Helene Ritchie

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Helene Ritchie
18th Deputy Mayor of Wellington
In office 11 October 1986 – April 1988
Mayor	Jim Belich
Preceded by	Gavin Wilson
Succeeded by	Terry McDavitt
Wellington City Councillor
In office 8 October 1977 – 14 October 1989
In office 10 October 1998 – 8 October 2016
Wellington Regional Councillor
In office 11 October 1980 – 8 October 1983
In office 14 October 1989 – 10 October 1992
Capital and Coast District Health Board
In office 13 October 2001 – 8 October 2016
Personal details
Born	(1945-03-16) 16 March 1945 (age 76) Wellington, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Peter Deans Ritchie (m. 1966)
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University Palmerston North
Profession	Registered Psychologist and Mediator

Helene Ruth Paula Ritchie (née Hess, born 16 March 1945)^[1] is a former local body politician, a registered psychologist and mediator, and a board member from Wellington, New Zealand. As Wellington's longest serving City Councillor over 30 years, she served as deputy Labour Leader on the council, then Labour Leader for six years -leading the Labour team to a majority position on the Council. Later she was the first female deputy mayor, chaired the Airport Authority for eight years and all New Zealand Airport Authorities for six.

She led the Declaration of Wellington as a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone; chaired Wellington's Civic Centre project from its concept plan to Council decision; and chaired the protection of Wellington's Town Belt - a six-year project culminating in legislative protection, the Wellington Town Belt Act 2016, and with 130 hectares added to it.

Ritchie served on a range of public-sector Boards ranging from health, mental health, arts, museums, the natural environment, airports and councils.

Early life[]

Ritchie was born in Wellington to refugee parents who had fled the Holocaust in Prague,^[2] arriving in New Zealand in 1939 and 1940. She grew up in the state housing area of Naenae and looked after her younger sister at night from age seven while her parents were at work. She attended Hutt Valley High School and became head prefect.

Ritchie then studied psychology, education, languages, dispute resolution at Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University of Palmerston North where she was awarded three postgraduate degrees: Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts with Honours, Bachelor of Educational Studies, and an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree, and two diplomas: a Diploma of Education and a Diploma of Business Studies (conflict and dispute resolution).^[2]

Initially her focus was on promoting equality of opportunity in and through education, working in all levels of education as a secondary school teacher, and later a University extension lecturer, an executive director of a nationwide trade union correspondence education service and in early childhood.

She undertook psychology training and was appointed as a psychologist in the Education Department in 1977 (initially assistant psychologist, then psychologist in 1978), focusing on children and families with special needs. Ritchie was instrumental in developing a then innovative approach away from deficit diagnosing and labeling to identifying strengths and needs and enhancing them through a psycho-social and educational approach and developing individual educational plans (IEP's). Ritchie also successfully ensured internally, funding and approval for alternative schooling “Activities Centre” for young persons who otherwise no longer attended traditional secondary schools, and in the establishing of a new “Work Experience Unit” within a secondary school for young persons who found traditional schooling too challenging.

In 1977 she was first elected to Wellington City Council.

In 1966 she married Peter Deans Ritchie and had two children; Timothy in 1971 and Jonathan on July 30, 1972.^[3]

Political career[]

National politics[]

Ritchie came into politics in the 1970s through the women's movement and joined the Labour Party in 1976. She helped develop the Working Women's Charter,^[4] led by trade unionist and M.P. Sonja Davies; and was a member of the Labour Women's Council. She later took on leadership roles in the local Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL).^[5]

Parliamentary Candidate[]

At a time when only 4 women of 87 members were in Parliament and only 13 had ever been in Parliament,^[6] she was selected by Labour for the then safe National seat of Ohariu electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives in the 1978 general election, but was unsuccessful placed second behind National's Hugh Templeton.^[7]

