Jenny Marcroft

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Jenny Marcroft

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

| image = Jenny Marcroft (cropped).jpg

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| caption = Marcroft in 2018

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| constituency_MP1 = New Zealand First party list

| term_start1 = 14 October 2023

| parliament1 = New Zealand

| term_start2 = 23 September 2017

| term_end2 = 17 October 2020

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| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1963}}

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| party = New Zealand First (until 2021; 2022–present)

| otherparty = Labour (2021)

| religion =

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| profession = Broadcaster

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Jennifer Lyn Marcroft {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100}} (born 1963) is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the New Zealand First party.

She served from 2017 to 2020, and returned in the 2023 New Zealand general election.

Early life

Both Marcroft's parents died during her childhood leaving her an orphan at 16. She then lived with a violent step-father in Rotorua who motivated her to run away from home.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/video.cfm?c_id=280&gal_cid=280&gallery_id=186734 |author=Young, Audrey |title=Meet the backbencher: Jenny Marcroft |website=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=5 January 2017 |date=2 January 2017 }} She is part Māori on her father's side and identifies as Ngāpuhi. Marcroft's mother was a family friend of former Deputy-Prime Minister Don McKinnon, who supported her entry into politics.

Broadcasting career

Marcroft had a career spanning over 30 years in the broadcasting industry, mostly reading the news on the radio for Independent Radio News, however she also read the news on television for TV3 at times.{{Cite news |date=23 August 2017 |title=Newsreader announced as NZ First candidate |url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/08/newsreader-announced-as-nz-first-candidate.html |publisher=Newshub |accessdate=29 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002651/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/08/newsreader-announced-as-nz-first-candidate.html |archive-date=26 October 2017 |url-status=dead }} During her career she worked to ensure her pronunciation of Māori names was correct, receiving criticism for doing so. During the 1990s as a newsreader she was told not to say "kia ora" at the beginning of bulletins, but decided to persist anyway.

Political career

=Member of parliament=

{{NZ parlbox

|term=52nd

|start={{NZ election link year|2017}}

|end=2020

|list=9

|party=New Zealand First

|electorate=List

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 54th

|start = {{NZ election link year|2023}}

|end = present

|electorate = List

|party = New Zealand First

|list = 5

}}

=First term, 2017–2020=

In {{NZ election link|2017}} Marcroft stood for New Zealand First in the {{NZ electorate link|Tāmaki}} electorate and was placed ninth on New Zealand First's party list.{{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 |publisher=Scoop |accessdate=29 August 2017 }} She duly entered parliament via the party list.{{cite web |title=Successful Candidates |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017_preliminary/successful-candidates.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=30 September 2017 |date=23 September 2017}}

Following the formation of a Labour-led coalition government on 19 October 2019, Marcroft was designated as New Zealand First's spokesperson on the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), arts, culture and heritage, broadcasting, communication IT, conservation, environment, health and human rights. On 15 November 2017, she was appointed to Parliament's environment select committee. On 24 October 2018, Marcroft was appointed to Parliament's health select committee. On 30 June 2019, Marcroft was appointed to the Parliamentary Service Commission's artworks committee.{{cite web |title=Jenny Marcroft |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/marcroft-jenny/ |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |accessdate=23 October 2019 |date=16 October 2019}}

On 23 October 2019, Marcroft successfully secured an amendment into David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill that the Government hold a binding referendum on decriminalising euthanasia. In justifying her call for a referendum on euthanasia, Marcroft stated that "this issue basically, directly affects the fabric of society and so we believe that temporarily empowered politicians … we alone should not decide on the bill." Parliament voted by a tight margin of 63 to 57 to incorporate the referendum amendment into the Bill.{{cite news |last1=Jancic |first1=Boris |title=Euthanasia bill to go to referendum after knife-edge vote in Parliament |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12279106 |accessdate=23 October 2019 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=23 October 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Henry |title=Euthanasia referendum on the cards after tight vote in Parliament |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/116802284/euthanasia-referendum-on-the-cards-after-tight-vote-in-parliament |accessdate=23 October 2019 |work=Stuff |date=23 October 2019}}

During the 2020 general election held on 17 October, Marcroft contested the Auckland Central electorate, coming sixth place.{{cite web |title=Auckland Central – Official Result |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-01.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=23 July 2023 }} She and her fellow NZ First MPs also lost their seats after the party's vote dropped to 2.6%, below the five percent threshold needed to enter Parliament.{{cite web |title=2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result Nationwide Party Votes Results |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/ |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=6 November 2020 }}{{cite news |last1=Owen |first1=Catrin |title=Election 2020: Who are the MPs ejected from Parliament? |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300135635/election-2020-who-are-the-mps-ejected-from-parliament |accessdate=19 October 2020 |work=Stuff |date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019221802/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300135635/election-2020-who-are-the-mps-ejected-from-parliament |archive-date=19 October 2020|url-status=live}}

