From 2001 she studied at the University of Otago, graduating with a BA (Hons) in English and Politics, as well as winning a Blue for her achievements with the Otago University Debating Society.[2] In 2005 she was the editor of student magazine Critic Te Ārohi, the year's winner of the Aotearoa Student Press Association's award for Best Student Publication.[5] In September 2005 Critic's annual "Offensive Issue" included a fictional diary of a man who used drugs to stupefy and rape women. The Office of Film and Literature Classification banned the issue in early 2006, after Walker's tenure as editor had ended. At the time of the ban she said the article was "defendable in that it highlights a very important issue",[6] but when Critic interviewed her in 2012 she called it "a mistake to publish that particular article the way that we did".[7]
She moved from Dunedin to Wellington and in 2006 began working as a media adviser to the Green Party.[8] The next year she moved to the Office of Treaty Settlements, working as an analyst.[1] 2007 also saw her named a Rhodes scholar,[9] leading to a master's degree in Developmental Studies from the University of Oxford, awarded in 2007.[1][8][10]
After two years in Oxford, Walker returned to New Zealand and the Green Party. She spent 2009–11 as a Political and Media Adviser to the party's MPs, leading a poverty research project for the party, and she co-convened the Young Greens of Aotearoa in 2010.[8][10]
Walker talking to Bryce Edwards at University of Otago Vote Chat in 2011
Placed twelfth on the Green Party list for the 2011 election,[11] Walker was elected to Parliament when the Greens gained 14 seats.[12] She gave her maiden speech in February 2012.[13]
On 5 April 2012, Walker's Lobbying Disclosure Bill was drawn from the ballot of private members' bills and introduced to Parliament.[14][15][16] It had originally been written by Sue Kedgley, but was narrowed in scope under Walker.[17] The bill was modelled on a Canadian law, with similar legislation in Australia and America also being an influence. Its intention was to make interactions between MPs and lobbyists more transparent.[18] It passed its first reading but was rejected by a parliamentary select committee in August 2013.[17]
In January 2013 Walker unveiled the Green Party's Home for Life scheme, aimed at getting low income earners into their own homes.[19] By the end of the Parliamentary term she was Green Party spokesperson for Housing, Electoral Reform, Children, Open Government, Arts Culture & Heritage, and Students.[20]
Three months before the 2014 general election, Walker withdrew from the Green Party list, citing "a recent unexpected change in my family life".[21] She had been placed twelfth – high enough to be returned to Parliament.[22] She remained the party's (unsuccessful) candidate for Hutt South, campaigning only for the party vote, and did not rule out a return to politics.[23][24]
Career after politics
After stepping down as a Green MP, Walker worked at the Office of the Children's Commissioner, and began a blog reviewing books written by women.[25] She has written that she wishes to return to public life when family commitments allow her to:
One day – when time and family permits – I hope to step back onto a public stage, whether in politics or in some other sphere, if for no other reason than I’m an A-type personality, and I like it. Until then, I’ll fiercely support and encourage other women to combine parenting and politics if they want to and think they can. More representative parliaments make better decisions, so we need as many mothers in there as we can get. But I’ll also tell them straight: it’s damn hard. And if it’s too hard, it’s ok. The world’s fight is being fought on many fronts, and front and centre is only one of them.[25]
In 2015 she first contributed to website The Spinoff, reviewing books, interviewing authors, and writing other articles.[26] In 2016 she launched a parenting podcast, Dear Mamas, co-hosted with Emily Writes, and contributed book reviews to Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme.[27][28][29]
Walker's first book, The Whole Intimate Mess: Motherhood, Politics, and Women's Writing, was launched in June 2017. It describes her experiences while trying to combine motherhood and her career as an MP, including post-natal depression and instances of intentional self-injury.[31]
She is one of two editors of Reconnecting Aotearoa: Loneliness and Connection in the Age of Social Distance, which is due to be released by BWB in September 2023.[32]
Family life
Walker is in a civil union with David Haines.[33] They live in Petone with their 2 daughters.[34][35]