At the following election she sought the Labour nominations in safe Labour seats, believing that women should be selected for Parliamentary positions where they could make a long-lasting contribution. She sought selection for the safe Labour seat of Christchurch Central in a 1979 by-election. Geoffrey Palmer, later briefly Prime Minister, was selected.^[8] She also stood for selection in a number of other safe Labour seats, including, for the Napier electorate in 1980, but lost to Geoff Braybrooke, who held the seat until 2002.^[9]

Ritchie had also attempted to gain the Labour nomination for the Island Bay electorate in the lead up to the 1987 general election after Frank O'Flynn announced his retirement, but the nomination ultimately went to Elizabeth Tennet.^[10] Ritchie stated she was "knocked for six" after failing to win the Island Bay nomination. Soon after she stood for the Pencarrow electorate, but lost out again, this time to trade unionist Sonja Davies.^[9][11]

Upon Braybrooke announcing his retirement, Ritchie was invited by the electorate chair, to again seek the Napier seat, but lost out on the nomination to Russell Fairbrother.^[12]

Wellington City Councillor[]

First female Labour Leader Wellington City Council[]

Ritchie was first elected to the Wellington City Council in 1977, serving for 12 years until resigning in 1989. She was elected concurrently to the first Wellington Regional Council in 1980, from which she resigned in 1983.^{[citation needed]}

During those 12 years, she was voted the first woman Labour Leader^[13] from 1980–86, and was selected as the Labour candidate for Mayor (the first woman) in 1983, finishing runner-up to Ian Lawrence.^[14]

As Chair of the Airport Authority from 1980, for 8 years and of all the Airport Authorities in New Zealand for 5 years, she defied Labour Minister Prebble's early attempt at privatisation of public assets - Wellington Airport. His and Douglas's monetarist free market, "Rogernomics" approach of extensive privatisation of state assets, and corporisation of the public sector, which the then Labour government pursued contravened Labour’s basic policy platform.

Ritchie saw this as a betrayal of Labour's fundamental policies, and as contrary to her reason for joining the Party. She along with many others, left the Labour Party in 1989. (Prebble and Douglas later left the Labour Party to become leaders of the right wing ACT Party, with Roger Douglas as founder.) Jim Anderton M.P., (later deputy Prime Minister) resigned from the Party in April 1989, saying, “I did not leave the Party, the Party left me” ^[15] and created the Alliance Party.

Ritchie rejoined the Labour Party after a gap of few years, but still stood for election as an Independent.

In 1986 Ritchie became Deputy Mayor to Jim Belich, the first woman to hold the position in the Capital. She was dumped by her Labour colleagues on the council in 1988. According to Ritchie, no reason was ever given and she thought the episode was "very unfair and unjust".^[2] In October 1989 she stepped down as a councillor and stood for both the Mayoralty and Regional Council as an independent candidate. She placed second to Labour's Jim Belich, with 26% of the vote, and was elected to the Wellington Regional Council for a second term.^[16]

Ritchie stood for Mayor for a third time in 1992 as an independent, finishing second with 17% of the vote, compared to the 33% gained by the Labour candidate and former Wellington Central MP Fran Wilde.^[17]

Ritchie stepped out of politics for six years to care for her terminally ill husband.^{[18][19][20][21]}

She was re-elected in the Northern ward in 1998 ^[2] and remained on the council for a further 18 years until 2016 when she resigned as a councillor to run for the mayoralty again.

Apartheid and racism[]

In 1981 she established a delegation of prominent persons throughout New Zealand and co-led that delegation with the first Ombudsman, Sir Guy Powles, to present a submission to the Governor General Sir David Beattie, disclaiming Apartheid and seeking a stop to the then Springbok Tour of New Zealand.^[22]

Declaration of Wellington as a nuclear weapon free zone[]

