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Gordon Christie

Summary

Gordon Christie MBE JP (27 August 1914 – 13 June 2001) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Gordon Christie
MBE JP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Napier
In office
26 November 1966 – 28 November 1981
Preceded byJim Edwards
Succeeded byGeoff Braybrooke
Personal details
Born27 August 1914
New Zealand
Died13 June 2001
Taupō, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
SpouseBetty Bowers
Children3
ProfessionTrade unionist

Biography edit

Early life and career edit

Christie was born on 27 August 1914. He received his education at Nelson Park School and Napier Technical College. He was on the executive of the North Island Waterfront Association for six years, and president of the Napier Watersiders Union for ten years from 1957 to 1967. He was a member of the Napier Port Conciliation Committee, and vice-chairman of the Napier Port Safety Committee.[1] At the 1965 local body elections he stood for a seat on the Napier Harbour Board, but was unsuccessful.[2]

Member of Parliament edit

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1966–1969 35th Napier Labour
1969–1972 36th Napier Labour
1972–1975 37th Napier Labour
1975–1978 38th Napier Labour
1978–1981 39th Napier Labour

He represented the electorate of Napier in Parliament from 1966 to 1981, when he retired and was succeeded by Geoff Braybrooke.[3] Both Christie and Braybrooke were described as Labour "stalwarts who effectively held the electorate in a tight grip".[4]

During his time in parliament Christie was noted as a reliable and hard-working constituency member.[5] Christie was responsible for the establishment of the Kennedy Park motel complex in Napier (consisting of motels, caravan sites, camp sites, and cabins) by putting a local Bill through the House.[6] Parliamentary colleague Warren Freer described him as a solid and dependable MP who was a consistent and practical advocator for his constituents needing assistance as well as being a most conscientious select committee member.[7] During the 1972–75 Parliament he was chairman of the Petitions select committee.[8] He would constantly raise issues in caucus when policies would adversely affect the least fortunate in society. During the Third Labour Government (1972–75), together with Palmerston North MP Joe Walding, he coined the phrase "if it adversely effects them, it's bad policy".[9]

After the surprise defeat of the Third Labour Government in 1975, Labour leader Bill Rowling designated Christie Shadow Minister of Police.[10] In September 1977 he was part of the New Zealand delegation that attended the annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held in Ottawa.[11]

Later life and death edit

In 1977, Christie was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.[12] He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1985 New Year Honours, for public and community service.[13] In 1990, he was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[12]

Christie died at Taupō on 13 June 2001.[14] He was predeceased by his wife Betty (née Bowers) (1924–1997),[15] with whom he had three children.[1]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Traue, James Edward, ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 83.
  2. ^ "Napier Harbour Board". The Dominion. 11 October 1965. p. 7.
  3. ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 189. OCLC 154283103.
  4. ^ Moroney, Roger (4 November 2011). "Election 2011: Napier electorate". Hawke's Bay Today. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  5. ^ Grant 2014, p. 105.
  6. ^ "NZPD". New Zealand Parliamentary Debates. 24 March 1993. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  7. ^ Freer 2004, pp. 142–3.
  8. ^ "Aircraft Noise - No action on petition". The Press. Vol. CXIII, no. 33249. 12 June 1973. p. 15.
  9. ^ Freer 2004, p. 224.
  10. ^ "Surprises Among Party Spokesmen". The New Zealand Herald. 30 January 1976. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Conference in Ottawa". The Press. 25 August 1977. p. 10.
  12. ^ a b Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 98. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  13. ^ "No. 49970". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1984. p. 2.
  14. ^ "Obituary—Gordon Christie". Hansard. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  15. ^ "Land Transfers/Joint Family Homes". New Zealand Gazette. 10 November 1994. p. 3489. Retrieved 29 August 2015.

References edit

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Napier
1966–1981 		Succeeded by