parlbox footer}}
Green MP Sue Bradford resigned her seat in Parliament after she lost the party's co-leadership election to Metiria Turei in 2009. As Clendon was next on the party list, he became a Member of Parliament on 2 November 2009{{cite web |date=2 November 2009 |title=New list MP for Green Party |url=http://www.elections.org.nz/study/news/2009-media-releases/new-list-mp-for-green-party.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522171711/http://www.elections.org.nz/study/news/2009-media-releases/new-list-mp-for-green-party.html |archive-date=22 May 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 |work=Chief Electoral Office |publisher=Elections New Zealand}}{{cite news |last=Lundy |first=Sharon |date=25 September 2009 |title=Bradford's replacement 'very excited' |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/2902879/Bradfords-replacement-very-excited |accessdate=23 May 2010 |work=The Dominion Post}} and delivered his maiden speech to Parliament on 17 November.{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/New-Greens-MP-delivers-maiden-speech/tabid/209/articleID/130052/cat/525/Default.aspx | title= New Greens MP delivers maiden speech | work=3 News |date=17 November 2009| accessdate=17 November 2009}}
A private member's bill in Clendon's name was drawn from the ballot in February 2010. The Smart Meters (Consumer Choice) Bill would require that domestic power users be advised on the options available for the use of smart meters in their homes.{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/00DBHOH_BILL9775_1/smart-meters-consumer-choice-bill|title=Smart Meters (Consumer Choice) Bill|work=New Zealand Parliament|accessdate=3 June 2017}} It was voted down by the Government later that year.{{cite press release |url= http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00075.htm |title=Government fails to protect electricity consumers |publisher=Green Party |date=6 May 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010}}
In the {{NZ election link|2011}}, Clendon unsuccessfully contested the {{NZ electorate link|Mount Albert}} electorate but was re-elected as a list MP, ranked eighth.{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/candidates-and-parties/party-lists.html |title=Party lists for the 2011 General Election |publisher=Elections New Zealand |date=2 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110033910/http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/candidates-and-parties/party-lists.html |archivedate=10 November 2011 |df=dmy-all }} Having moved to Kerikeri in 2012, he stood in the {{NZ electorate link|Northland}} electorate at the {{NZ election link|2014}} and was re-elected as a list MP, ranked 11th. He did not contest the 2015 Northland by-election, but was planning to stand in the seat again in the {{NZ election link|2017}} and was ranked 16th on the party list.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11789177|title=Clendon to stand for Greens in Northland|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=27 January 2017|accessdate=27 January 2017}}
During his Parliamentary career, Clendon sat on the Auckland governance legislation committee, the commerce committee, and the law and order committee. He was deputy musterer (whip) of the Green Party from 2010 to 2011 and musterer from 2014 to 2017. He was the Green Party spokesperson for corrections for his entire tenure, as well as spokesperson for police (2014–2017), courts (2011–2017), small business, tertiary education and tourism (2011–2014), and resource management reform (2009–2011).{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=Clendon, David - New Zealand Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/clendon-david/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=www.parliament.nz |language=en}} As corrections spokesperson, Clendon held the position that New Zealand's punitive, tough-on-crime approach to the corrections system did not work and led to overcrowded prisons.{{Cite web |last=Towle |first=Max |date=17 July 2017 |title=Big Read: Should prisoners be allowed to have sex? |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-big-read-should-prisoners-be-allowed-to-have-sex/U77GMB5HSQLRD6UOG7SZH2FQXM/ |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} In 2017, he criticised the corrections department for paying working inmates below the minimum wage.{{Cite web |last=Clarke-Mamanu |first=Mānia |date=19 April 2017 |title=Prison training incentive should match minimum wage - Green MP |url=https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2017/04/19/prison-training-incentive-should-match-minimum-wage-green-mp/ |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=Te Ao Māori News |language=en}}
Clendon voted against approving Easter trading in 2009 and 2016,{{Cite web |date=9 December 2009 |title=Easter trading bill defeated on conscience vote |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3145240/Easter-trading-bill-defeated-on-conscience-vote |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Stuff }}{{Cite web |date=25 August 2016 |title=Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill — Third Reading |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20160825_20160825_24 |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=www.parliament.nz |language=en}} in favour of retaining the minimum age for purchasing alcohol at 18 in 2012,{{Cite web |last=Hartevelt |first=John |date=30 August 2012 |title=No age rise for alcohol sales |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7579040/No-age-rise-for-alcohol-sales |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Stuff }} and in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in 2014.{{Cite web |date=17 April 2013 |title=Gay marriage: How MPs voted - New Zealand News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gay-marriage-how-mps-voted/WLPKK4734FBZEKJIDHBFO4MWFA/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
On 7 August 2017, Clendon and fellow Green Party MP Kennedy Graham announced that they were planning to resign as Green Party candidates for the 2017 election, after revelations that co-leader Metiria Turei committed benefit and electoral fraud.{{cite web |date=7 August 2017 |title=Statement from James Shaw on Kennedy Graham and David Clendon |url=https://m.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1708/S00139/james-shaw-on-kennedy-graham-and-david-clendon.htm |accessdate=8 August 2017 |publisher=Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand |via=Scoop.co.nz}} Graham and Clendon stated that their resignations were due to the public positions she had taken regarding her offending, and her subsequent refusal to step down from her leadership role.{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/336718/video-rogue-green-mps-withdraw-from-caucus|title=Rogue Green MPs withdraw from caucus|accessdate=9 August 2017|date=8 August 2017|publisher=Radio New Zealand}}{{cite web|url=https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3914723/170807-KG-DC-Joint-Statement.pdf|title=Joint Statement|first1=David|last1=Clendon|first2=Kennedy|last2=Graham|accessdate=9 August 2017|date=7 August 2017}} The next day, both Clendon and Graham resigned from the party caucus and as candidates,{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/95549623/greens-in-crisis-metiria-turei-stays-on-despite-mps-quitting|title=Rogue Green MPs withdraw from caucus – party 'united' behind co-leader Metiria Turei|accessdate=8 August 2017|date=8 August 2017|publisher=Stuff.co.nz}} after there were moves to remove them involuntarily.{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/top/336665/video-green-party-in-chaos-after-two-mps-rebel|title=Green Party in chaos after two MPs rebel|accessdate=8 August 2017|date=8 August 2017|publisher=Radio New Zealand|first1=Jane|last1=Patterson|first2=Craig|last2=McCulloch}} On 9 August 2017, Turei resigned as co-leader of the party and as a list candidate for the 2017 election.{{Cite news|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/336828/live-metiria-turei-resigns-as-green-party-co-leader|title=Metiria Turei resigns as Green Party co-leader|date=2017-08-09|publisher=Radio New Zealand|access-date=2017-08-09|language=en-nz}} Clendon did not ask to be reinstated after Turei's departure.{{Cite news |last=Satherley |first=Dan |date=12 October 2017 |title='Tough pill' of Opposition better than 'dead rats' |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/10/swallowing-tough-pill-of-opposition-better-than-dead-rats-ex-green-mps.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016185040/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/10/swallowing-tough-pill-of-opposition-better-than-dead-rats-ex-green-mps.html |archive-date=16 October 2021 |access-date=7 February 2024 |work=Newshub |language=en}} He did not give a valedictory statement and left Parliament at the September 23 election.
Local government political career
Far North district councillor Willow-Jean Prime resigned her position in September 2017 after being elected to Parliament as a Labour list MP. Clendon unsuccessfully contested the vacancy in a 2018 by-election, but was successful in seeking a councillor role in the council's Bay of Islands–Whangaroa ward at the 2019 local elections.{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Peter |date=5 November 2019 |title=New council and a new deputy Mayor for Far North |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=12282446 |accessdate=9 September 2020 |work=The Northland Age}} Prior to his election, Clendon was chair of Vision Kerikeri, a community development organisation and lobby group, from 2018 to 2019.{{Cite web |last=de Graaf |first=Peter |date=28 August 2018 |title=Bay News: Vision Kerikeri founder retires after 14 years |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/bay-news-vision-kerikeri-founder-rod-brown-retires-after-14-years/ILPDB7ZXPUEAFNSUXVNMF7AWSI/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |last=Mail |first=Cliff |date=2018-08-25 |title=Rod Brown delivers his final AGM report as Chairperson |url=https://www.visionkerikeri.org.nz/post/2018/08/26/rod-brown-delivers-his-final-agm-report-as-chairperson |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=visionkerikeri |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mail |first=Cliff |date=2019-11-21 |title=New Chairperson for Vision Kerikeri |url=https://www.visionkerikeri.org.nz/post/2019/11/22/new-chairperson-for-vision-kerikeri |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=visionkerikeri |language=en}}
On council, Clendon voted in support of Māori wards in the Far North and criticised the government's Three Waters reforms for not being able to promise that water infrastructure would be able to remain in public ownership.{{Cite web |last=Botting |first=Susan |date=4 May 2021 |title=Far North District Council about turns, votes for Māori wards |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300292635/far-north-district-council-about-turns-votes-for-mori-wards |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=Stuff }}{{Cite web |last=Botting |first=Susan |date=15 August 2021 |title=Three Waters: Far North District Council opts out |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300383684/three-waters-far-north-district-council-opts-out |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=Stuff }} He retired in 2022 after completing one term{{Cite web |date=23 September 2022 |title=Contribution of Mayor and Councillor recognised |url=https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Whats-new/Latest-news/Contribution-of-Mayor-and-Councillor-recognised |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926114828/https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Whats-new/Latest-news/Contribution-of-Mayor-and-Councillor-recognised |archive-date=26 September 2023 |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=www.fndc.govt.nz |language=en-AU}} and took a position as regional coordinator for the Tohu Whenua visitor programme in February 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Former Green Party MP David Clendon coordinating Northland visitor programme |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/northlands-new-tohu-whenua-coordinator-former-mp-david-clendon/U42VDBRE2VDQVIVY3LNDASEXQQ/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
Notes
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170614121030/https://www.greens.org.nz/ourpeople/david-clendon-mp Profile at Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand website] (archived 14 June 2017)
- [https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/clendon-david/ Parliamentary website profile] (showing his role as "musterer", formerly "deputy musterer")
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{{s-bef|before=Richard Davies}}
{{s-ttl|title=Co-convenor of the Green Party|alongside=Catherine Delahunty|years=2001–2004}}
{{s-aft|after=Paul de Spa}}
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{{NZ Green Party}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clendon, David}}
Category:Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand MPs
Category:New Zealand left-wing activists
Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1999 New Zealand general election
Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2005 New Zealand general election
Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election
Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Category:Candidates in the 2011 New Zealand general election
Category:Candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election
Category:Local politicians in New Zealand