Angela Roberts - Misplaced Pages

For the curler, see Angela Roberts (curler). New Zealand Labour Party politician

Angela Roberts
Roberts in 2023

Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Labour party list
In office 17 October 2020 – 14 October 2023

Personal details
Born	1968 or 1969 (age 54–55)
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Ian Anglesey
Children	2
Profession	Teacher

Angela Susan Roberts is a New Zealand teacher, unionist and politician.

Early life and career

Roberts spent 20 years in the education sector teaching economics and drama. In 2013 Roberts became President of the Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) union. As President she was critical of then-Education Minister Hekia Parata on teaching issues including Novopay and charter schools. In 2017 she took up a teaching position at Stratford High School, resigning as PPTA president, instead becoming senior vice president of the PPTA.

Subsequently, Roberts was involved in the Just Transition Summit conversations in Taranaki. She took a particular interest in the role of education and training in sustaining future businesses and workforce.

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate	List	Party
2020–2023	53rd	List	50		Labour

There was speculation she would run as a Labour Party candidate in the 2017 election, a notion Roberts did not rule out. However, at the last minute, she decided against running.

Roberts entered Parliament in the 2020 election. She ran for the electorate of Taranaki-King Country, coming second behind the incumbent National MP Barbara Kuriger by a margin of 3,134 votes. Since she was ranked 50th on Labour's party list, Roberts was elected to Parliament.

On 29 September 2023, Roberts was physically assaulted at a surgery at the Rotary club in Inglewood, Taranaki, while canvassing for Taranaki-King Country. The man reportedly confronted Roberts before he “grabbed shoulders" and shook her violently "in order to emphasise the point he was making" before slapping her across the face. Roberts later said to Radio New Zealand "It feels like, incrementally, there is a growing acceptance of aggression in politics and our democratic processes. This must change." She thanked National MP Barbara Kuriger for reaching out to her after the incident.

During the 2023 New Zealand general election held on 14 October, Roberts contested Taranaki-King Country a second time. She lost to incumbent Kuriger by a margin of 14,355 votes.

Personal life

Roberts lives in Tariki with her husband Ian Anglesey, who is also a teacher, and their two children. She enjoys beach walking, tramping and community theatre.

References

"Compare the candidates for Taranaki-King Country — NZ Election 2020". Your complete guide to NZ Election 2020 — Policy.
"Speech – New Zealand Parliament".
^ Coster, Deena (23 July 2020). "Candidate's bid to break National's stranglehold in Taranaki-King Country". Stuff. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
^ Moir, Jo (25 May 2020). "Former PPTA president Angela Roberts to run for Labour". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
"Taranaki-King Country – Official Count". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
Coughlan, Thomas (15 June 2020). "Ayesha Verrall leads fresh-faced Labour party list for 2020". Stuff. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
"2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
Mathias, Shanti (29 September 2023). "Labour candidate slapped following debate in Taranaki". The Spinoff. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
"'Completely unacceptable': Labour candidate Angela Roberts 'slapped' following political debate". Radio New Zealand. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
"Taranaki-King Country - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.

This article about a New Zealand Labour Party politician is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

Categories: