Former Greens MP Keith Locke dies at 80

Keith Locke.
photo: Green Party

Former Greens MP Keith Locke has died in hospital at the age of 80.

Gary Locke served as a member of the British Parliament from 1999 to 2011 and is a well-known human rights and anti-war advocate.

His family said he had been ill for a long time and passed away peacefully in the early hours of this morning.

“He will be greatly missed by his partner Michelle, family, friends and colleagues. He always maintained an interest in and support for the causes he was passionate about.

“He was a man of integrity, courage and kindness who lived his values ​​in every aspect of his life. He touched the lives of many people in his political and activism work.”

The son of activists Elsie and Jack Locke, Keith was politically aware from an early age and took part in the first anti-nuclear and anti-apartheid marches in the 1960s.

After completing a master’s degree at the University of Alberta in Canada, he returned to New Zealand and left academia to edit a fortnightly newspaper for the League for Socialist Action, which he had joined as a meat worker and railway shop employee.

He joined New Labour in 1989, which later became part of the Coalition, and joined the Greens after they broke away from the Coalition in 1997, entering parliament as foreign affairs spokesman at the election two years later.

While in Parliament he was a strong critic of New Zealand’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan and the 2002 Terrorism Act, and championed refugee rights, including the case of Ahmed al-Zawi.

He has also long advocated that New Zealand become a republic and has introduced a bill to hold a referendum on the matter.

Critics named him “Backbencher of the Year” in 2002, an award he won again in 2010 from another outlet, and in 2003 named him “Politician of the Year” and in 2004 “Conscience of the Year”.

He was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021 for services to human rights advocacy and has been awarded the Human Rights Defender designation by Amnesty International New Zealand 2012 Awardand the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand 2013 Harmony Award.

Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick said in a statement on Friday that Locke was a close friend and historic leader of the Green Party who was always steadfast in holding governments and those in power to account.

They said: “Keith will be deeply missed by the Green Party as a colleague and friend. He has been a shining light for people and planet rights. Keith Locke leaves behind a legacy that his family and all who knew him should be proud of. Moe mai ra e te rangatira.”

“From 1999 to 2011, he made outstanding contributions to our party and worked extremely hard to advance the core causes of our party,” they said.

“Keith has not only been dedicated to defending civil liberties at home, but has also vigilantly followed human rights crises in other countries, including the Philippines, East Timor, West Papua, and Latin America.

“We particularly recognise his strong and unequivocal opposition to the war in Iraq and his commitment to New Zealand’s independent and principled foreign policy.”

They say he is exemplified by his work as a fearless defender of civil liberties and his efforts to challenge excessive government intrusions into citizens’ privacy.

“Keith has worked tremendously to advance reform of our nation’s security and BroadCast Unitedligence services. While there is still much work to be done, the improvements in transparency over the past two decades are largely due to his advocacy and efforts. We will honour his legacy by ensuring this work continues.”

Former minister Peter Dunne said on social media he was “deeply saddened” to learn of Locke’s death.

“Despite our being on different ideological planets, we always got along and worked well together on a number of issues. I have always had great respect for Keith’s integrity and honesty. Rest in peace, friend.”

Auckland councillor Christine Fletcher said she was also saddened to hear of the death of her “Mt Eden neighbour”.

“We worked on several political campaigns together in the 1990s. Keith was a thoughtful, sincere and decent man. My condolences go to Keith’s partner Michelle, his sister Mary Leadbitter and his partner Graeme East.”

Wellington Peace Action said Locke was a tireless campaigner for peace and justice and it was “deeply saddened” by his death.

“We will miss his voice and presence,” the group wrote on social media.

“He’s fearless. He speaks with passion because he was exposed to state surveillance from a young age, so he knows very well how extensive and dangerous the state’s influence on people’s lives is.

“We are grateful for Keith’s amazing family, who have a long history of activism for peace and justice. He was a kind man and we will miss him.”