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Mojo MathersNew Zealand politician
Date of Birth: 23.11.1966
Country:  New Zealand |
Content:
- Mojo Mathers: A Pioneer in Deaf Politics
- Professional Career
- Political Activism
- Parliamentary Career
- Election as First Deaf MP
- Legislative Advocacy
- Portfolio Responsibilities
- Accessibility Initiatives
- Post-Parliamentary Life
Mojo Mathers: A Pioneer in Deaf Politics
Early Life and EducationMojo Mathers was born in London in 1966. Her birth name was Janka, but she adopted the name "Mojo" from the Muddy Waters song "Got My Mojo Working." After experiencing oxygen deprivation during a difficult birth, Mathers became profoundly deaf. She began lip-reading early in life and discovered New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) in the late 2000s.
Mathers holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Mathematics and a Master of Science in Forest Conservation.
Professional Career
Prior to entering politics, Mathers co-owned a small forestry services company from 2001 to 2006.
Political Activism
Mathers' political journey began after she settled in the Canterbury village of Coalgate. She became a vocal advocate against the construction of a large dam as part of a plan to transform the region into a dairy farming hub. Mathers founded the Malvern Hills Protection Society, which played a key role in halting the project.
Parliamentary Career
Electoral CampaignsMathers first ran for Parliament in the 2005 election, placing 16th on the Green Party list and receiving 1,631 votes. In 2008, she stood in the Christchurch East electorate, coming 13th with 1,843 votes.
In the 2011 election, Mathers was placed 14th on the party list and again contested Christchurch East. She came third in the electorate with 4.5% of the vote. However, her goal was to enter Parliament through the party list, which pre-election polls suggested the Greens could win 15 seats.
Election as First Deaf MP
On December 10, 2011, it was announced that while the preliminary vote count gave the Greens 13 seats, the large number of special votes influenced the outcome, and Mathers was elected to Parliament. She became the first deaf member of the New Zealand Parliament.
Legislative Advocacy
In Parliament, Mathers proposed legislation challenging the Environmental Protection Authority. She also lodged a protest against the Emissions Trading Amendment Bill, criticizing it for "locking in polluting corporations with massive subsidies while providing only weak incentives to reduce emissions."
Portfolio Responsibilities
Mathers' political interests included rural affairs, biodiversity, forests, water, wildlife, disability, and women's rights.
Accessibility Initiatives
As an MP, Mathers received an electronic note-taking device. Speaker Lockwood Smith planned to introduce captioning to assist deaf and hearing-impaired people to follow parliamentary proceedings. A draft Access to Electoral Information Bill providing financial assistance to parliamentary candidates with disabilities was developed and passed by Chloe Swarbrick after Mathers' departure.
Post-Parliamentary Life
Mathers lost her parliamentary seat in the 2017 election. She continues to advocate for disability rights and environmental protection.
