Education
University of Kent; University of Auckland.
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Ann Hercus
Edit ProfileCareer
Her parents were Horace and Mary (née Ryan) Sayers. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Auckland and a law degree from the University of Kent at Canterbury. When Warren Freer the Minister of Trade and Industry in the Third Labour Government wanted a woman rather than the men proposed by the department for appointment to the Price Tribunal in 1973, Hercus was recommended by Tom McGuigan.
Her ability impressed Freer, so he later appointed her to the Commerce Commission and his successor Lance Adams-Schneider made her the deputy chairman.
From 1988 to 1990, she was Ambassador and Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations. In 1998, she was appointed Deputy Special Representative and Chief of Mission of the United Nations operation in Cyprus.
She resigned for family reasons in 1999. In 2005, information on salary rates of senior Television New Zealand staff was leaked, Hercus was named as the source.
She resigned in protest from the board of Television New Zealand over the pay rates.
She resigned from the board a second time a year later, hours after former Chief Executive Officer Ian Fraser reported on board dysfunction to a parliamentary select committee. Hercus is the spokesperson for "Save our Arts Centre" (SOAC), an organisation opposing the development of a School of Music for the University of Canterbury at the Christchurch Arts Centre. Hercus now resides in Nelson, New Zealand.
Achievements
Membership
Hercus was the Member of Parliament for Lyttelton from 1978 to 1987, and the Minister of Social Welfare, Police and Women"s Affairs from 1984 to 1987 in ther Fourth Labour Government, the first woman to hold the Police portfolio.
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Born
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Nationality
New Zealand -
Political Party
New Zealand Labour Party
Education
Awards
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Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, King George III.The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, King George III.