View source for Fran Wilde

{{short description|New Zealand politician}}
{{For|the American science fiction author|Fran Wilde (author)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Dame Fran Wilde
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|DNZM|QSO|size=100%}}
| image               = Fran Wilde 2017.jpg
| caption             = Wilde in 2017
| order1              = 5th [[Wellington Region#Chairs|Chairperson of the Wellington Regional Council]]
| predecessor1        = Ian Buchanan
| successor1          = [[Chris Laidlaw]]
| term_start1         = 30 October 2007
| term_end1           = 30 June 2015
| order2              = 31st [[Mayor of Wellington]]
| term_start2         = 28 October 1992
| term_end2           = 28 October 1995
| deputy2             = David Watt
| predecessor2        = [[Jim Belich]]
| successor2          = [[Mark Blumsky]]
| office3             = 28th [[Minister of Tourism (New Zealand)|Minister of Tourism]]
| primeminister3      = [[Geoffrey Palmer (New Zealand politician)|Geoffrey Palmer]]<br>[[Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)|Mike Moore]]
| term_start3         = 24 August 1989
| term_end3           = 2 November 1990
| predecessor3        = [[Jonathan Hunt (New Zealand politician)|Jonathan Hunt]]
| successor3          = [[John Banks (New Zealand politician)|John Banks]]
| office4             = 2nd [[Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control]]
| primeminister4      = [[Geoffrey Palmer (New Zealand politician)|Geoffrey Palmer]]<br>[[Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)|Mike Moore]]
| term_start4         = 24 August 1989
| term_end4           = 2 November 1990
| predecessor4        = [[Russell Marshall]]
| successor4          = [[Doug Graham]]
| constituency_MP5    = {{NZ electorate link|Wellington Central}}
| parliament5         = New Zealand
| predecessor5        = [[Ken Comber]]
| successor5          = [[Chris Laidlaw]]
| term_start5         = 28 November 1981
| term_end5           = 10 October 1992
| birthname           = Frances Helen Kitching
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1948|11|11|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Wellington]], New Zealand
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| spouse              = 
| alma_mater          = [[Victoria University of Wellington|Victoria University]]
| party               = [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]]
}}

'''Dame Frances Helen Wilde''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|DNZM|QSO|size=85%}} (née '''Kitching''', born 11 November 1948) is a New Zealand politician, and former Wellington [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] member of parliament, [[Minister of Tourism (New Zealand)|Minister of Tourism]] and [[Mayor of Wellington]]. She was the first woman to serve as Mayor of Wellington. She was chairperson of the [[Greater Wellington Regional Council]] from 2007 until 2015, and since 2019 she has chaired the board of the [[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]].

==Early life and career==
Wilde was born Frances Helen Kitching on 11 November 1948 in [[Wellington]], New Zealand.<ref name="Whos who">{{cite journal |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Alister |editor-link=Alister Taylor |title=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 |journal=New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa |year=2001 |publisher=Alister Taylor Publishers |location=Auckland |issn=1172-9813 |page=941}}</ref> She attended [[St Mary's College, Wellington|St Mary's College]] and later at [[Wellington Polytechnic]] (gaining a diploma in journalism) and [[Victoria University of Wellington|Victoria University]] (graduating with a degree in [[political science]]). Upon finishing her education Wilde gained employment as a journalist.{{sfn|Who's Who|1990|p=71}}

In 1968, she married Geoffrey Gilbert Wilde, and the couple went on to have three children before divorcing in 1983.<ref name="Whos who"/>

She joined the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]] in 1972 and was later the editor of the party newsletter, ''New Nation''. She later became the chairperson of the electorate in which she resided and a member of Labour's executive council in the Wellington region.{{sfn|Who's Who|1990|p=71}}

== Political career ==

===Member of Parliament and Minister===
{{NZ parlbox header|nolist=true|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1981 New Zealand general election|1981]]
 |end        = 1984
 |term       = 40th
 |electorate = {{NZ electorate link|Wellington Central}}
 |party      = New Zealand Labour Party
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1984 New Zealand general election|1984]]
 |end        = 1987
 |term       = 41st
 |electorate = Wellington Central
 |party      = New Zealand Labour Party
 }}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1987 New Zealand general election|1987]]
 |end        = 1990
 |term       = 42nd
 |electorate = Wellington Central
 |party      = New Zealand Labour Party
 }}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1990 New Zealand general election|1990]]
 |end        = 1992
 |term       = 43rd
 |electorate = Wellington Central
 |party      = New Zealand Labour Party
 }}
{{NZ parlbox footer}}

