Julie Hardaker

Background

Hardaker was born in 1960 (age 55–56) and grew up near Rotorua.

Education

She graduated from the University of Waikato Faculty of Law in 1995 as the top law student with Bachelor of Laws Honours

Career

Born in New Zealand, she was self-employed in Australia in the 1980s. She is involved in various community organisations at a governance level As a political novice, she defeated former Mayor and experienced politician Bob Simcock in the 2010 New Zealand local government elections.

She was returned to power capturing 43.6% of the valid mayoral votes cast.

She lived in Australia during the 1980s, where she was self-employed in retail. She initially specialised in dispute resolution, before turning her attention to employment law.

She chaired the law firm"s governance board, and at the time of her election as Mayor of Hamilton, she was in charge of finance. Before her election as Mayor, she was the chairperson of the Waikato Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Hardaker is married to Steven Perdia, who is father to two boys, Jordan and Spencer, living in Australia.

Hardaker entered the 2010 mayoral contest as a political newcomer, one of six candidates.

He had been appointed Mayor in 2007 following the resignation of his predecessor, and had represented Hamilton West in Parliament from 1996 until his defeat in 2002. Hardaker campaigned for opening the books on the V8"s, transparent government, city living and making the Waikato River accessible. Of the 33,000 votes cast Hardaker and Simcock received 13,626 and 12,670, respectively, a majority of 956 votes and representing about 41% for Hardaker.

A year into her reign, an opinion poll by the Waikato Times showed an almost unchanged level of support, with 40% of the respondents stating they would vote for her again if an election were held tomorrow.

She stood for re-election in the 2013 mayoral election. Her manifesto for her second term was managing finances, implementing the Waikato River Plan and investing in the city.

The three way battle between incumbent Hardaker, Ewan Wilson and David Macpherson narrowed when trailing Macpherson asked his supporters to shift their vote to Wilson which Hardaker called political game playing and claimed it made a mockery of the election process.

Membership

Hardaker has served on the boards of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated. She has been a member of the Street Peters School Board of Trustees, and has been on the board of Habitat for Humanity Waikato.

Connections

opponent:

Ewan Wilson

rival:

Lewis Chapman

Partner:

Bob Simcock