Her main achievement was the declaration of Wellington as a nuclear weapon free zone. This Declaration, described by the seconder Hazel Bibby as “Perhaps the most important motion to be debated by this Council” ^[23] was at the time when a nuclear warship, the USS Truxton, was about to enter Wellington Harbour. The Declaration had significant national and international repercussions. Within one year, half of New Zealand was living in declared nuclear weapon free zones, and women were spurred on to increase their representation in local government. There was major political fallout too, with two of the country's key leaders - the mayor of Wellington, resigning. First, the mayor, Michael Fowler,^[24] aligned to the National Party, announced the day after the motion was passed that he would quit at the end of the term. Despite two of his team crossing the floor, he lashed out in the Dominion article at Labour Councillors, particularly attacking the Labour women - three of whom he had once called the "petticoat troika" and who were then in the majority of the Labour team. Reportedly he was also furious with his own two councillors Betty Campbell and David Bull, who had crossed the floor of the Council to vote with the Labour councillors and ensure that the motion was passed and the Declaration made.

Then on June 14, 1984, Prime Minister Robert Muldoon, furious that one of his members (another woman - Marilyn Waring) crossed the floor and voted with the opposition to support the Bill banning nuclear ships,^[25][26] called a snap election which he then lost. A Labour Government and Prime Minister David Lange were elected on the issue, and later successfully passed the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987.^{[27][28][29][30]}

Moa Point Campaign[]

Ritchie spearheaded and led as a councillor and Labour leader, the five year citywide Moa Point campaign which then, with a Labour majority in 1986 ensured that her motion passed, ensuring that the City adopted land based treatment to stop the City's raw sewage being discharged onto the beaches.^[31]

Civic Centre[]

In 1986 Ritchie chaired the Civic Centre project, saying it would give Wellington a heart.^[32] Earlier, in 1982, Ritchie's motion stopped the demolition intention of the then mayor Michael Fowler, of the historic Wellington Town Hall. The later strengthening and upgrade of the Town Hall then in became part of the Civic Centre project. Two years later, in 1988 on the cusp of her then being dumped from the deputy mayoralty and all of the appointed positions which she held, she ensured Council adopted unanimously the concept plan which included an integrated and innovative concept of eclectic and world class architecture, the protection of older buildings threatened with demolition – the former City Library and the Town Hall – and the construction of new buildings and an open Civic public square (formerly road), complete with the tall emblematic Nikau palm structures. This concept plan excluded the earlier 1986 proposal to build on what became Ilott Green. The retention of this small green open space, where formerly the Circa Theatre had stood, continued then to be fought over as for over 20 years, as successive Councils proposed various building developments for it.

Johnsonville Library and Pool upgrade[]

Ritchie focused and campaigned for years in her ward for a new library for Johnsonville alongside the upgraded pool and community centre as a cohesive community hub. The library was first formally agreed by the council in 2006 Johnsonville Town Centre Plan. Then followed Council procrastination. In 2009,^[33] she secured council support for her motion to ensure that a new library be built next door to the Keith Spry Pool. But despite strong public support for this, between 2010-13 council staff and a newly elected councillor again deferred the project and looked at a range of new locations. In 2011, 4 potential sites were consulted on and the Northern Ward public and council again agreed that the site co-located with the Keith Spry Pool was the best site. In February 2014 ^[34] Ritchie secured funding approval from the Council which was then the most major new capital expenditure item for that triennium, was made that year. Planning started then, construction began in 2016, and this new community asset and hub was planned to be opened in 2019.

Press Council Ritchie versus the Dominion Post[]

In 2007 the Press Council upheld a complaint on the grounds of inaccuracy about two articles in the Dominion Post - as well as a third - that reported on Wellington City councillor Helene Ritchie's attendance record and remuneration while on sick leave for breast cancer.^[35] This had followed an earlier attempt by four male councillors to block (by walking out of the vote) her request for sick leave.

Wellington Waterfront[]

Ritchie also focused on open and recreational space on the waterfront, personally and successfully submitting to the Environment Court, alongside Waterfront Watch led by Pauline Swann, to ensure open public space instead of a Hilton Hotel colonising a large part of the Waterfront for private gain and use.^[36] The Court in its decision said: “Mr McClelland and Mrs Ritchie. We felt in many ways their use and appreciation of the wharf as a safe and relatively vehicle free space reflected that of the Wellington public who use the waterfront and promenade.”.^[37]

“Wellington City Councillor Helene Ritchie who was one of the appellants said the decision vindicated her stand against the project. Mrs Ritchie said the decision showed the City Council needed to “get real” about the Waterfront and acknowledge public concern about how it was being developed.” ^[38]

Supercity proposal 2009–2016[]

She initiated opposition, and repeatedly over six years. Ultimately successful along with others, stopping the proposal that Wellington follow Auckland and become a “Super City”.^{[39][40][41][42][43]}

Health Board and Mental Health[]

Her focus as a Health Board member was primarily on improving mental health services establishing and heading a mental health subcommittee, and on attempting to lower the rate of suicides ^[44] and on the provision of home and community support services.

Eventually in 2010, after years’ long campaigns,^[45] she succeeded in to persuading the Board members, Chief Executives and the Chair, the Ministry of Health officials and Minister, to approve the necessary funding for a replacement and upgraded mental health recovery unit in the hospital.

In 2016 Ritchie was in the media headlights after being caught parking her car (which had her name written on the bonnet and doors) over a pedestrian crossing in the carpark at Wellington Hospital. She later apologised for the incident and stated that as a section of the carpark was fenced off by construction workers, she was worried that she would be late for a meeting if she spent any longer searching for a space.^[46]

Wellington Town Belt and Wellington’s Natural Environment[]

Ritchie's last six years on the Council were primarily devoted to improving the natural environment in Wellington in her role as Portfolio leader of the natural environment - extending the Outer Town Belt with the procuring of land and earlier protecting the Old Coach Road in the Northern Ward after many years and alongside much effort by local people.

The 2016 Wellington Town Belt Act was developed by the Council committee, and consulted on with the Wellington public. Introduced by the local member of Parliament, Grant Robertson, it protected and enhanced the over 600 hectares of public green space around the inner city.^[47][48]

In 2016, Ritchie resigned as a councillor but stood for the mayoralty.^[49] She gained 3.7% of the vote, placing her sixth of nine candidates.^[50]

Ritchie then took a sabbatical to research, write and pursue other priorities.^{[citation needed]}

Notes[]

References[]

• Taylor, Alister, ed. (1998). "New Zealand Who's Who, 1998 edition". New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa. Auckland. ISSN 1172-9813.
• Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946-1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
• Ritchie, Helene (1977). M.A. or Mrs :Working Women's Charter, chapter afterwards in the conference proceedings in Women Workers in New Zealand 1977. New Zealand Working Women's Council ed. Mary Sinclair Convener: Sonja Davies.
• Ritchie, Helene. Peter and Me - When a love story becomes a carer's anguish. Fraser Books 2013.
• Ritchie, Helene (2007). 30 years of Nuclear Weapon Free Wellington and 25 years of Nuclear weapon free Wellington. ISBN 978-0-9582636-6-5.
• Ritchie, Helene (1992). Support for MMP. A Chapter in Voter's Choice (Catt Helena, Harris Paul, Roberts Nigel). The Dunmore Press.
• Elspeth, Preddy. The WEL Herstory. The Women's Electoral lobby in New Zealand 1975-2002.
• McCallum, Janet (1993). Women in the House Members of Parliament in New Zealand. Cape Catley.
• Palmer, Geoffrey (2013). Reform. A Memoir. Victoria University Press.
• Gustafason, Barry. His way, a Biography of Robert Muldoon. Auckland University Press.
• Stone, Jo (2004). Rebelling by Any Means Possible: New Zealand Local Government Nuclear Weapon Free Zones (M.A. Thesis). VUW.
• Beder, Sharon (1989). In Toxic Fish and Sewer Surfing: How deceit and collusion are destroying our great beaches (Beyond Sydney Democracy and Action). Allen and Unwin Sydney.