Marama Fox | |
|---|---|
 Marama Fox in December 2015 | |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forMāori Party List | |
| In office 20 September 2014 – 23 September 2017 | |
| Co-Leader of theMāori Party | |
| In office October 2014 – 5 September 2018 Co-leading with Te Ururoa Flavell | |
| Preceded by | Tariana Turia |
| Succeeded by | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Māori Party |
Marama Kahu Fox is a former New Zealand politician who was elected to the New Zealand parliament at the2014 general election as a representative of theMāori Party. Following her election to parliament, she was named Māori Party co-leader alongsideTe Ururoa Flavell, replacing party founderTariana Turia.
When Fox was born, the youngest of five children, the family lived in thePorirua suburb ofCannons Creek. Her father, Ernest Richard "Ernie" Smith, waspākehā and a teacher. Her mother, Frances Smith, founded a pre-school. In the early 1970s, the family lived inChristchurch, where Fox attended Elmwood Primary School inMerivale,Heaton Normal Intermediate, and thenChristchurch Girls' High School.[1]
Fox lives inMasterton and has nine children. Prior to becoming an MP, she worked as a teacher and had been in education for 26 years.[2] Fox has described herself as being "a badge wearing Mormon".[3]New Zealand First MPRon Mark is one of Fox's cousins.[4]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2017 | 51st | List | 2 | Māori Party | |
At the2014 election Fox stood in theIkaroa-Rāwhiti electorate, before being elected via the party list.[2][5] Fox was the Māori Party's first-everlist MP.[6] Fox was appointed co-leader of the Maori Party, succeedingTariana Turia. She lost her seat at the2017 election when the Maori Party failed to win any seats and the oppositionLabour Party captured all seven of theMāori electorates. Fox expressed bitterness at her defeat and remarked that New Zealand had voted for a return to the "age of colonisation."[7]
She resigned as Māori Party co-leader in September 2018 following controversy around her business activities.[8][9][10]
Fox launched a consulting company after failing to be re-elected to Parliament in 2017.[10] In September 2019, it was reported that liquidators of Fox's failed consulting company had engaged agents to track her down, with fears expressed that she had left the country and was in Australia.[11]
She also appeared on the2018 season ofDancing with the Stars, finishing ninth of twelve contestants.[12][13]
Fox admitted to a charge of drink-driving in Hamilton in late 2018, and was sentenced and fined the following year.[14][15]
Fox was supportive of the2022 Wellington protests saying that "This is not a Māori protest, but māori are affected by mandates, people have been disenfranchised." While she was triple vaccinated herself she opposed the mandates introduced by the government.[16]
Although looking at some of my cousins, cousin Marama, we seem to share the same affliction—height disadvantage and not being able to see.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Co-leader of the Māori Party 2014–2018 Served alongside:Te Ururoa Flavell | Vacant Title next held by Debbie Ngarewa-Packer |
