Jessica Hammond Explained

Jessica Hammond
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Wellington, New Zealand
Alma Mater:Victoria University of Wellington
Years Active:2017–present
Party:The Opportunities Party

Jessica Hammond is a New Zealand public servant, perennial candidate, playwright, and blogger. Hammond stood for The Opportunities Party for Ōhāriu in the 2017, 2020, and 2023 general elections, coming third twice and fourth once.[2] [3]

Political history

2017 general election

In August 2017, Hammond announced that she would contest the Ōhāriu electorate during the 2017 New Zealand general election.[4]

She came third, with 2898 votes, 7.29% of 40,026 valid votes.[5] [6] Hammond's campaign emerged as one of the strongest of the 26 The Opportunities Party (TOP) candidates, beating the candidates from the Green Party, New Zealand First, United Future, and ACT New Zealand in Ōhāriu.[7]

Following the election, Hammond stood in the 2018 Opportunities Party leadership election and came third at 13.25 percent (137 votes).[8]

2020 general election

Geoff Simmons took leadership of TOP and planned on rebuilding the party. Hammond returned to TOP.[9]

In January 2020, Hammond announced that she would contest the Ōhāriu electorate for TOP during the 2020 New Zealand general election.[10]

Hammond and Geoff Simmons announced a policy promising to reserve approximately $2.5b every year from central government's GST tax take for councils to spend on infrastructure.[11] They launched their policy in front of the Mt Victoria Tunnel which is a road link between Wellington's CBD and the airport that both National and Labour have promised to expand.[12]

Hammond contested Equality Network's Scorecard of each party's commitment to addressing inequality, which raised TOP's score from one star to one and a half, bringing it in line with Labour and Māori Party in second equal place.[13]

Hammond said the housing crisis in New Zealand was a "slow-moving crisis" ignored by both parties, because they didn't have the "guts" to fix it.[14]

She campaigned on redeveloping the Johnsonville Mall, which leaks when it rains.[15]

In September 2020, Hammond spoke at the Renters United protest on the Parliament lawn, also attended by Green Party's co-leader James Shaw. They protested the end to the Government's rent freeze, implemented in March under urgent coronavirus legislation, which allowed landlords to resume giving rent increase notices.[16] Hammond called for a mandatory warrant of fitness for rental properties and a greater focus on medium-density housing.[17] [18]

She came third, with 4,443 votes, 10.18% of 43,646 valid votes. Hammond beat the candidates in Ōhāriu from the Green Party, New Zealand First, ACT New Zealand, New Conservatives, ONE Party, and Advance New Zealand.[19]

After the 2020 election

In December 2020, Hammond spoke at a protest outside Parliament designed to remind MPs of a recent survey by The Salvation Army where one in five Kiwis said they can't afford to celebrate Christmas. The demonstration has been organised by the United Community Action Network (UCAN) after more than 40 welfare and poverty charities signed an open letter to the Government pleading for them to increase welfare in the lead up to Christmas.[20]

2023 election

During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Hammond stood as The Opportunities Party's candidate in Ōhāriu. She ranked sixth on the party list.[21] [22] On 18 September, Hammond took part in a Newstalk ZB-sponsored election debate with Labour Member of Parliament Greg O'Connor and National Member of Parliament Nicola Willis, who were also contesting the Ōhāriu electorate.

On 14 October, Hammond came fourth place in Ōhāriu, receiving 2,975 votes.[23] TOP received 2.22% of the party vote, below the five percent threshold needed to enter Parliament.[24]

Personal life

Hammond was born in Wellington, New Zealand.[25] Hammond has qualifications in economics, psychology, and philosophy.[26] Hammond graduated with a Masters in Philosophy from Victoria University of Wellington and has 2 children.[27] Hammond is a Khandallah homeowner.[6] She works as a public servant.

