View source for Heather Roy

{{short description|New Zealand politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Heather Roy
| honorific-suffix    = 
| image               = Heather Roy.jpg
| order               = Minister of Consumer Affairs
| term_start          = 19 November 2008
| term_end            = 17 August 2010
| primeminister       = [[John Key]]
| predecessor         = [[Judith Tizard]]
| successor           = [[John Boscawen]]
| order2              = Deputy Leader of [[ACT Party]]
| term_start2         = 2006
| term_end2           = 2010
| leader2             = [[Rodney Hide]]
| predecessor2        = [[Muriel Newman]]
| successor2          = [[John Boscawen]]
| constituency_MP3    = [[ACT Party]] List
| parliament3         = New Zealand
| majority3           = 
| predecessor3        = 
| successor3          = 
| term_start3         = 2002
| term_end3           = 2011
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1964|3|5|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Palmerston, New Zealand|Palmerston]], [[Otago]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| nationality         = New Zealand
| spouse              = Duncan Roy
| party               = [[ACT Party]]
| relations           = 
| children            = 5
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = 
| occupation          = [[Physiotherapist]], [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]], [[New Zealand Army|New Zealand Army Reserve]]
| profession          = 
| religion            = 
| signature           = 
| website             = 
| footnotes           = 
}}

'''Heather Roy''' (born 5 March 1964) is a former New Zealand politician. She was a [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]] for [[ACT New Zealand]] from 2002 until 2011.

Roy was the deputy leader of ACT New Zealand from 17 September 2005 to 17 August 2010. She was also [[Minister of Consumer Affairs (New Zealand)|Minister of Consumer Affairs]] in the [[John Key]]-led [[Fifth National Government of New Zealand|National Government]] from 19 November 2008 until 17 August 2010.

==Early life, career and family==
Roy grew up in [[Palmerston, New Zealand|Palmerston, Otago]] as the eldest of six children.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Michele Hewitson Interview: Heather Roy |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/imichele-hewitson-interviewi-heather-roy/CLGZ2VAOQDRXG36ELIG4YKFHMU/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> She was the deputy head girl and, later, head girl at her secondary school.<ref name=":0" /> She studied for a diploma in physiotherapy at [[Otago Polytechnic]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Roy, Heather - New Zealand Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nz/mi/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/roy-heather/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=www.parliament.nz |language=en}}</ref> She was introduced to politics in 1984 at the age of 20 when she met her husband Duncan Roy, who at that time was the [[New Zealand Party]] candidate for [[Awarua (New Zealand electorate)|Awarua]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Valedictory Statements - New Zealand Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/49HansD_20110929_00000877/valedictory-statements |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.parliament.nz |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Heather Roy, Act party, List - New Zealand News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/heather-roy-act-party-list/WHZF3VCR6JBDZXLNCGINPJCSTQ/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The Roys have five children.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

Before entering politics, Roy worked as a [[physiotherapist]], medical research co-ordinator, manager of a private kindergarten and as publicity officer for the [[New Zealand Portrait Gallery]]. In 2006, she completed basic and corps training as a reserve forces field engineer ([[Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers|Royal New Zealand Engineers]]) within the [[New Zealand Army]].<ref>{{cite web |date=21 April 2006 |title=Army life looks good to Act MP |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/army-life-looks-good-to-act-mp/PBGOPGCTSMC5NKEVQMLE76SE2Y/ |access-date=31 October 2021 |publisher=[[New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2006 |title=Soldier MP to share new skills with House |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/soldier-mp-to-share-new-skills-with-house/LRX6RMKTOZ4Y4QBXW55YHFM7FE/ |access-date=31 October 2021 |publisher=[[New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref>

==Member of Parliament==
{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2002}}|end=2005|term=47th|party=ACT New Zealand|electorate=List|list=9}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2005}}|end=2008|term=48th|party=ACT New Zealand|electorate=List|list=2}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2008}}|end=2011|term=49th|party=ACT New Zealand|electorate=List|list=2}}
{{NZ parlbox footer}}Roy first contested Parliament as a list-only candidate at the [[1999 New Zealand general election|1999 general election]], where she was ranked 10th on the [[ACT New Zealand]] list. ACT only won enough support for nine MPs so Roy was unsuccessful.

