{{Short description|New Zealand politician}} {{distinguish|text=English restaurateur Russell Norman}} {{Use British English|date=November 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | birth_name = Russel William Norman | honorific_prefix = | name = Russel Norman | honorific_suffix = | image = Russel Norman2.jpg | order = 3rd Co-leader of the Green Party | co-leader = Jeanette Fitzsimons, then Metiria Turei | term_start = 3 June 2006 | term_end = 30 May 2015 | predecessor = Rod Donald | successor = James Shaw | constituency_MP2 = Green Party List | parliament2 = New Zealand | term_start2 = 27 June 2008 | term_end2 = 30 October 2015 | predecessor2 = Nándor Tánczos{{efn|name=fn1|Normally, list MPs do not have individual predecessors or successors, but Tánczos resigned during a sitting parliament and therefore was succeeded by Norman, who later resigned himself and was succeeded by Davidson.}} | successor2 = Marama Davidson{{efn|name=fn1}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|06|2|df=y}} | birth_place = Brisbane, Australia | spouse = | partner = Katya Paquin<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/3782760/Red-is-dead-as-guard-changes|title=Red is dead as guard changes|work=The Dominion Post|first=John|last=Hartevelt|date=7 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609140536/http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/opinion/3782760/Red-is-dead-as-guard-changes|archive-date=9 June 2010|access-date=14 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> | party = Green Party | other_party = Democratic Socialist (Australia) | relations = | children = 3 | alma_mater = | occupation = Politician and Environmental Campaigner | profession = | committees = | website = | footnotes = | signature = Russell Norman signature.jpg }}
'''Russel William Norman''' (born 2 June 1967) is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. He was a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Green Party.<ref name=LastDayCoLeader>{{cite web|title=Russel Norman completes last day as Green Party co-leader|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11456851|work=The New Zealand Herald | date=22 May 2015 |access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> Norman resigned as an MP in October 2015 to work as Executive Director of Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/288456/goodbye-greens,-hello-greenpeace | title=Russel Norman quits Greens for Greenpeace | work=Radio New Zealand | date=31 October 2015 | access-date=7 November 2015 | author=Edwards, Brent}}</ref>
== Early life == Norman was born in Brisbane, Australia, and worked a number of unskilled roles after dropping out of medical school. As a student in Queensland, his first ever vote in 1986 was motivated by the desire to oust the Premier of Queensland at the time, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11283858|title=Leaders' first trip to ballot box|author=Cherie Howie|work=The New Zealand Herald |date=2014-06-29}}</ref> Whilst living in Australia, Norman was involved with the Democratic Socialist Party for several years,<ref name=Trev/> and contested the House of Representatives for the party at the 1990 federal election, placing fifth of five candidates in the seat of Griffith.
Norman moved to New Zealand in 1997, saying this was to observe the red-green Alliance coalition. He wrote his political science PhD thesis on the Alliance, and was active within the party, editing its party newsletter.<ref name=Trev>{{cite web|url=http://blog.greens.org.nz/index.php/2006/02/02/truly-tiresome-trev/| title=Truly tiresome Trev|work=Frog Blog|date=2 February 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060204162252/http://blog.greens.org.nz/index.php/2006/02/02/truly-tiresome-trev/|archive-date=4 February 2006}}</ref>
== Involvement in politics == In New Zealand Norman became involved in organic farming, and was active in the Auckland branch of the Green Party, helping to set up the Waiheke branch.<ref name="RadioNZ profile">{{cite news | url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/264907/profile-russel-norman | title=Profile: Russel Norman | work=Radio New Zealand News | date=30 January 2015 | access-date=30 January 2015 | author=McCulloch, Craig}}</ref>
Later, he worked as an assistant to Green MPs Sue Kedgley, Nándor Tánczos and Keith Locke.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}<!-- RNZ profile also says he was PA for Sue Bradford? --> He was a researcher for the party from 2002 to 2004 and was the national campaign manager prior to the 2005 election<ref name="RadioNZ profile" /> and the national Party Development Co-ordinator afterwards.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
Following the death of Rod Donald, Norman put his name forward as a contender for the male co-leader position. He won the position on 3 June 2006 at the annual meeting, beating Tanczos, David Clendon and former MP Mike Ward in an STV vote by delegates from electorates around the country.<ref name="RadioNZ profile" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/green-co-leader-announced|title=Green Co-Leader announced|date=3 June 2006|publisher=Green Party|access-date=5 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522010554/http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/green-co-leader-announced|archive-date=22 May 2010}}</ref>
