Lowson Anne Collins, Lady Cullen (formerly Fraser; born 20 July 1951) is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Early life and family

Collins was born in

Napier Napier may refer to: People * Napier (surname), including a list of people with that name * Napier baronets, five baronetcies and lists of the title holders Given name * Napier Shaw (1854–1945), British meteorologist * Napier Waller (1893–19 ...

on 20 July 1951, the daughter of Lowson and Brian Collins. She was educated at

Napier Girls' High School Napier Girls' High School is a state secondary school on Clyde Road, Napier, New Zealand. It is one of the oldest schools in New Zealand for girls, and has a current school roll of about 1000. History In July 1883 plans were submitted to the b ...

, and went on to study at

Massey University Massey University ( mi, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa) is a university based in Palmerston North, New Zealand, with significant campuses in Albany and Wellington. Massey University has approximately 30,883 students, 13,796 of whom are extramural or ...

, graduating

BEd A bed is an item of furniture that is used as a place to sleep, rest, and relax. Most modern beds consist of a soft, cushioned mattress on a bed frame. The mattress rests either on a solid base, often wood slats, or a sprung base. Many b ...

in 1982. Following her first marriage she was known as Anne Fraser.

Parliamentary career

She represented the electorate of

East Cape East Cape is the easternmost point of the main islands of New Zealand. It is located at the northern end of the Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island. It can also refer to the broader Gisborne cape. East Cape was originally named "C ...

in Parliament from , after winning it subsequent to the retirement of the previous representative, Duncan MacIntyre of the National Party. She held the seat at the subsequent by less than 240 votes, and in 1989, her name officially reverted to her maiden name Anne Collins after she had separated from her husband. She retired from Parliament in 1990. The same year, she was awarded the

New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal The New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal was a commemorative medal awarded in New Zealand in 1990 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and was awarded to approximately 3,000 people. Background The New Zea ...

, and in 1993 she received the

New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 was established by Royal Warrant on 1 July 1993. It was created to commemorate Women's suffrage in New Zealand and to recognize those New Zealand and Commonwealth citizens who had made a significant ...

. She was married to former

Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...

and

Finance Minister A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

, Michael Cullen until his death in 2021.

Notes

References

* 1951 births Living people People from Napier, New Zealand People educated at Napier Girls' High School Massey University alumni New Zealand Labour Party MPs Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates Recipients of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 {{NZLabour-politician-stub