=Out of Parliament, 2020–2023=

In late January 2021, Marcroft along with fellow former MP Tracey Martin left New Zealand First, expressing skepticism that the party would be able to contest the next general election and opining that the party needed to rebuild and return to its roots.{{cite news |last1=Lynch |first1=Jenny |title=Former New Zealand First MPs Tracey Martin, Jenny Marcroft quit party, citing different values |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/01/former-new-zealand-first-mps-tracey-martin-jenny-marcroft-quit-party-citing-different-values.html?fbclid=IwAR3Pop67YfHvE2yH2G4oPRrHaBwQy8gWxklzelb2HKXg8fD90y8yj5bl1OA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201193104/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/01/former-new-zealand-first-mps-tracey-martin-jenny-marcroft-quit-party-citing-different-values.html?fbclid=IwAR3Pop67YfHvE2yH2G4oPRrHaBwQy8gWxklzelb2HKXg8fD90y8yj5bl1OA |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 February 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021 |work=Newshub |date=29 January 2021}} She then subsequently joined the Labour Party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/new-zealand-first-winston-peters-and-election-2023-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/OUDU2CCXPPNL2ORTUBRT5XTJK4/|title=New Zealand First, Winston Peters and election 2023: Should he stay or should he go?|website=The New Zealand Herald |date=12 July 2023 }}{{cite news |last1=Moir |first1=Jo |title=Winston Peters' comeback no sure bet |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/politics/winston-peters-comeback-no-sure-bet |access-date=20 June 2021 |website=Newsroom |date=18 June 2021}} By October 2022 Marcroft was involved with New Zealand First again and was an attendant at the party's annual conference in Christchurch.{{cite news |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/politics/winston-peters-says-nz-first-is-coming-back-again |last1=Moir |first1=Jo |title=Peters says NZ First is coming back, again |website=Newsroom |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130134076/nz-first-kicksoff-2023-election-bid-with-scathing-attack-of-labours-hallucinogenic-objectives |last1=Manch |first1=Thomas |title=NZ First kicks-off 2023 election bid with scathing attack of Labour's 'hallucinogenic objectives' |website=Stuff |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 }}

Following the 2022 Auckland mayoral election, incoming Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown hired Marcroft as an advisor.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/300714071/auckland-mayor-wayne-brown-hires-former-nz-first-mp |title=Auckland mayor Wayne Brown hires former NZ First MP |website=Stuff |date=16 October 2022 }}

At New Zealand First's campaign launch for the 2023 general election Marcroft announced the party's proposal to reform Pharmac and increase the medicines budget by 1.3 billion dollars.{{cite web |last1=Forbes |first1=Stephen |title=NZ First promises Pharmac boost, but plans remain uncosted |url=https://www.pharmacytoday.co.nz/article/news/nz-first-promises-pharmac-boost-plans-remain-uncosted |publisher=Pharmacy Today |access-date=29 September 2023 |date=7 September 2023 }} On 16 September 2023 Marcroft was ranked fifth place on New Zealand First's party list and stood in the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate.{{cite news |title=Election 2023: New Zealand First releases party list |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/498125/election-2023-new-zealand-first-releases-party-list |access-date=29 September 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=16 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928205118/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/498125/election-2023-new-zealand-first-releases-party-list |archive-date=28 September 2023}}

=Second term, 2023–present=

During the 2023 election, Marcroft came fourth place in the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate, gaining 2,531 votes.{{cite web |title=Kaipara ki Mahurangi - Official Result |url=https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-18.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123104117/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-18.html |archive-date=23 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}} However, she was re-elected to Parliament on the NZ First party list.{{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}} NZ First reentered Parliament, with 6.08% of the popular vote and eight seats.{{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}}

Following the formation of the National-led coalition government, she assumed the position of Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Media and Communications.{{cite news |title=Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled - who gets what? |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503156/cabinet-lineup-for-new-government-unveiled-who-gets-what |access-date=15 December 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204122806/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503156/cabinet-lineup-for-new-government-unveiled-who-gets-what |archive-date=4 December 2023|url-status=live}}

In early June 2025, she and National Party MP Greg Fleming received a delegation outside Parliament carrying the 90,000-strong Pawprint Petition calling for a ban on the public sale of fireworks.{{cite news |title='Owners are unable to protect their pets' - fireworks ban petition presented to Parliament |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/562960/owners-are-unable-to-protect-their-pets-fireworks-ban-petition-presented-to-parliament |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=3 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603041114/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/562960/owners-are-unable-to-protect-their-pets-fireworks-ban-petition-presented-to-parliament |archive-date=3 June 2025 |url-status=live}}