Marjorie Jill Pettis (born 22 September 1952) is a New Zealand politician, and a member of the Labour Party.

Biography

Early life

Pettis was born on 22 September 1952. Before entering politics, she worked as a

nurse Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...

and as a finance officer at a

bank A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Because ...

. Pettis is of

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

descent.

Political career

Pettis became a member of the Labour Party in 1968. Pettis became MP for

Wanganui Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whang ...

in the 1993 election, but in 2005 she narrowly lost the seat to National's Chester Borrows. She was returned to Parliament as a list MP, at which point she stepped down as the Labour Party's Senior Whip to focus on winning back the Whanganui seat. She also served as Assistant

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

. She retired from politics prior to the 2008 general election.

Personal life

Pettis is married with two children.

References

External links

Page on Parliamentary website
1952 births Living people New Zealand Labour Party MPs New Zealand nurses Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand list MPs New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates Unsuccessful candidates in the 1990 New Zealand general election Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand women nurses 21st-century New Zealand politicians 21st-century New Zealand women politicians Māori MPs {{NewZealand-med-bio-stub