Scott Willis (politician)
Scott Willis | |
|---|---|
Willis in 2023 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Green party list | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1969 or 1970 (age 53–54) Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Political party | Green |
Scott Matthew Willis[1] is a New Zealand energy analyst and politician, representing the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand as a Member of Parliament since the 2023 New Zealand general election.[2]
Early life
[edit]Willis was born in Dunedin and grew up on a farm in Otago.[3][2] He attended the University of Otago from the age of 17 in 1987,[4] and then worked on orchards and farms in the Cévennes region of France.[2] Willis later interned at the European Parliament.[2] He has worked as a consultant on energy resilience, and as an energy analyst.[5][6][7] As general manager of Blueskin Energy Ltd, Willis was involved in attempts to get wind turbines in Blueskin Bay, and in the building of New Zealand's first climate-safe house in 2020.[8][9] He has been involved with a trust working on peer-to-peer energy sharing, and insulating houses.[5]
Political career
[edit]| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | List | 12 | Green | |
Willis contested the Taieri electorate in the 2020 election, when he came third to Labour MP Ingrid Leary and National Party candidate Liam Kernaghan, with 2207 votes.[10][11]
Willis stood again for Taieri in the 2023 election. He was twelfth on the national list.[12] At the campaign launch in June, Willis said "We need a strong voice on the hospital build and our health services; for all whānau living in cold, damp mouldy homes; for our tertiary education – our University and Te Pukenga. We need a strong voice and forward thinking for South Dunedin and our rural and energy sectors, for decarbonising to deliver climate justice."[10]
During the 2023 election, Willis received 3,898 votes in Taeiri, coming third to incumbent Ingrid Leary and National Party candidate Matthew French.[13] Despite not winning Taieri, Willis entered Parliament on the Green Party list.[14][7]
In late November, Willis assumed the Green Party's energy, regional development, rural communities and Dunedin Issues spokesperson portfolios.[15]
Selected publications
[edit]- Willis, Scott (4 April 2022). "No time for diluted ambitions". Otago Daily Times.
- Willis, Scott (26 September 2022). "Taking the responsibility seriously". Otago Daily Times.
- Willis, Scott (20 February 2023). "Thinking local". Otago Daily Times.
- Willis, Scott (30 May 2022). "A common sense recipe". Otago Daily Times.
- Willis, Scott (26 July 2021). "Making our way to a regenerative future". Otago Daily Times.
- Willis, Scott (21 September 2023). "Why the Green Party wants passenger rail in the South". Otago Daily Times.
References
[edit]- ^ Le Quesne, Karl (16 November 2023). "2023 General Election – Election of List Candidates". New Zealand Gazette. 2023-au5351. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Scott Willis | Taieri | List Rank #12".
- ^ "Scott Willis – Greens candidate for Taieri".
- ^ "Willis, Scott Maiden Statements". New Zealand Parliament. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
I went to university as a 17-year-old in 1987—so you can do the calculations there!
- ^ a b Mathias, Shanti (18 October 2023). "Who are the new Greens and Act MPs?". The Spinoff. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Coughlan, Thomas (17 January 2023). "Efeso Collins among list of likely Green candidates for 2023 election". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ a b Houlahan, Mike (16 October 2023). "'Exhausted but excited' Willis in as list MP for Greens". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Munro, Bruce (15 October 2012). "Green power out of the blue". Otago Daily Times.
- ^ MacLean, Hamish (4 November 2020). "Climate Safe House being put to market". Otago Daily Times.
- ^ a b "Push for 'strong Green vote' in south at campaign launch". Radio New Zealand. 24 June 2023.
- ^ "Taieri – Official Result". Electoral Commission.
- ^ "Green Party candidate list includes nine Māori". Te Ao News. 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Taieri - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "2023 General Election: Successful candidates". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Greens unveil portfolio spokespeople". 1News. 29 November 2023. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.