Hammond's daughters both have allergies and Hammond has written about the precautions taken as a parent to prevent reactions.[28]

In 2016, Hammond wrote the play Kiwiman and Robin, which was performed at Gryphon Theatre.[29] Inspired by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Hammond performed at an open mic stand-up comedy night in 2019.[30]

Electoral history

2020 Ōhāriu general election

2018 Opportunities Party leadership election

CandidateVotes%
Geoff Simmons67865.57
Amy Stevens20619.92
Jessica Hammond-Doube13713.25
Donna Pokere-Phillips111.06
Anthony Singh20.19
Majority47245.64
Turnout1,034
[31]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Compare the candidates for Ōhāriu —NZ Election 2020 . Policy NZ . 19 March 2021.
  2. Web site: TOP Party Leader Geoff Simmons Will Stand For Rongotai In 2020 Election. Scoop.
  3. Web site: 'We don't have a sugar daddy anymore' - The Opportunity Party keep focus on policy, not personality politics post-Gareth Morgan. TVNZ.
  4. TOP Announces Party List for 2017 General Election. Scoop. August 28, 2017. February 26, 2021.
  5. Web site: E9 Statistics - Electorate Status. 25 June 2023.
  6. Web site: The battle for Ōhāriu: TOP is back, and it's hoping to spoil a fight between Labour and National. 13 June 2020. Stuff.
  7. Web site: Party 'for a fairer New Zealand' falls flat, as Gareth Morgan's TOP falls far short of 5 per cent. Lucy. Swinnen. Stuff. September 24, 2017. February 26, 2021.
  8. Web site: 11 December 2018. Parliamentary Leader Results. d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net. 25 February 2021.
  9. Web site: Gareth Morgan gone for good: How TOP plans to rebuild. Alex. Braae. 31 March 2019.
  10. Web site: TOP Announces First Candidates For 2020 Election. Scoop.
  11. Web site: TOP promises GST returns for councils to help plug infrastructure deficit. The New Zealand Herald. 6 June 2023 .
  12. Web site: Election 2020 latest: Parties exchange blows over Treasury numbers. 16 September 2020. Newsroom.
  13. Web site: Equality Network Lifts TOP's Score On Their Party Scorecard.. Scoop.
  14. Web site: TOP looks to turn the worm. 18 September 2020. Newsroom.
  15. Web site: A four-way race in NZ's 'thinking electorate'. 14 October 2020. Newsroom.
  16. Web site: Calls for rent control as renters bid farewell to Government's rent freeze with cake. Stuff. 25 September 2020.
  17. Web site: Farewell to rent rise freeze: Advocates call for limit and better housing. 25 September 2020. RNZ.
  18. Web site: Rent rise freeze ends: Tenants see hike of '20 or 30 percent' . Otago Daily Times. 25 September 2020 .
  19. Web site: E9 Statistics - Electorate Status. 25 June 2023.
  20. News: Protesters to descend on Parliament urging politicians to consider those less fortunate at Christmas. Newshub. newshub.co.nz.
  21. Web site: The Opportunities Party announces a fresh team to bring new ideas to Parliament at the 2023 General Election . . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230812174253/https://www.top.org.nz/the_opportunities_party_announces_a_fresh_team_to_bring_new_ideas_to_parliament_at_the_2023_general_election . 12 August 2023 . 4 August 2023 . live.
  22. News: Nicola Willis, Greg O'Connor and Jessica Hammond go head-to-head in a fiery Ōhāriu special of Politics Monday . 30 September 2023 . . 18 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924125630/https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/wellington/wellington-mornings-with-nick-mills/audio/politics-monday-nicola-willis-greg-oconnor-and-jessica-hammond-battle-for-ohariu/ . 24 September 2023. live.
  23. Web site: Ōhāriu - Official Result . . 11 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231123104125/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-33.html . 23 November 2023 . 3 November 2023 . live.
  24. Web site: 2023 General Election - Official Result . . 11 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231125022036/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/index.html . 25 November 2023 . 3 November 2023.
  25. Web site: Election 2020: All or nothing in Ōhāriu electorate as three MPs contest seat. Georgina. Campbell. The New Zealand Herald. September 27, 2020. February 26, 2021.
  26. Web site: Election 2020: Who are the candidates for the Ōhāriu electorate?. 15 October 2020. Stuff.
  27. Web site: Jessica Hammond | Ōhāriu. TOP.
  28. Web site: How to not kill my kids this Easter. Jessica Hammond. Doube. April 11, 2017. February 26, 2021.
  29. Web site: KIWIMAN AND ROBIN - A lively show to stimulate play. theatreview.org.nz.
  30. Web site: The people inspired by extremely cool television to do extremely cool things. Tara. Ward. 13 July 2019.
  31. Web site: Parliamentary Leader Results. d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net. 26 February 2021.