Ruth Gotlieb

{{Short description|New Zealand politician and community volunteer (1923–2019)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Ruth Gotlieb

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

| image = Ruth Gotlieb (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| smallimage =

| caption = Gotlieb in 2017

| office1 = Wellington City Councillor for Eastern Ward

| term_start1 = 11 October 1986

| term_end1 = 13 October 2001

| predecessor1 = ward established

| successor1 = David Major

| birth_name = Ruth Wolman

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|5|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|07|23|1923|5|16|df=y}}

| death_place = Wellington, New Zealand

| spouse = {{marriage|Gerald Gotlieb|1951|2006|end=d.}}

| children = 4

| party = Independent

| otherparty = National (past)

| alma_mater =

| profession =

| website =

}}

Ruth Gotlieb {{post-nominals|country=NZL|QSO|size=85%}} (née Wolman, 16 May 1923 – 23 July 2019) was a local politician in Wellington, New Zealand, serving as a Wellington City Councillor from 1983 to 2001.

Biography

= Early life and career =

Gotlieb was born in England on 16 May 1923,{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/114507655/ruth-gotlieb-passionate-advocate-for-wellington-and-its-people |title=Ruth Gotlieb: passionate advocate for Wellington and its people |work=Stuff New Zealand |access-date=26 July 2019}} the daughter of Joseph and Reka Wolman.{{cite journal |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Alister |editor-link=Alister Taylor |title=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 |journal=New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa |year=2001 |publisher=Alister Taylor Publishers |location=Auckland |issn=1172-9813 |pages=381–382}} The family moved to Cork, Ireland, when her father was appointed a rabbi there.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzfoi.org/2019/07/23/long-serving-wellington-and-jewish-politician-ruth-gotlieb-dies-aged-96-stuff/|title=Long-serving Wellington and Jewish politician Ruth Gotlieb dies aged 96 {{!}} Stuff|last=NZFOI|date=2019-07-22|website=NZ Friends of Israel Association Inc|access-date=2019-07-25}} When she was a teenager she and her family moved again, to Brisbane, Australia, as her father had been appointed chief rabbi for the city.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wcl.govt.nz/heritage/ruthgotlieb-part1.html|title=Ruth Gotlieb – Part 1.|website=www.wcl.govt.nz|access-date=2019-07-25|author=Thoth, Gabor}} During World War II, Gotlieb joined the Signal Corps and became a Morse operator. In the 1940s, she moved to Wellington and started a pretzel business with her husband, Gerry Gotlieb, whom she married in 1951.{{cite news |title=Flying-obsessed furniture maker |work=The Dominion Post |page=7 |date=31 August 2006 |first=Diana |last=Dekker}} The couple went on to have four children.

= Political career =

Gotlieb served on the Wellington City Council from 1983 to 2001, mostly representing the Eastern ward. She also served on the Greater Wellington Regional Council, the Wellington Harbour Board and the Capital and Coast District Health Board.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/114434037/longserving-wellington-politician-ruth-gotlieb-dies-aged-96|title=Long-serving Wellington politician Ruth Gotlieb dies aged 96|website=Stuff|language=en|access-date=2019-07-25}}

Gotlieb first ran for office in 1980 as part of the new "Rates Reform" ticket started by Bryan Weyburne. She polled much higher than the rest of the Rates Reform ticket but was unsuccessful. By the following election the Rates Reform movement had merged into the Citizens' Association and she was elected as councillor on the Citizens' ticket.{{cite news |work =The Dominion |title=Citizens includes former opponents |date=1 July 1983 }}{{cite news |work =The Evening Post |title=Local Body Polls '83 |date=10 October 1983 }}

