Jessica Hammond
Hammond protesting outside New Zealand Parliament, December 2020
Born1978 or 1979 (age 44–45)[1]
Wellington, New Zealand
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington
Years active2017–present
Political partyThe Opportunities Party

Jessica Hammond is a New Zealand public servant, perennial candidate, playwright, and blogger. Hammond stood for The Opportunities Party for Ōhāriu in the 2017 and 2020 general elections.[2][3]

Political history

2017 general election

In August 2017, Hammond announced that she would contest the Ōhāriu electorate during the 2017 New Zealand general election.[4]

She came third, with 2898 votes, 7.29% of 40,026 valid votes.[5][6] Hammond's campaign emerged as one of the strongest of the 26 The Opportunities Party (TOP) candidates, beating the candidates from the Green Party, New Zealand First, United Future, and ACT New Zealand in Ōhāriu.[7]

Following the election, Hammond stood in the 2018 Opportunities Party leadership election and came third at 13.25 percent (137 votes).[8]

2020 general election

Geoff Simmons took leadership of TOP and planned on rebuilding the party. Hammond returned to TOP.[9]

In January 2020, Hammond announced that she would contest the Ōhāriu electorate for TOP during the 2020 New Zealand general election.[10]

Hammond and Geoff Simmons announced a policy promising to reserve approximately $2.5b every year from central government's GST tax take for councils to spend on infrastructure.[11] They launched their policy in front of the Mt Victoria Tunnel which is a road link between Wellington's CBD and the airport that both National and Labour have promised to expand.[12]

Hammond contested Equality Network's Scorecard of each party's commitment to addressing inequality, which raised TOP's score from one star to one and a half, bringing it in line with Labour and Māori Party in second equal place.[13]

Hammond said the housing crisis in New Zealand was a "slow-moving crisis" ignored by both parties, because they didn't have the "guts" to fix it.[14]

She campaigned on redeveloping the Johnsonville Mall, which leaks when it rains.[15]

In September 2020, Hammond spoke at the Renters United protest on the Parliament lawn, also attended by Green Party's co-leader James Shaw. They protested the end to the Government's rent freeze, implemented in March under urgent coronavirus legislation, which allowed landlords to resume giving rent increase notices.[16] Hammond called for a mandatory warrant of fitness for rental properties and a greater focus on medium-density housing.[17][18]

She came third, with 4,443 votes, 10.18% of 43,646 valid votes. Hammond beat the candidates in Ōhāriu from the Green Party, New Zealand First, ACT New Zealand, New Conservatives, ONE Party, and Advance New Zealand.[19]

After the 2020 election

In December 2020, Hammond spoke at a protest outside Parliament designed to remind MPs of a recent survey by The Salvation Army where one in five Kiwis said they can't afford to celebrate Christmas. The demonstration has been organised by the United Community Action Network (UCAN) after more than 40 welfare and poverty charities signed an open letter to the Government pleading for them to increase welfare in the lead up to Christmas.[20]

2023 election

During the 2023 New Zealand general election, Hammond stood as The Opportunities Party's candidate in Ōhāriu. She ranked sixth on the party list.[21][22] On 18 September, Hammond took part in a Newstalk ZB-sponsored election debate with Labour Member of Parliament Greg O'Connor and National Member of Parliament Nicola Willis, who were also contesting the Ōhāriu electorate.[22]

On 14 October, Hammond came fourth place in Ōhāriu, receiving 2,975 votes.[23] TOP received 2.22% of the party vote, below the five percent threshold needed to enter Parliament.[24]

Personal life

Hammond was born in Wellington, New Zealand.[25] Hammond has qualifications in economics, psychology, and philosophy.[26] Hammond graduated with a Masters in Philosophy from Victoria University of Wellington and has 2 children.[27] Hammond is a Khandallah homeowner.[6] She works as a public servant.[25]

Hammond's daughters both have allergies and Hammond has written about the precautions taken as a parent to prevent reactions.[28]

In 2016, Hammond wrote the play Kiwiman and Robin, which was performed at Gryphon Theatre.[29] Inspired by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Hammond performed at an open mic stand-up comedy night in 2019.[30]

Electoral history

2017 Ōhāriu general election

2017 general election: Ōhāriu[31]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Greg O'Connor 17,084 42.97 +8.31 14,306 35.44 +12.03
National Brett Hudson 16,033 40.33 +23.83 18,277 45.28 −4.95
Opportunities Jessica Hammond 2,898 7.29 — 1,678 4.16 —
Green Tane Woodley 2,522 6.34 −1.11 3,881 9.61 −5.39
NZ First Lisa Close 751 1.89 +0.02 1,502 3.72 −1.05
United Future Bale Nadakuitavuki 284 0.71 −35.87 78 0.19 −0.54
ACT Andie Moore 185 0.47 −0.09 239 0.59 −0.18
Māori Party   186 0.46 −0.10
Conservative   71 0.18 −2.81
Legalise Cannabis   68 0.17 −0.22
Outdoors   23 0.06 —
Ban 1080   18 0.04 ±0.00
People's Party   13 0.03 —
Democrats   8 0.02 −0.04
Internet   8 0.02 −0.67[lower-alpha 1]
Mana Party   5 0.01 −0.68[lower-alpha 2]
Informal votes 305 84
Total Valid votes 39,757 40,361
Turnout 40,445
Labour gain from United Future Majority 1,051 2.64 +0.73

