Bill Andersen
Gordon Harold "Bill" Andersen (21 January 1924 – 19 January 2005) was a New Zealand communist, social activist and trade union leader. He was born in Auckland and became involved in labor activism from a young age. He took part in the 1951 Waterfront Lockout and later led the Northern Drivers' Union, and then the National Distribution Union.
Andersen led the Socialist Unity Party after it split from the Communist Party of New Zealand over the Sino-Soviet split, and he later led its successor, the Socialist Party of Aotearoa. He became widely known in the 1970s for opposing Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. He stood for Parliament in Tamaki in the 1972, 1975, 1978 and 1981 elections, but was not elected.
He supported the Ngāti Whātua occupation of Bastion Point and helped organise union backing for Māori land claims. He remained active in unions throughout his life. In May 2003 he was arrested during a picket. He continued working with the National Distribution Union and the Northern Drivers Charitable Trust until the week before his death.
He died on 19 January 2005, aged 80. A large memorial ceremony at Ōrākei Marae brought together workers, activists and public figures. He was the great-uncle of Labour MP Ginny Andersen.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 12:15 (CET).