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| Andrew Little | |
|---|---|
| Name | Andrew Little |
| Birth date | 1961-05-07 |
| Birth place | Dunedin |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Trade unionist, Politician |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Party | New Zealand Labour Party |
Andrew Little Andrew Little is a New Zealand lawyer, trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held senior roles within the New Zealand Labour Party and New Zealand government. He led the New Zealand Labour Party as its parliamentary leader before serving in the cabinets of Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins. Little's career spans legal practice, industrial advocacy with E tū (union) predecessor organisations, and portfolio management in portfolios including Justice and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.
Born in Dunedin and raised in the South Island, Little attended secondary school before studying law at the University of Otago. At Otago he engaged with student organisations and community groups linked to labour and rights issues, developing connections to figures associated with the New Zealand Labour Party and the trade union movement. His legal education led to admission to the bar and early employment with legal practices involved in employment and industrial matters.
Little worked as a litigator and adviser in employment and health and safety matters, representing employees and unions in disputes before institutions such as the Employment Court of New Zealand and engagement with agencies including MBIE-aligned processes. He moved into full-time union leadership, becoming a senior official with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions affiliate bodies and later serving as the national secretary of E tū (union) predecessors, where he negotiated collective agreements, engaged with employers in sectors like manufacturing and aviation, and coordinated campaigns with groups such as Unite Here-style international affiliates. His union career brought him into regular interaction with the International Labour Organization-aligned networks and national employers' organisations.
Drawing on union profile and connections with New Zealand Labour Party activists, Little transitioned into parliamentary politics, contesting selection processes alongside MPs and candidates from electorate associations such as those in Wellington and Christchurch. He was placed on the party list and selected for candidacy in line with internal mechanisms used by the New Zealand Labour Party and its national executive, engaging with figures from the party caucus including senior strategists and constituency organisers linked to campaigns in general elections contested against the New Zealand National Party and minor parties like ACT New Zealand and the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
As a Member of Parliament, Little served on select committees and took part in legislative scrutiny involving bills introduced by ministers from administrations led by prime ministers including John Key and Bill English. His parliamentary work intersected with chairing or membership roles that required liaison with parliamentary officials, opposition MPs from the National Party and crossbenchers, and stakeholder groups such as community legal clinics and union delegations. He stood in electorate contests against candidates selected by the National Party and minor party hopefuls, while also contributing to caucus policy development on justice and industrial relations.
Elected by caucus as leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, Little succeeded leaders who had contended with electoral defeats and rebuilding efforts, coordinating with party president structures and national council figures. His leadership involved engagement with media organisations like RNZ and TVNZ, interactions with trade union federations including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, and strategising for general elections against opposition leaders such as those from the National Party and ACT New Zealand. During his tenure he worked closely with senior MPs who later assumed cabinet under Jacinda Ardern.
Following a change of government, Little was appointed to cabinet portfolios including Justice and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, taking part in law reform processes, oversight of the New Zealand Police interface with the justice system, and negotiation frameworks with iwi and hapū that engage with the Waitangi Tribunal. His ministerial responsibilities required interaction with officials in departments such as the Ministry of Justice and agencies handling legislative drafting, and collaboration with colleagues on cross-portfolio initiatives touching on criminal justice reform, victim support frameworks, and Treaty settlements.
Little's positions on industrial relations, law reform and Treaty negotiations placed him at the centre of debates involving unions, employer groups like BusinessNZ, iwi representatives, and civil liberties organisations. Controversies during his career included public scrutiny over prosecutorial and policing matters debated in the media outlets Stuff and The New Zealand Herald, parliamentary questions raised by opposition figures including MPs from the National Party and criticism from commentators aligned with think tanks and advocacy groups. He engaged with inquiries and reviews convened by statutory bodies and parliamentary select committees addressing contentious policy areas.
Little's personal life has included residence details in the Wellington Region and involvement with community and cultural organisations connected to labour and justice causes. He has received acknowledgements from union networks and civic groups, and his service has been noted in party histories and institutional records maintained by organisations such as the New Zealand Parliament and the New Zealand Law Society.
Category:New Zealand politicians Category:New Zealand trade unionists