Lianne Dalziel graduated from UC with a Law degree and was admitted to the bar in 1985. She entered New Zealand Parliament in 1990. She first held the Christchurch Central seat, then served as a list MP, and finally served as the MP for Christchurch East until 2013, when she resigned to contest the Christchurch Mayoralty.
During her 23 years in the New Zealand Parliament, she served as Minister of Immigration, Minister for Senior Citizens, Minister for Disability Issues, Minister of Commerce, Small Business and Women’s Affairs, Minister of Food Safety and Associate Minister of Education and Justice.
Lianne was elected Mayor of Christchurch in the October 2013 Mayoral election, gaining re-election for a second term in 2016 until her retirement from politics in 2022.
