Turner was first elected as a United Future list MP at the 2002 election.
In December 2004 United Future party members chose her as their deputy leader. In September 2005, Turner and Gordon Copeland became the only two United Future List MPs re-elected alongside Peter Dunne (who won an electorate seat). Although Copeland left the party in 2007, Turner indicated that she would remain within the United Future caucus.
In the 2008 election, Turner stood as a United Future candidate for the East Coast electorate.[3] However, she failed to win the electorate, and United Future did not poll sufficiently well for a second list MP during the 2008 New Zealand general election. As a consequence, Turner did not return to Parliament.
Member, Health select committee 27 August 2002 – 11 August 2005
Spokesperson, Drugs 2002–2005
Spokesperson, Family and Children 2002–2005
Spokesperson, Senior Citizens 2002–2005
Spokesperson, Social Services 2002–2005
Spokesperson, Women's Affairs 2002–2005
Spokesperson, Health 2005–2008
Spokesperson, Education and Research 2005–2008
Spokesperson, Family and Social Services 2005–2008
Spokesperson, Māori and Treaty Issues 2005–2008
Local political career
Turner was elected to Whakatāne District Council in the 2010 local elections[5] and served three terms (i.e. until 2019) as deputy mayor.[6] In the 2019 local elections, she won the mayoral election after the incumbent retired.[7]
Personal details
Born 2 August 1956, Turner is married with three adult children.[8] Before entering politics, she worked simultaneously as an art teacher and as a pastoral and community worker at a local New Life Church.
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