Curran set to go at next year’s election

Labour MP Clare Curran will resign from Parliament at the next election after 12 years in the job.

Curran was the first minister to resign from the current Government, after a transparency scandal as broadcasting minister that resulted in her being sacked from Cabinet.

‘‘It’s been an honour to represent the people of Dunedin South over the past 12 years and I will continue to do so as strongly as I always have through to the 2020 election,’’ Curran said.

‘‘By next year, I will have spent 12 years in Parliament, and I feel now is the time to move on to other pursuits. I’ve loved every minute of representing the people of Dunedin South and I will miss the local electorate issues enormously.

‘‘I’ve always preferred to battle for the ordinary people who all too often struggle to be heard above the clamour of those with more resources.’’

In March 2018, it was revealed Curran had met then-rnz senior manager Carol Hirschfeld and not put the meeting in her diary. Hirschfeld told her bosses the meeting had been coincidental when it, in fact, had been planned. She resigned from RNZ over the matter and now works for Stuff.

Following the revelation of a second meeting kept out of her diary, this one with technologist Derek Handley, Ardern fired Curran from Cabinet in August. She subsequently resigned as a minister, citing ‘‘relentless pressure’’ over her use of a personal Gmail account for ministerial business.

Curran said her work as an electorate MP had been especially important.

‘‘I’ve devoted my time in Parliament to championing the southern side of Dunedin, raising the significant issues affecting vulnerable people and families, such as the poor quality and lack of affordable housing and access to health services in the electorate.

‘‘I’ve been a vocal advocate for the return of rail engineering to Dunedin at the Hillside workshops and highlighted South Dunedin’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and rising sea level, making it a priority for local government.’’

She also mentioned her brief time as minister of broadcasting, communications, digital services, and open government. ‘‘I’m enormously grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, first as an Opposition MP and then in Government as a minister.

‘‘I’m proud I was able to advance much needed reforms to public broadcasting and the digital economy and lay the groundwork to deliver more transparent government, so sorely needed at a time of entrenched cynicism toward politics and politicians.’’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern thanked her for her service to the party. ‘‘You’d be hard pressed to find someone more genuine and passionate about the work she did on public broadcasting, technology issues and as a representative for the place she loved – South Dunedin.’’