Wilde was a Member of [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] for the {{NZ electorate link|Wellington Central}} seat, winning it from sitting [[New Zealand National Party|National]] MP [[Ken Comber]] in the [[1981 New Zealand general election|1981 general election]]. In 1983 she was appointed as Labour's spokesperson for State Services by Labour leader [[David Lange]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Labour leader allocates responsibilities |date=17 March 1983 |work=[[The Press]] |page=3 }}</ref> Wilde retained the seat at the subsequent [[1984 New Zealand general election|1984]] general election.{{sfn|Norton|1988|pp=387}} She was Labour's junior [[Whip (politics)#New Zealand|Parliamentary Whip]] from 1984 to 1987.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=280}}

In 1985, Wilde moved what became the [[Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986]], which legalised homosexual acts in New Zealand between consenting men.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gibson |first=Stephanie |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125828231 |title=Protest Tautohetohe: Objects of Resistance, Persistence and Defiance |last2=Williams |first2=Matariki |last3=Cairns |first3=Puawai |date=2019-11-01 |publisher=Te Papa Press |isbn=978-0-9941460-4-5 |pages=254 |language=English}}</ref> The 16-month debate about the bill polarised the country, and sparked violent demonstrations and angry rallies at Parliament. Her other main legislative achievement in Parliament was an [[Adoption]] Reform Act, which made it possible for adopted people and their birth-parents to contact each other.{{sfn|Who's Who|1990|p=71}}

From 1987 Wilde served as an Associate Minister outside Cabinet in the Foreign Affairs, Housing, Conservation and Pacific Island Affairs portfolios and Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control in the second term of the [[Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand|Fourth Labour Government]]. When Geoffrey Palmer became Prime Minister, Wilde was promoted into Cabinet and appointed [[Minister of Tourism (New Zealand)|Minister of Tourism]] alongside her continuing roles as Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control and Associate Minister of External Affairs and Trade. Between 1990 and 1992, in opposition, she was Labour's spokesperson for Tourism, Disarmament and Ethnic Affairs.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |title=All Labour's 29 MPs get areas of responsibility |date=28 November 1990 |page=4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |title=Labour line-up |date=6 December 1991 |page=5 }}</ref>

===Mayor of Wellington===
[[File:WestpacStadium02.jpg|thumb|Fran Wilde Walk, the accessway to Sky Stadium]]
In [[1992 Wellington City mayoral election|1992]] she resigned from Parliament to stand for [[Mayor of Wellington]].<ref name="Results">{{cite report |last=Bly |first=Ross |date=1992 |title=City of Wellington: Local Body Elections, 1992 |publisher=[[Wellington City Council]] }}</ref> Her seat was retained by Labour, with [[Chris Laidlaw]] winning the [[1992 Wellington Central by-election|1992 by-election]] caused by Wilde's resignation.<ref>{{Cite news| date = 14 December 1992| title = By-election Special| work = [[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]]| pages = 23–4}}</ref> She won the Mayoralty, and during her time as Mayor, Wilde worked to improve Wellington's image and continuing on from the city's strong anti-nuclear sentiments she declared Wellington a Peace Capital in 1993. Wilde also spearheaded initiatives like the planning and construction of the [[Wellington Regional Stadium|WestpacTrust Stadium]] which features an elevated accessway to its entrance known as the "Fran Wilde Walk" which was opened in June 2005.<ref name="Paymaster">{{cite news|work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]] |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/74804772/Fran-Wilde-to-ditch-Greater-Wellington-Regional-Council-to-become-politicians-paymaster |title=Fran Wilde to ditch Greater Wellington Regional Council to become politicians' paymaster |date=8 December 2015 |access-date= 27 April 2017|last1=Maxwell |first1=Joel |last2=Mussen |first2=Deidre }}</ref>

In 1995 Wilde was not renominated by the Labour Party with local members opining that she had drifted too far from Labour policies during her term as mayor. Instead members nominated Eastern ward councillor Hazel Armstrong, though she declined to stand for mayor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zatorski |first=Lidia |title=Wilde not listed on Labour ticket |work=[[The Evening Post (Wellington)|The Evening Post]] |date=13 February 1995 |page=1 }}</ref> Wilde responded by stating if she decided to stand for a second term, she would stand as an independent. She made clear she still supported the Labour Party and praised its leader [[Helen Clark]] and her leadership of the party.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zatorski |first=Lidia |title=Wilde cut ties with Labour |work=[[The Evening Post (Wellington)|The Evening Post]] |date=14 February 1995 |page=1, 3 }}</ref> Clark said Wilde would have her support if she decided to run as an independent candidate.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schouten |first=Hank |title=Clark gives support to independent Fran Wilde |work=[[The Evening Post (Wellington)|The Evening Post]] |date=22 February 1995 |page=2 }}</ref> Ultimately Wilde retired from the role after just one term. When standing in 1992 she intended to run for a second term and stated the decision not to run again was the hardest decision she ever had to make. She cited a wish to gain more privacy and the only way to do so would be to leave the mayoralty.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Lyn |title=No apologies, says Wilde |work=[[The Evening Post (Wellington)|The Evening Post]] |date=25 October 1995 |page=7 }}</ref> The Labour Party eventually chose [[Elizabeth Tennet]], the Member of Parliament for {{NZ electorate link|Island Bay}}, as its candidate for the election. Wilde did not support Tennet's candidacy thinking she was not right for the role and she was only standing for mayor because the Island Bay seat was being abolished at the next general election. Tennet and another MP, [[Graham Kelly (politician)|Graham Kelly]], described Wilde as a turncoat for her criticisms.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brent |first1=Edwards |last2=Schouten |first2=Hank |title=Tennet did not measure up — Wilde |work=[[The Evening Post (Wellington)|The Evening Post]] |date=22 February 1995 |page=2 }}</ref>

After leaving the mayoralty Wilde was appointed the chair of the [[Housing New Zealand]] board and, from 1997 to 2003, chief executive of [[Trade New Zealand]].

===Greater Wellington Regional Council===
Wilde returned to local politics in 2004, successfully contesting a seat on the [[Wellington Regional Council]]. It had been suggested that she would retire after a single term;<ref>{{Cite web|title=King announces transport appointments|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/king-announces-transport-appointments|access-date=2020-06-29|website=The Beehive|language=en}}</ref> however, Wilde was re-elected to the Regional Council in 2007<ref name="gwrc_results">{{cite web|url=http://www.gw.govt.nz/story23961.cfm?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028075829/http://publications@gw.govt.nz/story23961.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-10-28|title=Election results 2007|publisher=Greater Wellington Regional Council|date=2007-10-15|access-date=2007-10-16}}</ref> and was elected, by her fellow councillors, the chair of the council on 30 October that year.<ref name="chair_nzh">{{cite news|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10472970&ref=rss|title=Wilde elected Wellington regional council chair|date=2007-10-30|access-date=2007-10-30 |author=Newstalk ZB|author-link = Newstalk ZB}}</ref> She was returned as both a councillor and the chair in 2010 and 2013.

Wilde was a strong proponent of the super city proposal for Wellington. When the Local Government Commission rejected the proposal, Wilde received a letter signed by nine of her fellow councillors asking her to stand down as chair. Wilde stepped down from the chair's position from 30 June 2015, but remained a regional councillor.<ref>{{cite news|title=Councillors force Wilde to step down|work=[[The Press]]|date=15 June 2015|page=A4}}</ref> She was succeeded as chair by [[Chris Laidlaw]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/85743930/chris-laidlaw-chosen-as-chairman-of-greater-wellington-regional-council|title=Chris Laidlaw chosen as chairman of Greater Wellington Regional Council|work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]|date=26 October 2016|access-date=30 October 2016}}</ref> and did not stand for re-election in 2016.

=== District Health Board ===
Wilde contested and was elected to the [[Capital and Coast District Health Board]] in 2016<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wellington.scoop.co.nz » Fran Wilde elected to health board|url=http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=93277|access-date=2020-06-29|language=en}}</ref> and was appointed the deputy chair of the board.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-12-05|title=Deloitte Top 200: Dame Fran Wilde – Visionary Leader for getting things done|language=en-NZ|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12290959|access-date=2020-06-29|issn=1170-0777}}</ref> Wilde did not seek re-election in 2019.