2020 Ōhāriu general election

2020 general election: Ōhāriu[32]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Greg O'Connor 22,937 52.55 +9.58 22,282 50.82 +15.38
National Brett Hudson 10,976 25.15 −15.18 9,732 22.20 −23.08
Opportunities Jessica Hammond 4,443 10.18 +2.89 1,221 2.79 −1.37
Green John Ranta 2,221 5.09 −1.25 5,940 13.55 +3.94
NZ First Tracey Martin 928 2.13 +0.24 824 1.88 −1.84
ACT Sean Fitzpatrick 809 1.85 +1.38 2,662 6.07 +5.48
New Conservative Philip Lynch 357 0.82 — 375 0.86 +0.68
ONE Allan Cawood 197 0.45 — 143 0.33 —
Advance NZ Jolene Smith 133 0.30 — 149 0.34 —
Not A Party Liam Walsh 49 0.11 —
Māori Party   153 0.35 −0.11
Legalise Cannabis   80 0.18 +0.01
Sustainable NZ   19 0.04 —
Vision New Zealand   17 0.04 —
Outdoors   15 0.03 —
TEA   12 0.03 —
Social Credit   8 0.02 ±0.00
Heartland   1 0.002 —
Informal votes 596 209
Total Valid votes 43,646 43,842
Turnout 43,989 87.73 +1.64
Labour hold Majority 11,961 27.40 +24.76

2018 Opportunities Party leadership election

Candidate Votes %
Geoff Simmons 678 65.57
Amy Stevens 206 19.92
Jessica Hammond-Doube 137 13.25
Donna Pokere-Phillips 11 1.06
Anthony Singh 2 0.19
Majority 472 45.64
Turnout 1,034 —

[33]

Notes

  1. ↑ 2017 Internet swing is relative to the votes for Internet Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana in the 2014 election.
  2. ↑ 2017 Mana swing is relative to the votes for Internet Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.

References

  1. ↑ "Compare the candidates for Ōhāriu —NZ Election 2020". Policy NZ. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "TOP Party Leader Geoff Simmons Will Stand For Rongotai In 2020 Election". Scoop.
  3. ↑ "'We don't have a sugar daddy anymore' - The Opportunity Party keep focus on policy, not personality politics post-Gareth Morgan" – via TVNZ.
  4. ↑ "TOP Announces Party List for 2017 General Election". Scoop (Press release). 28 August 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "E9 Statistics - Electorate Status". Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 "The battle for Ōhāriu: TOP is back, and it's hoping to spoil a fight between Labour and National". Stuff. 13 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Swinnen, Lucy (24 September 2017). "Party 'for a fairer New Zealand' falls flat, as Gareth Morgan's TOP falls far short of 5 per cent". Stuff. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "Parliamentary Leader Results" (PDF). d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Braae, Alex (31 March 2019). "Gareth Morgan gone for good: How TOP plans to rebuild".
  10. ↑ "TOP Announces First Candidates For 2020 Election". Scoop.
  11. ↑ "TOP promises GST returns for councils to help plug infrastructure deficit". The New Zealand Herald. 6 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Election 2020 latest: Parties exchange blows over Treasury numbers". Newsroom. 16 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Equality Network Lifts TOP's Score On Their Party Scorecard". Scoop.
  14. ↑ "TOP looks to turn the worm". Newsroom. 18 September 2020.
  15. ↑ "A four-way race in NZ's 'thinking electorate'". Newsroom. 14 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "Calls for rent control as renters bid farewell to Government's rent freeze with cake". Stuff. 25 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Farewell to rent rise freeze: Advocates call for limit and better housing". RNZ. 25 September 2020.
  18. ↑ "Rent rise freeze ends: Tenants see hike of '20 or 30 percent'". Otago Daily Times. 25 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "E9 Statistics - Electorate Status". Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "Protesters to descend on Parliament urging politicians to consider those less fortunate at Christmas". Newshub – via newshub.co.nz.
  21. ↑ "The Opportunities Party announces a fresh team to bring new ideas to Parliament at the 2023 General Election". The Opportunities Party. 4 August 2023. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Nicola Willis, Greg O'Connor and Jessica Hammond go head-to-head in a fiery Ōhāriu special of Politics Monday". Newstalk ZB. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  23. ↑ "Ōhāriu - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "2023 General Election - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  25. 1 2 Campbell, Georgina (27 September 2020). "Election 2020: All or nothing in Ōhāriu electorate as three MPs contest seat". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "Election 2020: Who are the candidates for the Ōhāriu electorate?". Stuff. 15 October 2020.
  27. ↑ "Jessica Hammond | Ōhāriu". TOP.
  28. ↑ Doube, Jessica Hammond (11 April 2017). "How to not kill my kids this Easter". Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  29. ↑ "KIWIMAN AND ROBIN - A lively show to stimulate play". theatreview.org.nz.
  30. ↑ Ward, Tara (13 July 2019). "The people inspired by extremely cool television to do extremely cool things".
  31. ↑ "Ōhāriu – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  32. ↑ "Ōhāriu – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  33. ↑ "Parliamentary Leader Results" (PDF). d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
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