Kerry Prendergast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Kerry Prendergast
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| 33rd Mayor of Wellington | |
| In office 27 October 2001 – 27 October 2010 |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Mark Blumsky |
| Succeeded by | Celia Wade-Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kerry Leigh Ferrier
28 March 1953 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
Dame Kerry Leigh Prendergast is a well-known New Zealand politician. She was born on 28 March 1953, with the last name Ferrier. Dame Kerry served as the 33rd Mayor of Wellington, which is the capital city of New Zealand. She held this important role from 2001 to 2010. She was also the second woman ever to be the Mayor of Wellington.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Growing Up and Education
Kerry Prendergast was born in Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. She grew up in a town called Tawa. She went to Tawa College from 1966 to 1969. While there, she was the captain of her college netball team.
After school, she trained to become a registered nurse. She then continued her training to become a midwife. A midwife is a healthcare professional who helps women during pregnancy and childbirth. In 1991, she received an award for her long service from the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society. This society helps families and young children. She also volunteered as a grief counsellor, helping people who were sad after losing someone. Later, she earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Victoria University of Wellington. This degree helps people learn how to manage businesses and organizations.
Her Political Journey
Starting in Local Politics
Kerry Prendergast began her political career in 1986. She became a councillor for the Tawa Borough. A councillor is someone elected to help run a local area. In 1989, she was elected to the Wellington City Council. The City Council is a group of people who make decisions for the city. She was re-elected to this council every three years until 2010.
In 1995, Kerry Prendergast became the Deputy Mayor of Wellington. She worked alongside the Mayor, Mark Blumsky.
Aiming for National Politics
People thought she might try to become a Member of Parliament for the National Party. This was around the time of the 1992 Wellington Central by-election. A by-election is a special election held to fill a vacant seat. However, she decided not to run at that time. She did say that national politics might be something she would do in the future.
In the 1999 New Zealand general election, she stood as a candidate for the National Party. She was ranked 30th on the party's list. In New Zealand, some politicians are elected from a party list. However, the National Party did not get enough votes for her to enter Parliament that time.
She thought about running again in the 2002 New Zealand general election. But in 2001, the Mayor, Mark Blumsky, announced he would not run again. He supported Kerry Prendergast to become the next Mayor.
Becoming Mayor of Wellington
Kerry Prendergast was elected Mayor of Wellington in 2001. She was re-elected two more times, in 2004 and 2007. During her time as Mayor, she had a special goal. She wanted to make Wellington known as the "Creative Capital." This meant encouraging art, culture, and new ideas in the city. She also supported the idea of changing the Flag of New Zealand.
In the 2010 Wellington City mayoral election, she ran for Mayor again. She was challenged by Green Party city councillor Celia Wade-Brown. After all the votes were counted, Celia Wade-Brown won by a small number of votes. This ended Kerry Prendergast's nearly ten years as Mayor.
Other Important Roles
Leadership Positions
After her time as Mayor, Kerry Prendergast took on many other important roles. In 2011, she became the chair of the Environmental Protection Authority. This group helps protect New Zealand's environment. She also became the chair of the Tourism Board, which promotes tourism in New Zealand.
She has served on the boards of several companies and organizations. These include Kirkaldie and Stains Ltd, WorkSafe NZ, and the Phoenix Football Club. She also advises several other groups.
While she was Mayor, she was the Vice President of Local Government New Zealand. This organization supports local councils across the country. She was also a trustee for the Joe Aspell Trust. Since 2011, she has been the executive chair of the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts. This is a big event that showcases different types of art.
She was also a director of Wellington International Airport Limited. She was part of the Wellington Region Association of Midwives until 2010. She is an honorary life member of the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society and of Plunket.
Supporting Important Causes
In 2015, Kerry Prendergast became an ambassador for Alzheimer's New Zealand. Alzheimer's is a disease that affects memory and thinking. She chose this role because both her father, Denis, and her mother, Beverley Ferrier, had the disease.
Awards and Recognition
Kerry Prendergast has received high honours for her work. In the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award was for her services to local government.
In the 2019 New Year Honours, she received an even higher honour. She was promoted to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award recognized her services to leadership and the community.
In 2014, she also received the New Zealand Women of Influence Award. This award was in the local and regional category. It celebrated her positive impact in her community and region.
Personal Life
Kerry Prendergast's father, Denis Ferrier, was also involved in local politics. He was elected to the Tawa Borough Council in 1970. Later, in 1986, he was elected to the Kapiti Borough Council. Kerry Prendergast is married and has two daughters.
