Christine Rankin

Christine Kathryn Rankin (born Greymouth c. 1954) is a New Zealand politician and former civil servant who served as head of the Ministry of Social Development.

Civil-service career

Rankin originally joined the Department of Social Welfare (as it was then called) in 1978 as a temporary clerk, following the break-up of her first marriage.[1] Rising through the ranks, she became the head of the Department in 1998.[1] Her time as head of the Department occasioned some controversy, with allegations of extravagant spending and of a management style akin to a personality cult.[1] In 2001 she lost a high-profile Employment Court case after the Labour government decided not to renew her contract.[1] She has since worked as a consultant and public speaker.[2]

Political career

In her 20s Rankin was a member of the Labour Party, serving as the Albany branch secretary.[1]

In 2007 she was elected to the Auckland Regional Council, as the representative of the North Shore constituency.[3] She gained appointment as a commissioner of the Families Commission in 2009;[4] her term ended in 2013.[5] At the 2010 Auckland local-body elections she stood in the North Shore ward where she finished fourth and was not elected,[6] however she won election to the Upper Harbour Local Board and to the Waitemata District Health Board.[7] She was re-elected to the Health Board and Local Board at the 2013 elections.[3]

Rankin joined the board of the Conservative Party of New Zealand in 2012 and became the Party's CEO in 2013.[8] At the 2014 general election she was a candidate for the Conservative Party in the Epsom electorate,[9] and was also ranked second on the Conservative party list. However, the Conservative Party did not achieve the necessary 5% of the party vote to qualify for list seats,[10] so she was not elected.[11] She resigned from the Conservative Party on 23 June 2015 after losing confidence in the founder, Colin Craig.[12]

Television appearances

In 2006 she competed on Dancing with the Stars.[13]

Personal life

Rankin was raised Catholic, and in 2005 converted to the Soka Gakkai International tradition of Nichiren Buddhism.[14] She has two sons from previous marriages.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gamble, Warren (4 August 2001). "The making of the Christine Rankin legend". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Christine Rankin". SpeakerLink. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Christine Rankin". vote.co.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Watkins, Tracy; Welham, Keri (12 May 2009). "Families appointment: Rankin 'surprised' by reaction". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Bennett, Paula (14 May 2013). "Families Commission Board appointments". beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Arbury, Joshua (9 October 2010). "Super City Election Results". Transport Blog. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Christine Rankin". vote.co.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Conservative Party's New CEO Christine Rankin" (Press release). Conservative Party of New Zealand. Scoop. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Christine Rankin to stand in Epsom". 3 News. 3 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Official Count Results -- Overall Status". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Official Count Results -- Successful Candidates". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  12. ↑ Davison, Isaac (23 June 2015). "Christine Rankin quits Conservative Party". The New Zealand Herald.
  13. ↑ List, Kevin. "Dancing With The Stars - The First Elimination". Scoop. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  14. ↑ Claire Harvey (2005-12-31). "Free-range soul searching replacing organised religion in NZ". New Zealand Herald.
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