Tracey McLellan | |
|---|---|
 McLellan in 2023 | |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forLabour Party list | |
| Assumed office 29 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Rino Tirikatene |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forBanks Peninsula | |
| In office 17 October 2020 – 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Ruth Dyson (as MP forPort Hills) |
| Succeeded by | Vanessa Weenink |
| Vice-president of theNew Zealand Labour Party | |
| In office 20 May 2019 – 7 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Beth Houston |
| Succeeded by | Carol Beaumont |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1970-05-20)20 May 1970 (age 55) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Canterbury |
Tracey Lee McLellan (born 20 May 1970) is a New Zealand politician. From 2020 to 2023, she was aMember of Parliament in theHouse of Representatives for theLabour Party.[1] In 2024, she re-entered parliament after the resignation of fellow Labour List MPRino Tirikatene.[2]
McLellan was born inSydney, Australia in May 1970, before moving toSouthland, where she grew up in astate house. Her mother was disabled and unable to work.[3] McLellan moved to Christchurch in 2002. McLellan has a master's degree from Massey University,[4] and a PhD in psychology from theUniversity of Canterbury[5] and worked in academic psychology specialising in sports injuries and concussion, as a research scientist at the University of Canterbury. Later she became a union organiser for theNew Zealand Nurses Organisation.[6][7]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | Banks Peninsula | 53 | Labour | |
| 2024–present | 54th | List | 27 | Labour | |
McLellan has been a member of theLabour Party since 2011. She was chair of the electorate committee and was joint campaign manager toRuth Dyson's campaign in thePort Hills electorate at the2014 election.[6][7] In May 2019 she won a by-election to become vice president of the Labour Party. FollowingNigel Haworth's resignation over his handling of abuse allegations within the party, McLellan (who was a member of a panel which dismissed initial complaints) became acting party president.[8]
She was selected as its candidate for theBanks Peninsula electorate in November 2019, ahead of three other nominees:Reuben Davidson, Joe Davies and Tyrone Fields.[7] In January 2020, McLellan identified ACC and health as portfolios in which she would like to make a difference, but says that her electorate has diverse needs from climate change effects inSumner andLyttelton, to education, health, housing and water issues.[3]
During the2020 general election held on 17 October, McLellan was elected with a majority of 13,156 over National's Catherine Chu andGreen Party Member of ParliamentEugenie Sage.[9]
In2023 general election McLellan led the contest for Banks Peninsula on the election night preliminary count, but lost the seat to National'sVanessa Weenink after special votes were counted.[10][11] She was ranked 27th on Labour's party list, too low to win a list seat given Labour's collapse in the election, and so left Parliament.[12]
In late January 2024 she returned to parliament as aList MP following the resignation ofRino Tirikatene.[13] Following the resignation ofGrant Robertson in mid-February 2024, McLellan assumed the Corrections and Associate Health portfolios in theShadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[14][15]
In early March 2025, McLellan gained the Christchurch Issues portfolio. While she retained the corrections portfolio, she lost the associate health portfolio.[16] On 11 March 2025, McLellan was appointed junior whip of the Labour Party.[17]
On 20 August 2025, Parliament passed McLellan's private member's bill extending the range of protections for those giving evidence of sexual assaults or family harm in theFamily Court passed into law with unanimous support from all parties.[18]
McLellan is a single mother to two sons. One son, Jake, was elected a member of theChristchurch City Council in 2019. She credits her son with pushing her to join the Labour Party.[3]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Constituency recreated after abolition in 2008 Title last held by Ruth Dyson | Member of Parliament for Banks Peninsula 2020–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Beth Houston | Vice-President of theNew Zealand Labour Party 2019–2021 | Succeeded by |
