View source for Steve Abel

{{Short description|New Zealand political candidate and singer-songwriter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use NZ English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = Steve Abel
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MP|size=100%}}
| image               = Steve Abel (cropped 2023).jpg
| imagesize           = 
| caption             = Abel in 2023
| birth_name          = Stephen George Bremner Abel
| birth_date          = 
| birth_place         = 
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| constituency_MP3    = [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green]] [[party list]]
| term_start3         = 14 October 2023
| parliament3         = New Zealand
| predecessor3        = 
| successor3          = 
| majority            = 
| party               = [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green]]
| profession          = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = 
| website             = 
| footnotes           = 
}}

'''Stephen George Bremner Abel''' is a New Zealand politician, [[environmental activist]] and musician who is involved with [[Greenpeace]]. Since 2023 he has served as a [[Electoral list|list]] member of parliament for the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand]].

== Activism ==
Abel was involved from 1998 to 2000 in the successful campaign by [[Native Forest Action]] to stop native logging on the [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]] of New Zealand's South Island.<ref>{{cite news | last = Christian | first = Peter | title = Arrested protesters draw criticism | work = [[The Press]] | date = 3 February 1999}}</ref> He later worked as a campaigner for [[Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand|Greenpeace]] from 2002 to 2006 during which time he was prominent in the [[Genetic engineering in New Zealand|New Zealand movement]] against genetically engineered food crops.  He was also involved in actions against the proposed [[coal-fired power station]] [[Marsden B]] in [[Northland Region|Northland]], New Zealand including a nine-day occupation in 2005 and the operation of a pirate radio station ''Heatwave FM'' which broadcast from [[Ruakaka]] in November 2006.<ref>{{cite news | title = Activists scale Marsden B in climate change protest | work = [[The New Zealand Herald]] | date = 4 November 2006 | url = https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/activists-scale-marsden-b-in-climate-change-protest/SV72PVX7RCYIT6JWATTHMIQVSQ/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026103907/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/activists-scale-marsden-b-in-climate-change-protest/SV72PVX7RCYIT6JWATTHMIQVSQ/ |archive-date=26 October 2020 |url-status=live | access-date = 25 September 2007}}</ref> The Marsden B proposal was later abandoned.  Abel was one of the coordinators of the re-recording of the [[Don McGlashan]] song "[[Anchor Me (The Mutton Birds song)|Anchor Me]]" in 2005 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the [[Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior|bombing]] of the [[Rainbow Warrior (1978)|''Rainbow Warrior'']].<ref>{{cite news | last = Nippert | first = Matt | title = Shore thing | work = [[New Zealand Listener]] | date = 25 June 2005 | url = http://listener.co.nz/issue/3398/features/4235/shore_thing.html | access-date = 25 September 2007}}</ref>

