Ann Hercus

The Honourable Dame Ann Hercus DCMG
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Lyttelton
In office 1978 – 1987
Preceded by	Colleen Dewe
Succeeded by	Peter Simpson
Personal details
Born	Margaret Ann Sayers 24 February 1942 Hamilton, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	John Hercus
Children	2 sons

Dame Margaret Ann Hercus DCMG (née Sayers, born 24 February 1942), best known as Ann Hercus, is a New Zealand politician and diplomat. Her parents were Horace and Mary (née Ryan) Sayers.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Auckland and a law degree from the University of Kent at Canterbury.

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1978–1981	39th	Lyttelton		Labour
1981–1984	40th	Lyttelton		Labour
1984–1987	41st	Lyttelton		Labour

When Warren Freer the Minister of Trade and Industry in the Third Labour Government wanted a woman rather than the men proposed by the department for appointment to the Price Tribunal in 1973, Hercus was recommended by Tom McGuigan. Her ability impressed Freer, so he later appointed her to the Commerce Commission and his successor Lance Adams-Schneider made her the deputy chairman. ^[1]

Hercus was the Member of Parliament for Lyttelton from 1978 to 1987, and the Minister of Social Welfare, Police and Women's Affairs from 1984 to 1987 in ther Fourth Labour Government, the first woman to hold the Police portfolio.^[2]

In the New Year Honours 1988, Hercus was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public services.^[3][4]

From 1988 to 1990, she was Ambassador and Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations. In 1998, she was appointed Deputy Special Representative and Chief of Mission of the United Nations operation in Cyprus. She resigned for family reasons in 1999.

In 2005, information on salary rates of senior TVNZ staff was leaked, Hercus was named as the source.^[2] She resigned in protest from the board of TVNZ over the pay rates; she resigned from the board a second time a year later, hours after former CEO Ian Fraser reported on board dysfunction to a parliamentary select committee.^[2]

Hercus is the spokesperson for 'Save our Arts Centre' (SOAC), an organisation opposing the development of a School of Music for the University of Canterbury at the Christchurch Arts Centre.^[5]

Hercus now resides in Nelson, New Zealand.

References

1. Freer, Warren W (2004). A Lifetime in Politics: the memoirs of Warren Freer. Wellington: Victoria University Press. p. 179. ISBN 0-86473-478-6.
2. Thomson, Ainsley (15 December 2005). "Hercus out as Fraser tells all". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
3. "New Year Honours 1988" (19 January 1988) 6 New Zealand Gazette 95
4. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 51173. p. 33. 30 December 1987.
5. Matthews, Philip (20 February 2010). "A return to the fray". Christchurch: The Press. pp. C2–3.