Kerry Prendergast
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Kerry Prendergast CNZM JP |
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|---|---|
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| 33rd Mayor of Wellington | |
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In office 2001–2010 |
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| Deputy | Alick Shaw (2001-07) Ian McKinnon (2007-10) |
| Preceded by | Mark Blumsky |
| Succeeded by | Celia Wade-Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
28 March 1953 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse(s) | Paul Francis Prendegast |
| Children | 3 |
Kerry Leigh Prendergast (née Ferrier), CNZM JP (born 28 March 1953) was the 33rd Mayor of Wellington City between 2001 and 2010, succeeding Mark Blumsky. She was the second woman to hold the position, after Fran Wilde.
Prendergast was born in Christchurch but grew up in Tawa, attending Tawa College (1966–69), where she was captain of the college netball team. She qualified as a registered nurse and then trained as a midwife and was later awarded the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society Long Service Award in 1991. She has also been a voluntary grief counsellor. She holds a MBA degree from Victoria University of Wellington.
Prendergast started her political life as a Tawa Borough councillor in 1986. In 1989 she was elected to Wellington City Council and was re-elected every three years until 2010. In 1995 Prendergast became Deputy Mayor to Mark Blumsky.
In the 1999 general election Prendergast stood as a National list candidate, ranked 30th on the party's list. However, the National Party did not gain enough of the party vote for Prendergast to enter Parliament. She considered running again at the 2002 election, but in 2001 Mark Blumsky announced his intention not to run for the mayoralty again, and endorsed Prendergast's mayoralty candidacy.
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