A Gentle Radical: The Life of Jeanette Fitzsimons

by Gareth Hughes

Major biography of Jeanette Fitzsimons, hugely influential leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Jeanette Fitzsimons was a visionary, a pioneer and a radical. This is the story of someone who battles National and Labour's lock on parliament and had the courage to challenge political sacred cows.

She was the co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand from 1995 to 2009, and a member of parliament from 1996 to 2010.

Highly regarded by all, she was the first (and, until recently, the only) Green MP to win an electorate seat. She died very suddenly and unexpectedly in 2020.

Fitzsimons is a unique figure in our political history yet someone whose personal story is still unknown.

How did a girl from a conservative rural family get to the front lines of radical political thought and then into the front benches of Parliament?
How did she become the first Green MP in the world to win an electorate seat?
How did she survive the brutal world of politics and get through the death of her co-leader Rod Donald?
How did the world's first national Green Party form in New Zealand, and what was Jeanette's role?
What can we learn from her politics and what did she think of the Green Party that followed her?

Fitzsimons lived a fascinating life, filled with moments of high political drama, and her example of how to navigate politics, adversity and triumph is more important than ever.

Genres: Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2022

Reviews

[Erica 🍉 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful account of Jeanette’s life and her deep commitment to protecting and restoring the climate. The stories bring the Green Party’s history to life and show the breadth and impact of Jeanette’s life’s work. I loved this book!

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Lots I learnt but particularly enjoyed the more recent parts where I was able to read a different perspective of events I remember. Some teary moments too.

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lively, informative biography of one of our most organic politicians, and a patron of Soil & Health after her parliamentary career. It’s also something of a de facto history of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, from its Values Party foundations in 1972, shortly after which, Jeanette Fitzsimons joined the party.
Author Gareth Hughes (himself a former Green MP) has chronicled the life, achievements, personality and determination of this respected stateswoman. Highlights include Jeanette’s climate action over four decades; establishing the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA); the moratorium on GE in the environment (2000–2003), and setting up the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.
The organic farm and eco home of Jeanette and her husband Harry Parke get a look-in too.

[Helen Varley · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have always admired jeanette fitzsimons for showing that it's possible to be a powerful force for change within government at the same time as maintaining a level of dignity and integrity that is less and less visible amongst politicians the world over. this book tells the story of her life and her political career, with a lot of interesting insights. it's very readable and a fitting tribute to one of our best contemporary politicians.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a member of the Green Party for the last 10 years, I really appreciated Gareth's telling of Jeanette's life - as an inspiration of what one person can do for community and planet under the Green Party values. Gareth has an easy going and informative style that led me through the history of the Green Party - something I had heard parts of before, but never threaded together so well. The details of Jeanette's life were so interesting for me of a similar age - she read all the same books in her 20s as I did ( and I assume many others did too) - and I often wondered what happened to all those ideas and ideals in the 1980s ff. In the 70s I just assumed that was the way the world was going. But no. But Jeanette kept at it and we are back at the same issues as the 70s now, thanks in part to Jeanettte not giving up.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only a history of Jeanette Fitzsimons, but a history of the Green Party of Aoteaora NZ. A fascinating insight into what it is to be a value based minority party in an adversarial political system. The book emphasizes Jeanettes ability to rise above the petty insults and bickering favored by politicians of other parties. This is something I really admired about Jeanette and wish more people with her integrity put their hands up to be MPs.

[Sheila Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about a wonderful woman. It’s very well written and gives the history of NZ politics from the 1960s on. Whatever your political stance this shows the sadly aggressive and oppositional behaviour of political wrangling. So often money, greed and power matter more than the planet and its poor and less powerful citizens. Jeanette stands out as a politician who never lost sight of what is most important.

[Freddie Sudell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An biography that says as much about New Zealand and it's politics as the woman it's about. I had to admire that through out her whole life, she was committed to environmentalism, and it truly seemed that she saw politics as a means to change. My only complaints about the book are some odd writing decisions here and there (there's one part where it said she grew up near a park named after Richard Seddon, and suggested that could've influenced her, and like come on who cares).

It's an engaging and revealing read, highly recommend to anyone interested in NZ politics, whether they're a greenie or not.

[Holly Bamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts inspiring, insightful, and upsetting - only because I wish I could have met her! What a fascinating window into how far the Green Party has come and an insight into where it might be heading next.

[Isabella Lenihan-Ikin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Janette was such an amazing woman and it was lovely to read about her life. Thanks for writing this Gareth, it is such an important account for an important and influential woman.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great insight into politics and a glimpse of a great woman.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving and comprehensive account of a notable New Zealand parliamentarian and environmental activist.

[Raewyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story of an inspirational woman ahead of her time

[Kathryn Fathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting if a bit too political for my liking. But to be expected

[Katie Potato · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great portrait of a wahine toa in NZ politics. Worth it to read, even as an overview of the recent history of the Green Party… what it did well, what it didn’t, and where to from here

[Kathryn]

This one sheds a lot of light on what was happening behind the scenes. It's explained a lot.

[Josh Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. Great introduction to green activism in Aotearoa and its influences. She is an O.G.