=== In Opposition ===
At the [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002 general election]], she contested the electorate of [[Ohariu-Belmont (New Zealand electorate)|Ohariu-Belmont]], where she finished fifth behind incumbent [[Peter Dunne]].<ref>[http://electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2002/electorate-36.html Official Count Results – Ohariu-Belmont]</ref> With an improved list position of 9 and ACT holding its support from the previous election, Roy was elected for the first time. In her maiden speech, Roy talked of her "fervent" belief in the [[Liberalism|liberal]] ideals of "freedom of market, of mind, and of body".<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=3 September 2002 |title=Heather Roy: Maiden Speech |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0209/S00038/heather-roy-maiden-speech.htm |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.scoop.co.nz}}</ref> In her first term, Roy was ACT spokesperson for ACC; arts, culture and heritage; family; health; internal affairs, occupational safety and health; senior citizens; women; and youth.<ref name=":1" /> She was also a member of Parliament's health select committee.<ref name=":1" />

For the 2005 general election, Roy was placed second on the ACT party list, ahead of its deputy leader [[Muriel Newman]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Former Treasury head No 5 on Act party list |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/former-treasury-head-no-5-on-act-party-list/OFHSGF44Y7KCXFOPKGJ3HUQHLI/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ACT New Zealand |title=ACT releases its Party List for 2005 election |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00247/act-releases-its-party-list-for-2005-election.htm?from-mobile=bottom-link-01 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.scoop.co.nz}}</ref> Roy contested but lost [[Ohariu-Belmont (New Zealand electorate)|Ohariu-Belmont]],<ref>[http://electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-36.html Official Count Results – Ohariu-Belmont]</ref> and was re-elected on the party list. ACT only secured two positions in Parliament, so Roy became the party's deputy leader, whip, and national security spokesperson.<ref name=":1" /> For her second term, she served on the social services committee.<ref name=":1" />

In the [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008]] election, she contested the electorate of {{NZ electorate link|Wellington Central}}, a seat formerly held by former [[ACT New Zealand|ACT]] leader and co-founder [[Richard Prebble]] from [[1996 New Zealand general election|1996]] to [[1999 New Zealand general election|1999]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=ACT New Zealand |date=23 November 2008 |title=Heather Roy For Wellington Central |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00463.htm |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.scoop.co.nz}}</ref> The seat had been held by Labour since 1999, although the incumbent, [[Marian Hobbs]], was retiring. Roy finished fourth but was re-elected to Parliament on the ACT party list for the third time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Count Results -- Wellington Central |url=http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-59.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211164941/http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-59.html |archive-date=11 December 2008 |access-date=2008-12-02 |publisher=[[New Zealand Ministry of Justice]]}}</ref>

=== Supporting the National-led government ===
In November 2008, National Party leader John Key formed a new government with support from ACT New Zealand and other small parties. As part of the National–ACT agreement, Roy was appointed as [[Minister of Consumer Affairs (New Zealand)|Minister of Consumer Affairs]], Associate Minister of Defence and Associate Minister of Education.<ref>{{cite news |author=Martin Kay |date=17 November 2008 |title=New groups part of deals |publisher=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/news/721121/New-groups-part-of-deals |access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref> In the latter two roles, Roy commissioned reviews of the [[New Zealand Defence Force|New Zealand Defence]] Force (including a study on voluntary national service)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defence Review 2009 |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/defence-review-2009 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Appointment Of Team Leaders For Companion Studies |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/appointment-team-leaders-companion-studies |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref> and of [[special education]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review of Special Education 2010 |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/review-special-education-2010 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref> She advocated for, without success, the reversal of [[New Zealand nuclear-free zone|New Zealand's nuclear free policy]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Jared |date=2009-09-28 |title=Heather Roy debates NZ nuclear option |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2911297/Heather-Roy-debates-NZ-nuclear-option |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> She also announced reforms to independent schools, including increased government subsidies to independent schools in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balancing Independence With Government Regulation |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/balancing-independence-government-regulation |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref> As Minister of Consumer Affairs, Roy launched a "consumer reform" discussion document in June 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minister Releases Consumer Law Discussion Document |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister-releases-consumer-law-discussion-document |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref> approved the creation of New Zealand's first financial sector consumer dispute resolution schemes,<ref>{{Cite web |title=First Financial Service Disputes Resolution Schemes Approved |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/first-financial-service-disputes-resolution-schemes-approved |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref> and established new regulations requiring water efficiency labels to be fastened to electrical appliances including washing machines, dishwashers, taps, toilets and showers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Water Efficiency Labels Help Consumers Make Better Choices |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/water-efficiency-labels-help-consumers-make-better-choices |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref>