=== Member of Parliament === {{NZ parlbox header|align=left}} {{NZ parlbox|term=48th|start=2008|end=|electorate=List|list=10|party=Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand}} {{NZ parlbox|term=49th|start= {{NZ election link year|2008}}|end=2011|electorate=List|list=2|party=Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand}} {{NZ parlbox |term = 50th |start = {{NZ election link year|2011}} |end = 2014 |electorate = List |party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand |list = 2 }} {{NZ parlbox |term = 51st |start = {{NZ election link year|2014}} |end = 2015 |electorate = List |party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand |list = 2 }} {{End}} In the 2002 election general election, Norman contested the Rimutaka electorate, where he placed fourth. He was ranked seventeenth on the Green Party list. In the 2005 election, he did not contest an electorate, but was ranked tenth on the Green Party list. On 27 June 2008 Norman was declared elected to parliament when Tanczos<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913185853/http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4599482a6000.html |archive-date=13 September 2012 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4599482a6000.html |title=Greens co-leader now an MP |publisher=The Dominion Post |date=27 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> resigned after Ward and Catherine Delahunty, who were above Norman on the party list, agreed to stand aside. In the 2008 general election Norman stood in the Rongotai electorate against senior Labour Cabinet Minister Annette King. He placed third in the electorate, but was second on his party's list, and so was returned to parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-45.html|title=Rongotai results 2008|work=electionresults.govt.nz|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211164916/http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-45.html|archive-date=11 December 2008}}</ref>
Norman stood as the Green Party's candidate for the Mount Albert by-election in 2009, following the resignation of Prime Minister Helen Clark. Norman came third with 12.09% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.org.nz/2009_mt_albert_byelection/|title=Official Count Results – Mt Albert|date=24 June 2009|access-date=9 February 2014}}</ref>
In June 2010, Norman claimed he was assaulted by Chinese security staff when he protested against a visiting Chinese delegation of the Vice President Xi Jinping with a Tibetan snow lion flag. Norman lodged a complaint of assault with the New Zealand Police and the Speaker of the House, but police did not find enough evidence to substantiate his claims.<ref name="MP's Tibet protest flag removed">{{ cite web | first1 = Michael | last1 = Fox |first2=John |last2=Hartevelt|first3=Michael|last3=Field| title = MP's Tibet protest flag removed | work =Stuff | url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3825646/MPs-Tibet-protest-flag-removed | publisher = Fairfax Media NZ Ltd | access-date=18 June 2010 | date=18 June 2010}}</ref>
In November 2013 it was announced that Norman would be challenged for the party co-leadership by former Green candidate and Auckland Council policy analyst David Hay. Norman was the first Green co-leader to be openly challenged for the position, stating of Hay "it's an open democratic process, he's entitled to his opinion."<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrea |last=Vance |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9447633/Russel-Norman-faces-leadership-challenge |title=Russel Norman faces leadership challenge |work=Stuff |date=27 November 2013 |access-date=24 July 2022 }}</ref> Prior to announcing the challenge Hay was informed by the party that he would not be a candidate in the next general election leading to a Green Party spokesperson to say the leadership challenge was "a case of sour grapes".<ref>{{cite news |first=Isaac |last=Davison |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/green-leadership-challenge-sour-grapes/5GAINPTNUZOH3ZIVNQIZSESZCU/ |title=Green leadership challenge 'sour grapes' |work=New Zealand Herald |date=29 November 2013 |access-date=24 July 2022 }}</ref> A leadership vote did not eventuate as before the party annual general meeting took place Hay's membership was suspended for one year after an investigation panel found his behaviour breached party rules. Hay admitted breaching the rules after attacking the leadership through via media and leaking internal party documents though also found him to have a genuine grievance for being barred from the candidate pool based on allegations with no evidence. Norman remained leader without being subjected to a delegate vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9757083/Greens-suspend-leadership-challenger |title=Greens suspend leadership challenger |work=Stuff |date=24 February 2014 |access-date=24 July 2022 }}</ref>