Returning to Greenpeace in 2010, he helped coordinate the historic March Against Mining which took place in Queen Street Auckland on 1 May 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://photo.greenpeace.org/archive/New-Zealand-climate-campaigner-Steve-Abel-speaks-before-the-March-against-Mining-27MZIFIX89QR.html|title=Greenpeace – New Zealand climate campaigner Steve Abel speaks before the March against Mining|publisher=[[Greenpeace]]|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> The march, later contributing to a government back-down on proposed mining of high-value conservation estate,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3935783/Government-confirms-mining-backdown|title=Government confirms mining backdown |first1=Tracy |last1=Watkins |first2=Martin |last2=Kay |date=20 July 2010|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|language=en|access-date=2 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014064627/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3935783/Government-confirms-mining-backdown|archive-date=14 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> was reported as the "biggest protest in a generation".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10642231|title=Biggest protest in a generation|date=2 May 2010|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777|access-date=2 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428004508/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10642231|archive-date=28 April 2017}}</ref> He campaigned in 2011 with [[Te Whānau-ā-Apanui|Te Whānau-a-Apanui]] against the Brazilian oil company [[Petrobras]]' plans for deep sea oil drilling in the [[Raukumara Basin]] which included a flotilla<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.btob.co.nz/article/rousing-send-flotilla-opposing-deep-sea-oil-drilling|title=Rousing Send Off for Flotilla Opposing Deep Sea Oil Drilling {{!}} btob|website=www.btob.co.nz|access-date=2 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808205728/http://www.btob.co.nz/article/rousing-send-flotilla-opposing-deep-sea-oil-drilling|archive-date=8 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/waiheke-marketplace/4826598/Protesters-sail-east|title=Protesters sail east|last=Gavelle|first=Jerome|date=30 March 2011|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|language=en|access-date=2 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921035408/http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/waiheke-marketplace/4826598/Protesters-sail-east|archive-date=21 September 2016}}</ref> that spent 42 days at sea.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Reid|first=Neil|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4898791/Protest-flotilla-sails-back-to-basin-drilling-spot|title=Protest flotilla sails back to basin drilling spot|date=18 April 2011|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|language=en|access-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026104810/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4898791/Protest-flotilla-sails-back-to-basin-drilling-spot|archive-date=26 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Petrobras relinquished their drill permits in December 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/press/Petrobras-announces-it-aint-lovin-it-in-New-Zealand/|title=Petrobras announces it ain't lovin' it in New Zealand|website=[[Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand]]|access-date=2 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202151653/http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/press/Petrobras-announces-it-aint-lovin-it-in-New-Zealand/|archive-date=2 February 2018}}</ref> Abel has publicly advocated for peaceful [[civil disobedience]] as a means to resisting the oil industry and achieving political action to address [[Global warming|climate change]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/78085513/greenpeace-activists-blockade-petroleum-conference-in-auckland|title=Greenpeace blockades oil conference|date=21 March 2016|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|access-date=2 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219233917/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/78085513/greenpeace-activists-blockade-petroleum-conference-in-auckland|archive-date=19 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://asiapacificreport.nz/2016/03/21/hundreds-descend-on-aucklands-sky-city-to-blockade-oil-event/|title=Climate change protesters blockade oil summit in Auckland's Sky City|date=21 March 2016|website=Asia Pacific Report|author=P. M. C.|access-date=2 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219080613/https://asiapacificreport.nz/2016/03/21/hundreds-descend-on-aucklands-sky-city-to-blockade-oil-event/|archive-date=19 February 2018}}</ref>

On 21 July 2020 Abel was arrested when protesting the removal of a stand of native trees on a Canal Road property in [[Avondale, Auckland]], in what would become New Zealand’s longest-running live-in tree protest,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bhb.nz/april-2021/canal-road-trees-saga-ends |title=Canal Road trees saga ends }}</ref> lasting 245 days and out of which arose urban tree protection group Mana Rakau.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Jean |title=Green Party candidate Steve Abel arrested during tree felling protest in Avondale |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/421702/green-party-candidate-steve-abel-arrested-during-tree-felling-protest-in-avondale |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=21 July 2020 |language=en-nz |date=21 July 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920042617/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/421702/green-party-candidate-steve-abel-arrested-during-tree-felling-protest-in-avondale|archive-date=20 September 2020}}</ref>

In 2021 and 2022, as Senior Campaigner for Greenpeace, Abel led a free mail-in<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/126837646/greenpeace-launches-mailin-service-for-nitrate-water-testing |title=Greenpeace launches mail-in service for nitrate water testing |date=31 October 2021 }}</ref> and town-hall water testing service<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/130488484/glenavy-community-turns-out-in-force-to-discuss-water-supplys-high-nitrate-levels |title=Glenavy community turns out in force to discuss water supply's high nitrate levels |date=16 November 2022 }}</ref> focussed on rural communities impacted by nitrate water contamination in dairy intense regions. Abel has described access to safe drinking water as a “a basic human right that is currently not being met for people living outside of cities.”<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/03/17/nitrate-levels-in-nz-water-breaching-human-rights-greenpeace/ |title=Nitrate levels in NZ water breaching human rights – Greenpeace }}</ref>

==Political career==
{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |term=54th
 |start={{NZ election link year|2023}}
 |end=present
 |list=9
 |party=Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
 |electorate=List
}}
{{End}}
At the [[1999 New Zealand general election|1999 general election]] he stood as a list candidate as well as in the [[Titirangi (New Zealand electorate)|Titirangi]] electorate as a [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] candidate, but was not elected.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partIV.html |title=Official Count Results (1999) – Electoral Votes for registered parties by electorate |work=NZ Electoral Commission |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partVIII.html |title=Official Count Results (1999) – Candidate Vote Details |work=NZ Electoral Commission |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> At the next election in [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002]] he was again unsuccessful as a list candidate and in the seat of [[Māngere (New Zealand electorate)|Mangere]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2002/electorate-23.html |title=Official Count Results – Mangere (2002)|publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]|access-date=17 September 2017}}</ref> In February 2020, Steve Abel announced that he would be contesting the [[New Lynn (New Zealand electorate)|New Lynn]] electorate as a [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] candidate during the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119635623/veteran-climate-activist-to-stand-for-greens |title=Veteran climate activist to stand for Greens |first=Charlie |last=Mitchell |date=20 February 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201017223427/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119635623/veteran-climate-activist-to-stand-for-greens|archive-date=17 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> During the 2020 election that was held on 17 October, Abel came third place with a final result of 3,701 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Lynn – Official Result |url= https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020_preliminary/electorate-details-28.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=12 November 2020 }}</ref> On preliminary results, Abel was ranked one place too low to enter Parliament on the Green party list,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 General Election and Referendums – Preliminary Count |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020_preliminary/successful-candidates.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=26 October 2020 }}</ref> but took part in the induction for new MPs in case he was elected after the counting of special votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=Derek |title=Election results 2020: Special votes – will National's hand weaken, the Māori Party remain, cannabis result flip? |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-results-2020-special-votes-will-nationals-hand-weaken-the-maori-party-remain-cannabis-result-flip/IJZHZORD6YJRXHJ4LGY3XDY6ZM/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=6 November 2020}}</ref> The Greens' share of the party vote increased when the final results were released, but not enough to bring Abel into Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Giovannetti |first1=Justin |title=The special votes are in and it's bad news for the cannabis referendum, and National |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-11-2020/special-votes-bring-bad-news-for-national-cannabis-referendum-still-fails/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |agency=The Spinoff |date=6 November 2020}}</ref>

He contested New Lynn again at the [[2023 New Zealand general election]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A climate activist for a climate election |url=https://steveabel.nz/politics/a-climate-activist-for-a-climate-election/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Steve Abel |language=en-US}}</ref> While he failed to capture New Lynn, Abel was elected to Parliament on the party list.<ref>{{cite web |title=2023 General Election: Successful candidates |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117114239/https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |archive-date=17 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In late November 2023, Abel assumed the Green Party's agriculture, animal welfare, food safety, Māori-Crown relations: Te Arawhiti, Just Transitions, resources and racing spokesperson portfolios.<ref>{{cite news |title=Greens unveil portfolio spokespeople |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/29/greens-unveil-portfolio-spokespeople/ |access-date=23 February 2024 |work=[[1News]] |date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128214920/https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/29/greens-unveil-portfolio-spokespeople/ |archive-date=28 November 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[2023 Israel-Hamas war]], Abel attended a Palestinian solidarity rally where he joined fellow Green MPs [[Chlöe Swarbrick]], [[Ricardo Menéndez March]] and [[Darleen Tana]] in chanting "[[From the river to the sea|From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free]]."<ref>{{cite news |last1=McConnell |first1=Glenn |title='A very loaded statement': Chris Hipkins expects Labour MPs to avoid 'river to sea' chant |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/133250410/a-very-loaded-statement-chris-hipkins-expects-labour-mps-to-avoid-river-to-sea-chant |access-date=26 January 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124030643/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/133250410/a-very-loaded-statement-chris-hipkins-expects-labour-mps-to-avoid-river-to-sea-chant |archive-date=24 November 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Musical career==
Abel contributed his song ''Hospice for Destitute Lovers,'' and voice, as the character of Gert, to [[Florian Habicht]]'s art-noir feature film ''[[Woodenhead]]'' (2003). His debut album ''Little Death'', recorded by Nick Abbott at Montage Studios in [[Grey Lynn]], garnered favourable reviews when released in February 2006. It featured a "Kiwi [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]]" of notable New Zealand musicians including Geoff Maddock of [[Goldenhorse]] and [[Bressa Creeting Cake]]; Mike Hall and Milan Borich of [[Pluto (New Zealand band)|Pluto]]; and Gareth Thomas of [[Goodshirt]]; and guest vocals by Kirsten Morell, also of Goldenhorse.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/most-abel-backing/HE6J5RRB3HW6ELC3WPEUE4CTJE/|title=Most Abel backing|date=17 February 2006|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=25 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026102745/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/most-abel-backing/HE6J5RRB3HW6ELC3WPEUE4CTJE/|archive-date=26 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>  ''Little Death'' was awarded the ''Alternatui'' for 2006 Album of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://waihekeradio.blogspot.co.nz/2006/10/in-my-humble-opinion_23.html|title=Waiheke Community Radio: In My Humble Opinion|website=Waiheke Radio|date=23 October 2006 |access-date=2 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814210741/http://waihekeradio.blogspot.co.nz/2006/10/in-my-humble-opinion_23.html|archive-date=14 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Abel's second album ''Flax Happy'', featured the same band as his debut under the name ''The Chrysalids'' (after the [[The Chrysalids|1955 novel]] by [[John Wyndham]]). It was recorded mainly at [[Roundhead Studios]] by Dale Cotton in July 2007. Two songs featuring Texan chanteuse [[Jolie Holland]] were recorded by [[Lee Prebble]] at The Surgery in Wellington. ''Flax Happy'' was released in 2008 (NZ) and 2009 (UK) to critical acclaim in both territories.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/01794-steve-abel-the-chrysalids-flax-happy-album-review|title=The Quietus {{!}} Reviews {{!}} Steve Abel & The Chrysalids|date=5 June 2009 |access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> Journalist [[Graham Reid (journalist)|Graham Reid]] described Abel as, "A refined writer whose lyrics have a bone-bare quality – the sound of someone writing and singing from a place where there is no guile, just hard truth and clear eyes."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/1620/steve-abel-and-the-chrysalids-flax-happy-monkey-rhythmethod/|title=Steve Abel and the Chrysalids: Flax Happy (Monkey/Rhythmethod)|date=24 May 2008 |access-date=2 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217120944/http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/1620/steve-abel-and-the-chrysalids-flax-happy-monkey-rhythmethod/|archive-date=17 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Having moved to live in Geneva in 2008,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/492400/Top-musicians-band-together-for-album|title=Top musicians band together for album|date=17 June 2008|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|language=en|access-date=2 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918165550/http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/492400/Top-musicians-band-together-for-album|archive-date=18 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and encouraged by fellow musician [[Delaney Davidson]], Abel entered and won ''The Saddest Song in the World Competition'' in Berlin in May 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/2530467/steve-abel-in-berlin-2009|title=Steve Abel in Berlin 2009|date=5 September 2012|work=[[Radio New Zealand]]|access-date=2 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325081640/https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/2530467/steve-abel-in-berlin-2009|archive-date=25 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He played at the [[CMJ]] music festival in New York later that year, and in November began recording his third album ''Luck/Hope'' with Jolie Holland, [[Shahzad Ismaily]] and Grey Gersten at Manhattan's Rivington 66 Studio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebigidea.nz/news/blogs/biting-the-big-apple/55904-steve-abel-nyc-video|title=Steve Abel in NYC (+video) {{!}} The Big Idea|website=The Big Idea|access-date=2 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818232924/https://www.thebigidea.nz/news/blogs/biting-the-big-apple/55904-steve-abel-nyc-video|archive-date=18 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Discography ==

=== Studio albums ===
* 2006: ''Little Death'' by Steve Abel
* 2008: ''Flax Happy'' by Steve Abel & The Chrysalids
* 2016: ''Luck/Hope'' by Steve Abel

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.abelsong.com/ Official website]
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}
{{NZ Green Party}}
{{Current members of the New Zealand House of Representatives}}
{{Greenpeace}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abel, Steve}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:New Zealand environmentalists]]
[[Category:New Zealand film score composers]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand male singers]]
[[Category:People from Mount Eden]]
[[Category:New Zealand male film score composers]]
[[Category:Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand MPs]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1999 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2002 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:New Zealand list MPs]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]