Ross Robertson
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Harold Valentine Ross Robertson Template:Post-nominals (born 22 May 1949), known as Ross Robertson, is a New Zealand politician for the Labour Party. He was a Member of Parliament from Template:NZ election link year until his retirement in 2014. He also served as president of Parliamentarians for Global Action.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Early life
Robertson was born in Wellington on 22 May 1949.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Before entering politics, he was an industrial engineer.
Political career
Member of Parliament
Template:NZ parlbox header Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox footer Robertson was first elected to Parliament in the 1987 election, representing Papatoetoe replacing the retiring Eddie Isbey.Template:Sfn He would hold the seat until the 1996 elections, when the Papatoetoe seat was abolished. That same year, Robertson was then elected to represent the replacement seat of Manukau East.<ref name="parliament bio">Template:Cite web</ref> In November 1990 he was appointed as Labour's spokesperson for Energy and Statistics by Labour leader Mike Moore.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand he was an assistant speaker, able to preside when any of the other presiding officers are unavailable.<ref name="parliament bio" />
In 2006 Robertson reported to the New Zealand Police that a marijuana dealer was operating next to his electorate office in Ōtara.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2013, Robertson voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill, which aimed to permit same-sex marriage in New Zealand, with fellow Labour MPs William Sio, Rino Tirikatene and Damien O'Connor.
On 6 June 2013, Robertson announced that he would retire from Parliament in order to pursue a career in local-body politics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Robertson was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order, for services as a Member of Parliament, in the 2015 New Year Honours.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Local-body politics
Robertson was elected to the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board in the 2013 Auckland elections<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was re-elected in 2016<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
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