=== Retirement === In January 2015, shortly after the birth of his third child, Norman announced he would stand down as co-leader of the Green Party. However, he said he would remain as a Green MP for the foreseeable future.<ref name="Russel resigns">{{cite news | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/65583217/green-party-coleader-russel-norman-resigns | title=Green Party co-leader Russel Norman resigns | work=Stuff.co.nz | date=30 January 2015 | access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref> He named what he saw as his key political victories as co-leader as: forcing the Government to reverse its decision to allow mining on Schedule 4 conservation land, and leading a campaign and referendum against National's asset sales programme.<ref name="RadioNZ profile" /> Norman was succeeded by James Shaw as co-leader on 30 May 2015.<ref>{{cite news |title=James Shaw named Greens new co-leader |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11457327 |access-date=30 May 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=30 May 2015}}</ref> On 11 September 2015, Norman announced that he would resign in October as an MP, and that he would also formally resign from the Green Party, prior to taking on the role of Executive Director of Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand. This enabled the next person on the Green Party list, Marama Davidson, to become a member of parliament.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Nicholas|title=Russel Norman quits Greens and Parliament to head Greenpeace NZ|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11511403|access-date=12 September 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=11 September 2015}}</ref> In his valedictory speech in Parliament, he spoke about the loss of democracy in New Zealand, and said there were significant problems regarding access to official information.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/287745/russel-norman-gives-final-speech-to-parliament | title=Russel Norman gives final speech to Parliament | work=Radio New Zealand | date=22 October 2015 | access-date=22 October 2015}}</ref>
== Personal life == {{As of | 2011}} Norman and his partner, Katya Paquin (sister of Anna Paquin), live with their two sons and a daughter in Hataitai.<ref name="Russel resigns" /><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/5788104/Being-poor-didn-t-mean-we-were-bad |title='Being poor didn't mean we were bad'|work=Sunday Star Times|author=Hubbard, Anthony|date=16 October 2011|access-date=9 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="SST profile">{{cite news | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10412769/Russel-Norman-reluctant-leader | title=Greens' Russel Norman - a reluctant leader | work=The Sunday Star Times | date=24 August 2014 | access-date=24 August 2014 | author=Kilgallon, Steve}}</ref>
In 2012 when Norman and David Shearer shaved their heads for a cancer appeal, he revealed that he had had a melanoma mole removed from his forearm at age 15, leaving a 10 cm scar.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6635899/Norman-reveals-teenage-cancer-scare |title=Norman reveals teenage cancer scare |first=Kate |last=Chapman |work=The Dominion Post |date= 26 March 2012 |access-date= 28 March 2012}}</ref>
In 2014, Norman was awarded a Bravo award by the New Zealand Skeptics for responding to Steffan Browning's comments on homeopathy stating, "stating that this was not something the Green Party would support as they take 'an evidence based approach.'"<ref>{{cite web|title=Bravo Awards|url=https://skeptics.nz/awards/bravo|publisher=New Zealand Skeptics|access-date=7 November 2016}}</ref>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Russel Norman}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20151016203801/https://www.greens.org.nz/ourpeople/russel-norman-mp Profile] at the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand (archived) *[https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/former-mps/document/51PlibFormerRusselNorman1/norman-russel/ Profile], NZ Parliament website *[http://blog.greens.org.nz/author/russel-2 Russel Norman] at the Greens' blog
{{s-start}} {{s-par|nz}} {{s-bef|before=Nándor Tánczos}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Green Party List|years=2008–2015}} {{s-aft | after=Marama Davidson}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Rod Donald}} {{s-ttl|title=Male co-leader of the Green Party|years=2006–2015|alongside=Jeanette Fitzsimons, Metiria Turei}} {{s-aft|after=James Shaw}} {{end}}
{{NZ Green Party}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norman, Russel}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand MPs Category:Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leaders Category:New Zealand male bloggers Category:Australian emigrants to New Zealand Category:Politicians from Brisbane Category:New Zealand list MPs Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2002 New Zealand general election Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2005 New Zealand general election Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians