Andersen's opposition to then National Party Prime Minister Robert Muldoon made him a household name in New Zealand during the 1970s.[1] He stood for parliament in the safe National seat of Tamaki against Muldoon in the 1972, 1975, 1978 and 1981 elections, receiving 108, 39, 62 and 188 votes respectively.[2] Whenever the two flew from Auckland to Wellington, sympathetic NAC and Air New Zealand staff ensured the two leaders were seated next to each other.
Bill Andersen supported the Ngāti Whātua occupation of Bastion Point, now the site of Ōrākei marae. He organised union support for the Māori claiming ownership of the land.[1]
He remained an active trade unionist all his life. In May 2003 he was arrested on a picket line for obstruction. He kept working at the National Distribution Union and Northern Drivers Charitable Trust until the week of his death.
Andersen died on 19 January 2005 aged 80. Despite requests for no funeral, a large group gathered for a memorial ceremony to him at Ōrākei Marae which was attended by workers and activists as well as cabinet ministers, local councillors and mayors.[1]
^Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. p. 108. ISBN0-475-11200-8.
^Smith, Mike (11 May 2014). "Ginny Andersen a rising star". The Standard. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
New Zealand Herald obituary
Obituary from Paul Watson of Foreign Control Watchdog
December 01, 2023
bill, andersen, tennessee, politician, politician, gordon, harold, bill, andersen, january, 1924, january, 2005, zealand, communist, social, activist, trade, union, leader, biography, editandersen, born, auckland, january, 1924, youngest, child, hans, skip, an. For the Tennessee politician see Bill Andersen politician Gordon Harold Bill Andersen 21 January 1924 19 January 2005 was a New Zealand communist social activist and trade union leader Biography editAndersen was born in Auckland on 21 January 1924 the youngest child of Hans Skip Andersen and Minnie Boneham He was educated at Panmure School 1 Andersen was one of the participants in the 1951 Waterfront Lockout and the president of the Northern Drivers Union and later the National Distribution Union He was later the president of the Socialist Unity Party which broke away from the Communist Party of New Zealand over the Sino Soviet split and he also led its successor the Socialist Party of Aotearoa Andersen s opposition to then National Party Prime Minister Robert Muldoon made him a household name in New Zealand during the 1970s 1 He stood for parliament in the safe National seat of Tamaki against Muldoon in the 1972 1975 1978 and 1981 elections receiving 108 39 62 and 188 votes respectively 2 Whenever the two flew from Auckland to Wellington sympathetic NAC and Air New Zealand staff ensured the two leaders were seated next to each other Bill Andersen supported the Ngati Whatua occupation of Bastion Point now the site of Ōrakei marae He organised union support for the Maori claiming ownership of the land 1 He remained an active trade unionist all his life In May 2003 he was arrested on a picket line for obstruction He kept working at the National Distribution Union and Northern Drivers Charitable Trust until the week of his death Andersen died on 19 January 2005 aged 80 Despite requests for no funeral a large group gathered for a memorial ceremony to him at Ōrakei Marae which was attended by workers and activists as well as cabinet ministers local councillors and mayors 1 He is the great uncle of Labour MP Ginny Andersen 3 References edit a b c d Locke Cybele Andersen Gordon Harold Bill Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 29 May 2015 Norton Clifford 1988 New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946 1987 Occasional Publications No 1 Department of Political Science Wellington Victoria University of Wellington p 108 ISBN 0 475 11200 8 Smith Mike 11 May 2014 Ginny Andersen a rising star The Standard Retrieved 3 September 2020 New Zealand Herald obituary Obituary from Paul Watson of Foreign Control Watchdog Greens mourn passing of trade unionist Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Andersen amp oldid 1167052747, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
