{{Short description|New Zealand local politician and civil servant}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Christine Rankin | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Greymouth, New Zealand | other_names = | political_party = Conservative (2012–2015) <br /> Labour (1970s) }}
'''Christine Kathryn Rankin''' (born Greymouth c. 1954) is a New Zealand politician and former civil servant who served as head of the Department of Work and Income.
== Civil service career == Rankin joined the Department of Social Welfare (as it was then called) in 1978 as a temporary clerk, following the break-up of her first marriage.<ref name="herald">{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rankin-file/news/article.cfm?c_id=758&objectid=203838 |title=The making of the Christine Rankin legend |first=Warren |last=Gamble |accessdate=31 August 2014 |date=4 August 2001 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref> Rising through the ranks, she became the head of the Department of Work and Income in 1998.<ref name="herald" /> Her time as chief executive was controversial, with allegations of extravagant spending and a management style akin to a personality cult.<ref name="herald" /> Three official inquiries were prompted by the expenditure of $165,000 to charter an aircraft to fly staff to a meeting in Wairākei, including one by State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham who found a lack of financial discipline, and Rankin’s performance bonus was withheld.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christine Rankin inquiry |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/33077/christine-rankin-inquiry |website=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=18 November 2024}}</ref>
In 2001, after Wintringham chose not to reappoint Rankin, she sued him in the Employment Court for NZ$1.2 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=227980|title=State service head dodges fallout from Rankin case|last=Mold|first=Francesca|date=13 November 2001|work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=3 March 2010}}</ref> Rankin made allegations of sexism towards her by officials and ministers. Rankin lost the court case, but the evidence given during the hearing by Wintringham and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet chief executive Mark Prebble ensured that the case was the dominant political news topic of the year. Rankin was known for wearing short skirts and dangly earrings, and Prebble, for example, described her dress as "indecent" and "offensive".<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Prebble admits criticising Rankin's dress |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mark-prebble-admits-criticising-rankins-dress/AVE7MAYZSLHSG4OJPFTTYCAM7I/ |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=4 July 2001}}</ref>
She has since worked as a consultant and public speaker,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speakerlink.co.nz/ppvf.asp?pid=338&pn=CHRISTINE-RANKIN |accessdate=31 August 2014 |title=Christine Rankin |publisher=SpeakerLink |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820181225/http://speakerlink.co.nz/ppvf.asp?pid=338&pn=CHRISTINE-RANKIN |archive-date=20 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was a panellist on the show ''How's Life?'' in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=How's Life? - Episode {{!}} Television |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-episode-2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508074534/https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hows-life-episode-2002/overview |archive-date=8 May 2024 |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=NZ On Screen |language=en}}</ref> She is chief executive of Lake Taupō Hospice.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our team |url=https://www.laketaupohospice.co.nz/our-team |access-date=18 November 2024 |website=Lake Taupo Hospice}}</ref>
== Political career == In her 20s Rankin was a member of the Labour Party, serving as the Albany branch secretary.<ref name="herald" />
In 2007 she was elected to the Auckland Regional Council, as the representative of the North Shore constituency.<ref name=akl>{{cite web| url= http://www.vote.co.nz/2010/candidates/christine-rankin-5087 |title=Christine Rankin |publisher=vote.co.nz |accessdate=17 September 2014}}</ref> She gained appointment as a commissioner of the-then Families Commission in 2009;<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2402725/Families-appointment-Rankin-surprised-by-reaction |first1=Tracy |last1=Watkins |first2=Keri |last2=Welham |title=Families appointment: Rankin 'surprised' by reaction |work=Stuff |date=12 May 2009 |accessdate=17 September 2014}}</ref> her term ended in 2013.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/families-commission-board-appointments |publisher=beehive.govt.nz |title=Families Commission Board appointments |first=Paula |last=Bennett |authorlink=Paula Bennett |date=14 May 2013 |accessdate=17 September 2014}}</ref> At the 2010 Auckland local-body elections she stood in the North Shore ward where she finished fourth and was not elected,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transportblog.co.nz/2010/10/09/super-city-election-results/ |title=Super City Election Results |first=Joshua |last=Arbury |accessdate=31 August 2014 |date=9 October 2010 |publisher=Transport Blog |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903122405/http://transportblog.co.nz/2010/10/09/super-city-election-results/ |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> however she won election to the Upper Harbour Local Board and to the Waitematā District Health Board.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.vote.co.nz/2013/candidates/christine-rankin-9522 |title=Christine Rankin |publisher=vote.co.nz |accessdate=17 September 2014}}</ref> She was re-elected to the health board and local board at the 2013 elections.<ref name=akl />
Rankin joined the board of the Conservative Party of New Zealand in 2012 and became the Party's CEO in 2013.<ref>{{cite press release| url= http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1305/S00131/conservative-partys-new-ceo-christine-rankin.htm |title=Conservative Party's New CEO Christine Rankin |agency=Scoop |date=10 May 2013 |publisher=Conservative Party of New Zealand |accessdate=17 September 2014}}</ref> At the 2014 general election she was a candidate for the Conservative Party in the Epsom electorate,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/christine-rankin-to-stand-in-epsom-2014080315 |title=Christine Rankin to stand in Epsom |publisher=3 News |date=3 August 2014 |accessdate=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903090641/http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/christine-rankin-to-stand-in-epsom-2014080315 |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was also ranked second on the Conservative party list. However, the Conservative Party did not achieve the necessary 5% of the party vote to qualify for list seats,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2014/partystatus.html|accessdate=22 February 2015|publisher=New Zealand Electoral Commission|title=Official Count Results – Overall Status}}</ref> so she was not elected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2014/successfulcand.html|accessdate=22 February 2015|publisher=New Zealand Electoral Commission|title=Official Count Results – Successful Candidates}}</ref> She resigned from the Conservative Party on 23 June 2015 after losing confidence in the founder, Colin Craig.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11469750|title=Christine Rankin quits Conservative Party|first=Isaac|last=Davison|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |date=23 June 2015}}</ref>
On 7 September 2016, Christine Rankin testified in a defamation lawsuit brought by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union founder Jordan Williams against the former Party leader Colin Craig. Williams had filed legal action against Craig after the latter claimed that Williams had lied when he said that Craig sexually harassed his press secretary Rachel MacGregor. During the trial, Rankin testified that Craig had disclosed details of his relationship with MacGregor and that this revelation had led her to lose confidence in Craig's leadership of the Conservative Party.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tahana|first1=Yvonne|title=Christine Rankin changed her opinion of Colin Craig after sext revelations, court hears|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/christine-rankin-changed-her-opinion-colin-craig-after-sext-revelations-court-hears|accessdate=8 September 2016|publisher=One News|date=7 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Dennett|first1=Kelly|title=Recommended by Colin Craig allegedly told Christine Rankin his secretary was 'mentally ill'|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/83989754/colin-craigs-alleged-love-letters-read-aloud-to-court|accessdate=8 September 2016|publisher=Stuff |date=7 September 2016}}</ref>
Rankin was Deputy Mayor of Taupō District Council from November 2019 to October 2022.<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Marshall |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/taupo-times/117130104/christine-rankin-named-as-taups-deputy-mayor |work=Waikato Times |title=Christine Rankin named as Taupō's deputy mayor |date=4 November 2019 |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref> In 2022, she stood for the mayoralty and came second. She was re-elected as a councillor with the highest number of votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Declaration of result |url=https://www.taupodc.govt.nz/repository/libraries/id:25026fn3317q9slqygym/hierarchy/Council/elections/Taupo%20District%20Council%202022%20Triennial%20Elections%20-%20Final%20FPP%20Result.pdf |website=Taupo District Council |access-date=18 November 2024}}</ref>
==Personal life== Rankin was born in Greymouth to Walter, a coalminer and later a prison guard, and Sylvia Parker from Blackball, West Coast.<ref name=herald /> She was raised as Catholic. The family moved to Christchurch, where she attended Villa Maria College and then Rangitoto College in Auckland.<ref name=herald /> In 2005 she converted to the Soka Gakkai International tradition of Nichiren Buddhism.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10361977 |title=Free-range soul searching replacing organised religion in NZ |first=Claire |last=Harvey |date=30 December 2005 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref> She has been married four times<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gower |first1=Patrick |title=Key backs Christine Rankin to stay in role |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/key-backs-christine-rankin-to-stay-in-role/P5LBB45OLNUAUIQE22H7JW46EM/ |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=18 May 2009}}</ref> and has two sons.<ref name=herald /> In 2006 she competed on ''Dancing with the Stars''.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00213.htm |title=Dancing With The Stars – The First Elimination |accessdate=31 August 2014 |first=Kevin |last=List |work=Scoop}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rankin, Christine}} Category:Living people Category:New Zealand public servants Category:New Zealand women public servants Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:New Conservative Party (New Zealand) politicians Category:New Zealand Labour Party politicians Category:21st-century New Zealand women politicians Category:Auckland regional councillors Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election Category:1950s births Category:People from Greymouth Category:Members of Sōka Gakkai Category:Converts to Sōka Gakkai Category:New Zealand Buddhists Category:Waitemata District Health Board members Category:Deputy mayors of places in New Zealand Category:Converts to Buddhism from Roman Catholicism Category:Converts to Buddhism from Christianity