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Darroch Ball

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Darroch Ball
9th President of New Zealand First
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 December 2020
LeaderWinston Peters
Preceded byKristin Campbell-Smith
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for List
In office
20 September 2014 – 17 October 2020
Personal details
Born1982 (age 41–42)
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyNew Zealand First
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Auckland

Darroch Leicester Ball (born 1982) is a New Zealand politician who was elected to the New Zealand parliament at the 2014 general election as a representative of New Zealand First. He became the party's interim president in December 2020.[1]

Early life

Ball was born and raised in Auckland. He attended Liston College (1996–1999) in Henderson, before graduating with a bachelor's degree majoring in biological science from the University of Auckland.[2] He was an army officer and then became a science teacher at Waiopehu College.[2][3] He is on the board of trustees of Linton Camp School.[4]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2014–2017 51st List 10 NZ First
2017–2020 52nd List 5 NZ First

Ball was the NZ First electorate committee vice-chairman in Palmerston North.[5] In October 2013, he was elected the party's vice-president for the North Island.[6] He stood in the Palmerston North electorate in the 2014 election and was elected from the New Zealand First list, where he was ranked 10th.[3]

His party spokesperson portfolios have included "Research, Science and Technology," "Social Policy/Welfare," Civil Defence and Emergency Issues, Consumer Affairs, and Youth Affairs.[7]

Ball also hosts a weekly radio programme about New Zealand politics on Access Manawatu, his local community radio station.[8]

During the 2017 general election, Ball contested Palmerston North again, coming third place.[9] He was re-elected into Parliament on the New Zealand First party list.[10]

During the 2020 general election held on 17 October, Ball unsuccessfully contested Palmerston North, coming fifth place.[11] He and his fellow NZ First MPs lost their seats after the party's vote dropped to 2.6%, below the five percent threshold needed to enter Parliament.[12][13] Two months after the election, NZ First president Kristin Campbell-Smith resigned, and Ball became the party's interim president, saying he expected to hold the role until the party's 2021 annual general meeting.[1]

Ball put himself forward as a candidate in a by-election for a seat on the Palmerston North City Council due to occur in February 2021.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "President and secretary general resign from NZ First". Stuff. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b Matthew Grocott (22 September 2014). "MP Ball needs introducing". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  3. ^ a b Bennett, Adam (21 September 2014). "Election results 2014: Winston Peters blames Labour and Greens for rout". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. ^ "The Board of Trustees". Linton Camp School. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Uni more than 'beer and skittles'". Manawatu Standard. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. ^ "New Zealand First selects new President" (Press release). New Zealand First. Voxy.co.nz. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Darroch Ball". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Issues and current affiars". Association of Community Access Broadcasters. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Palmerston North – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  10. ^ "2017 General Election – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Palmerston North – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Owen, Catrin (18 October 2020). "Election 2020: Who are the MPs ejected from Parliament?". Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  14. ^ Rankin, Janine (23 December 2020). "Former MP stands in a field of 11 for Palmerston North council seat". Manawatu Standard. Stuff. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Kristin Campbell Smith
 President of New Zealand First
2020–present 		Incumbent
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