The 2008–2011 term saw dysfunction and disruption in the ACT New Zealand leadership. ACT founder Sir [[Roger Douglas]], with Roy's support, was reported as leading unsuccessful moves to remove [[Epsom (New Zealand electorate)|Epsom]] MP [[Rodney Hide]] as ACT leader in November 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Leadership woes still plague Act |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/leadership-woes-still-plague-act/CDJQ6P7BSEAWXGVX54PB4OYLEI/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> At the ACT party conference in March 2010, Roy used her deputy leader's speech to criticise the party's reliance on Hide and the Epsom electorate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Leadership woes still plague Act |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/leadership-woes-still-plague-act/CDJQ6P7BSEAWXGVX54PB4OYLEI/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=John Armstrong: Roy buries hatchet - in Hide's back |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/ijohn-armstrongi-roy-buries-hatchet-in-hides-back/ZIAETXAKIIVWDAOIKRYKJPO76A/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> In August 2010, Roy was removed as deputy leader and replaced by [[John Boscawen]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2010-08-17 |title=Heather Roy dumped as ACT deputy leader |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/345/heather-roy-dumped-as-act-deputy-leader |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> She was also removed as a government minister.<ref name=":4" /> In exit press, Roy denied being part of an attempt to replace Hide as leader.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartevelt |first=John |date=2010-08-18 |title=Leaked notes show ACT infighting |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/4037339/Leaked-notes-show-ACT-infighting |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> Less than twelve months later, in April 2011, Hide was succeeded as leader by [[Don Brash]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-04-28 |title=Hide's future with ACT in question |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/hides-future-act-question |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2011, Roy announced she would leave Parliament at the [[2011 New Zealand general election|2011 general election]].<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_51918452">{{cite web |author=Vance, Andrea |date=25 June 2011 |title=Roy to quit - on her own terms |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5191845/Roy-to-quit-on-her-own-terms |access-date=2 October 2011 |work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]}}</ref> In her final year in office, she took charge of the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill, a private member's bill which had been in her name from 2005 to 2008 but was transferred to Sir Roger Douglas when Roy became a minister. The bill proposed to make [[Voluntary student unionism|membership of student associations and unions voluntary]] and faced strong opposition from student unions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ACT New Zealand |date=1 September 2010 |title=Roy Takes Over VSM Bill |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1009/S00018/roy-takes-over-vsm-bill.htm |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.scoop.co.nz}}</ref> The bill eventually passed its third reading in September 2011.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 September 2011 |title=Voluntary Student Membership Bill now law |work=Radio New Zealand News |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/86781/voluntary-student-membership-bill-now-law |access-date=29 August 2014}}</ref>

==Career after politics==
Following the 2011 election, Roy was appointed non-executive board chair of the pharmaceutical lobby group, Medicines NZ.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz2">{{cite web |author=Keown, Jenny |date=26 January 2012 |title=Heather Roy from politics to big pharma |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/6313967/Heather-Roy-from-politics-to-big-pharma |access-date=20 February 2012 |work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]}}</ref><ref name="mnz-about-us2">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/about-us/ |access-date=16 January 2013 |work=Medicines New Zealand}}</ref> She left the role in early 2018. <ref>{{cite web |title=Medicines New Zealand seeks independent chair for 2018 |url=https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/resources/media-releases/media-releases-single/medicines-new-zealand-seeks-independent-chair-for-2018 |access-date=24 October 2023 |website=Medicines NZ|date=13 November 2017 }}</ref> For a period after leaving Parliament, Roy also resumed her role as a reserve forces field engineer{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}.

Roy has appeared as a political commentator advocating for lowering the [[Electoral threshold|5% threshold]] for parties to be represented in Parliament and for [[Opinion poll|public opinion polls]] to be banned during the election voting period.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Heather |date=15 May 2023 |title=It's time to drop the 5% MMP threshold and let more smaller parties into Parliament |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350011039/its-time-drop-5-mmp-threshold-and-let-more-smaller-parties-parliament |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Heather |date=30 October 2023 |title=Polls should be banned during the election voting period |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350100620/polls-should-be-banned-during-election-voting-period |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Post}}</ref>

== References ==
<references group="" responsive="1"></references>

==Further reading ==

* {{Cite book |last=Prebble |first=Richard |title=Liberal thinking |publisher=ACT New Zealand Parliamentary Office |year=2003 |place=Wellington, [N.Z.] |display-authors=etal}} (Roy contributed a paper entitled "Health for all".)
* {{Cite report |title=Report by the New Zealand Delegate to the 15th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 16–23 August 2003 [Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar (15th: 2003: Rarotonga)] |last=Roy |first=Heather |publisher=House of Representatives |place=Wellington, [N.Z.] |year=2003}}

== External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111004215231/http://www.roy.org.nz/ Official website archive]
{{ACT New Zealand}}
{{Authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Roy, Heather}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:ACT New Zealand MPs]]
[[Category:Women members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]
[[Category:People from Palmerston, New Zealand]]
[[Category:New Zealand list MPs]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1999 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand women politicians]]