Career
She has also contested the Clutha-Southland seat since it was created in the 1996 election, placing second to National"s Bill English on each occasion. She entered Parliament upon the retirement of Jonathan Hunt, being declared elected on 4 April 2005 and sworn in the following day. In the 2005 election, Soper had hoped to contest the Invercargill seat, but was defeated in the nomination process by Wayne Harpur.
Her position on the 2005 list was forty-fifth, and she did not return to parliament until 2007.
Soper stood in the Invercargill electorate in the 2008, 2011, and 2014 elections, twice beaten by National"s Eric Roy and then by Sarah Dowie. After her 2014 defeat, Soper declared that she would not stand again.
In addition to serving as Women"s Vice President of the Labour Party, Soper has worked for the Council of Trade Unions and the New Zealand Educational Institute. She has also served on the Southland District Health Board.
