Scott Willis (politician) explained

Scott Willis
Birth Place:Dunedin, New Zealand
Constituency Mp3:Green party list
Term Start3:14 October 2023
Parliament3:New Zealand
Party:Green

Scott Matthew Willis[1] is a New Zealand energy analyst and politician, representing the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand as a Member of Parliament since the 2023 New Zealand general election.[2]

Early life

Willis was born in Dunedin and grew up on a farm in Otago.[3] [2] He attended the University of Otago from the age of 17 in 1987,[4] and then worked on orchards and farms in the Cévennes region of France.[2] Willis later interned at the European Parliament.[2] He has worked as a consultant on energy resilience, and as an energy analyst.[5] [6] [7] As general manager of Blueskin Energy Ltd, Willis was involved in attempts to get wind turbines in Blueskin Bay, and in the building of New Zealand's first climate-safe house in 2020.[8] [9] He has been involved with a trust working on peer-to-peer energy sharing, and insulating houses.

Political career

Willis contested the electorate in the, when he came third to Labour MP Ingrid Leary and National Party candidate Liam Kernaghan, with 2207 votes.[10] [11]

Willis stood again for in the . He was twelfth on the national list.[12] At the campaign launch in June, Willis said "We need a strong voice on the hospital build and our health services; for all whānau living in cold, damp mouldy homes; for our tertiary education – our University and Te Pukenga. We need a strong voice and forward thinking for South Dunedin and our rural and energy sectors, for decarbonising to deliver climate justice."[10]

During the 2023 election, Willis received 3,898 votes in Taeiri, coming third to incumbent Ingrid Leary and National Party candidate Matthew French.[13] Despite not winning Taieri, Willis entered Parliament on the Green Party list.[14]

In late November, Willis assumed the Green Party's energy, regional development, rural communities and Dunedin Issues spokesperson portfolios.[15]

Selected publications

Notes and References

  1. 2023 General Election – Election of List Candidates . . Karl . Le Quesne . 16 November 2023 . 6 January 2024 . 2023-au5351.
  2. Web site: Scott Willis | Taieri | List Rank #12 .
  3. Web site: Scott Willis – Greens candidate for Taieri .
  4. Web site: Willis, Scott Maiden Statements. February 1, 2024 . New Zealand Parliament. February 21, 2024. I went to university as a 17-year-old in 1987—so you can do the calculations there!.
  5. News: Mathias . Shanti . 18 October 2023 . Who are the new Greens and Act MPs? . en . The Spinoff . 23 November 2023.
  6. News: Efeso Collins among list of likely Green candidates for 2023 election . Coughlan . Thomas . 17 January 2023 . New Zealand Herald.
  7. News: Houlahan . Mike . 16 October 2023 . 'Exhausted but excited' Willis in as list MP for Greens . en . Otago Daily Times Online News . 23 November 2023.
  8. News: Green power out of the blue . Munro . Bruce . 15 October 2012 . Otago Daily Times.
  9. News: Climate Safe House being put to market . MacLean . Hamish . 4 November 2020 . Otago Daily Times.
  10. News: Push for 'strong Green vote' in south at campaign launch. 24 June 2023 . Radio New Zealand.
  11. Web site: Taieri – Official Result . Electoral Commission.
  12. News: Green Party candidate list includes nine Māori . Te Ao News . 20 May 2023.
  13. Web site: Taieri - Official Result . . 15 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231123163507/https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-47.html . 23 November 2023 . 3 November 2023 . live.
  14. Web site: 2023 General Election: Successful candidates . . 20 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231117114239/https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html . 17 November 2023 . 3 November 2023 . live.
  15. News: Greens unveil portfolio spokespeople . 23 February 2024 . . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128214920/https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/29/greens-unveil-portfolio-spokespeople/ . 28 November 2023. live.