In 1986 Gotlieb was elected to the Eastern ward (previous elections had been at large). In 1987 she contested the National Party nomination for the electorate of Miramar (which encompassed the Eastern ward), but lost out to Ian Macfarlane, president of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. Gotlieb said that the selection process had been a "wonderful experience" and had been "vey glad" to be part of it.{{cite news |work =The Dominion |title=City councillor seeks Miramar nomination |date=12 March 1987 }}{{cite news |author=Strum, Debra |work =The Evening Post |title=PR man wins tussle for Miramar |date=1 April 1987 }}

Gotlieb was sacked from her part-time job as a private secretary to Ian Lockie, Rawleigh's Australia and New Zealand general manager, because she devoted "too much time" to being a councillor. Gotlieb said she did not blame the company and though she would like to say she resigned, she did not. She stated "I loved my little job, but I loved being a councillor more." Lockie stated "She would bend over backward to help and she was scrupulously fair", but the system could not work and in the end she was regrettably asked to go.{{cite news |author=Busby, Anita |work =The Dominion |title=Diligent work gets councillor sacked |date=2 February 1987 }}

In 1992 she vied for the Citizens' nomination for mayor, but was beaten by former National MP Ken Comber. She then broke with the Citizens' Association and ran as an independent candidate. When announcing her candidature for the mayoralty she said "I expect to win. People know I won't make promises I can't keep and I will keep the promises I do make. I get things done and I care about this city."{{cite news |author=O'Leary, Eileen |work =The Evening Post |title=Wilde asked to run for Mayor |date=18 March 1992 |page=3 }} Citizens' Association president John Liddiard described Gotlieb as disloyal upon receiving her letter of resignation from the association. Liddiard expressed his doubts Gotlieb could win the mayoralty stating "I think she's made a big mistake, politically and personally." Gotlieb said she was furious with Liddiard's reaction stating "I am disgusted."{{cite news |work =The Dominion |title=Moore wants Wilde to remain MP |date=19 March 1992 |pages=1, 3}} She finished fifth with 10.23% of the vote, but was re-elected in the Eastern ward comfortably, remaining in this position until 2001, when she was succeeded by David Major.{{cite report |last=Bly |first=Ross |date=1992 |title=City of Wellington: Local Body Elections, 1992 |publisher=Wellington City Council }}

During her career she was responsible for a number of achievements. She established the Wellington Youth Council, supported the opening of a mobile library service, pressed for the installation of a hydrotherapy pool at Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre, and contributed to the governance of the upgrade of Wellington Hospital. She was also heavily involved with the failed arts festival Sesqui 1990.{{Cite web|url=http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=120681|title=Wellington.scoop.co.nz » Death of Ruth Gotlieb, city councillor for 18 years|language=en|access-date=2019-07-25}}

= Later life and death =

Organisations that Gotlieb volunteered for included Trade Aid, the Wellington branch of the Cancer Society of New Zealand, the Newtown Community Centre, Eva's Attic, Ronald McDonald House, and Mary Potter Hospice. In 2007 she made a failed attempt to re-enter politics, standing unsuccessfully in the Eastern ward.{{Cite web |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/elections/past-election-results/2007/eastern-ward |title=Eastern Ward |date=2019-06-15 |website=Wellington City Council}}

Gotlieb died in Wellington on 23 July 2019.{{cite news |url=https://deaths.dompost.co.nz/obituaries/dominion-post-nz/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-gotlieb&pid=193470414 |title=Ruth Gotlieb death notice |work=The Dominion Post |date=25 July 2019 |access-date=26 July 2019}} She was 96 years old.

Recognition

File:Ruth Gotlieb Library.jpg]]

In the 1995 New Year Honours, Gotlieb was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.{{London Gazette |issue=53894 |date=31 December 1994 |page=34 |supp=2}} In 2000, the Wellington City Council named the Kilbirnie public library after her in recognition of her extensive contribution to library services.{{Cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395033/former-wellington-councillor-campaigner-ruth-gotlieb-dies |title=Former Wellington councillor, campaigner Ruth Gotlieb dies |date=2019-07-23 |work=RNZ News |access-date=2019-07-25}} In 2010, she was named Wellingtonian of the Year.