== Career after politics ==
Following her departure from the Regional Council, Wilde was appointed as the Chair of the Remuneration Authority.<ref name="Paymaster" /> She has also served as the deputy chair and acting chair of the [[NZ Transport Agency]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Appointments to New Zealand Transport Agency Board|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/appointments-new-zealand-transport-agency-board|access-date=2020-06-29|website=The Beehive|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=New Zealand Transport Agency Chair appointed|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-transport-agency-chair-appointed|access-date=2020-06-29|website=The Beehive|language=en}}</ref>

Wilde was appointed to the board of the [[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]] in 2015.<ref name="Te Papa"/> She became the board's deputy chair in January 2019, and has been its chair since 1 July 2019.<ref name="Te Papa">{{cite web |url=https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/about/press-and-media/press-releases/2019-media-releases/dame-fran-wilde-appointed-chair-te-papas |title=Dame Fran Wilde appointed as Chair of Te Papa's board |date=3 July 2019 |publisher=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa |access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref>

Wilde is on the board of Kiwi Can Do, an organisation which helps unemployed New Zealanders get back into work.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://kiwi-can-do.co.nz/about/ |title = About}}</ref>

Dame Fran Wilde was appointed as Chairperson of the Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust in November 2020. <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.plunket.org.nz/plunket/about-plunket/our-people/plunket-board/ |title = RNZ Plunket Trust Board - Whānau Āwhina Plunket}}</ref>

== Honours ==
In 1993, Wilde was awarded the [[New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-system/types-new-zealand-royal-honours/other-distinctive-new-zealand-honours/suffrage-medal-register |title=The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – register of recipients |date=26 July 2018 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=18 September 2018}}</ref> Wilde was appointed a [[Queen's Service Order|Companion of the Queen's Service Order]] for public services in the [[1996 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|1996 New Year Honours]];<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=54256 |date=30 December 1995 |page=34 |supp=2}}</ref> a [[Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit]] in the [[2012 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|2012 New Year Honours]] for services to local-body affairs and the community;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2012 | title=New Year honours list 2012|date=31 December 2011 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | access-date=6 January 2018}}</ref> and a [[Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit]] in 2017 for services to the State and the community.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Year Honours List 2017|url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/ny2017-list|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=New Zealand Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|date=30 December 2016}}</ref>

==Family==
She has three adult children from her first marriage to Geoffrey Wilde. Her husband Christopher Kelly, a former [[veterinary surgeon]], was CEO of [[Landcorp]].

==See also==
* [[LGBT rights in New Zealand]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{commons category}}
*{{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc=154283103}}
*{{cite book |last = Norton |first = Clifford |title = New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science |year = 1988 |publisher = Victoria University of Wellington |location = Wellington |isbn = 0-475-11200-8 }}
*{{cite book |title=Who's Who in the New Zealand Parliament 1990 |location=Wellington |publisher=[[New Zealand House of Representatives|Parliamentary Service]] |date=1990 |ref={{sfnref|Who's Who|1990}}}}

==External links==
* [http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=42945&recordNum=1&t=items&q=James+Belich&s=a&l=en Fran Wilde, left, in 1987 (photo)] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110314011143/http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/32/article_1327.php GayNZ.com article on Fran Wilde]

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|nz}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ken Comber]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Wellington Central (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Wellington Central]]|years=1981–1992}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Chris Laidlaw]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Russell Marshall]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control]] |years = 1989–1990}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Doug Graham]]}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Jonathan Hunt (New Zealand politician)|Jonathan Hunt]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister of Tourism (New Zealand)|Minister of Tourism]] |years = 1989–1990}}
{{s-aft | after = [[John Banks (New Zealand politician)|John Banks]]}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Jim Belich]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Mayor of Wellington]] |years = 1992–1995}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Mark Blumsky]]}}
{{s-bef | before = Ian Buchanan}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Wellington Region#Chairs|Chairperson of the Wellington Regional Council]] |years = 2007–2015}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Chris Laidlaw]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Mayors of Wellington|state=autocollapse}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilde, Fran}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mayors of Wellington]]
[[Category:New Zealand Labour Party MPs]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]
[[Category:New Zealand MPs for Wellington electorates]]
[[Category:Women mayors of places in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Wellington regional councillors]]
[[Category:Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:Companions of the Queen's Service Order]]
[[Category:New Zealand Women of Influence Award recipients]]
[[Category:Recipients of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993]]
[[Category:People educated at St Mary's College, Wellington]]
[[Category:People associated with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]]
[[Category:Capital and Coast District Health Board members]]