Chris Laidlaw

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Chris Laidlaw
Chris Laidlaw (422399075).jpg
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Wellington Central
In office
1992 – 1993
Preceded by Fran Wilde
Succeeded by (seat abolished)
Personal details
Born (1943-11-16) 16 November 1943 (age 80)
Dunedin, New Zealand
Political party Labour
Relations Sue Kedgley (sister-in-law)

Christopher Robert Laidlaw (born 16 November 1943) is a New Zealand politician and former rugby union player, Rhodes Scholar, public servant, diplomat and radio host.

Early life

Laidlaw was born in Dunedin and schooled at King's High School from 1957 to 1961, where he played in the first rugby team.[1]

Laidlaw attended Otago University from 1962 to 1966, after which he went overseas with the All Blacks. In 1969 he took up his Rhodes Scholarship at Merton College, Oxford.

Rugby union career

Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
School King's High School
University University of Otago
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Halfback
New Zealand No. 641
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
1962-66
1969		 Otago University
Oxford University
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1962–67
1968		 Otago
Canterbury		 50
1
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1963–70  New Zealand 20 (12)

Described as a rugby prodigy, Laidlaw was immediately selected for the University A side in 1962 upon leaving school. Such was the impact of his play that during the same year he played for an Otago representative side, for a South Island regional side, and for New Zealand Universities. Personal training sessions with former All Black Charlie Saxton endowed Laidlaw with "a marvellous pass and an accurate kick from forward base".[1]

Not yet 20, Laidlaw made his debut for the All Blacks in 1963 on their tour of Britain and France. Although chosen as reserve to the incumbent half-back and vice-captain, Kevin Briscoe, Laidlaw's performances catapulted him into selection for a test against France and a match against the Barbarians.[1]

In all, Laidlaw played 57 matches for the All Blacks, including 20 internationals. He captained the team on three occasions: a test against Australia in 1969 and games against Victoria and South-West Africa in 1969 and 1970, respectively.

Civil servant

In 1972, Laidlaw joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and served as Assistant to Commonwealth Secretary-General Sonny Ramphal who he described in 1999 as "far and away the most brilliant man I have ever met." (Rights of passage : beyond the New Zealand identity crisis : Laidlaw, Chris, Auckland, N.Z. : Hodder Moa Beckett, 1999. p. 80)

In 1977 at during a diplomatic cocktail party in New York Laidlaw says the then NZ Prime Minister Robert Muldoon drunkenly harassed him, jabbing his finger in Laidlaw's chest. Muldoon was angry about Laidlaw's public comments criticising apartheid. Laidlaw says he grabbed Muldoon by the lapels and propelled him against the wall saying something like "If you ever touch me again I'll knock your teeth out." Muldoon glared at him, turned on his heel and walked out. (Rights of passage: beyond the New Zealand identity crisis: Laidlaw, Chris, Auckland, N.Z.: Hodder Moa Beckett, 1999. p. 103)

In 1986, Laidlaw became New Zealand's first resident High Commissioner to Harare, representing New Zealand's interests throughout Africa. In 1989, Laidlaw was appointed Race Relations Conciliator.

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
1992–1993 43rd Wellington Central Labour


Laidlaw won the Wellington Central by-election in 1992, following the election of Fran Wilde to the Wellington mayoralty. He failed to win re-election (to the renamed Wellington-Karori electorate) in the 1993 General election, losing to National's Pauline Gardiner.

Laidlaw is a supporter of a New Zealand republic. In 1997 he published remarks allegedly made to him by Prince Charles during his visit of that year, which appeared to show the Prince implicitly supports a New Zealand republic. Laidlaw later published the claim in his book Rights of Passage, and again in his New Zealand Herald column in March 2005, during Prince Charles' visit. No comment was made by the Prince as to the veracity of the comments.

Wellington regional councillor

Laidlaw is a councillor and chair of the Wellington Regional Council, representing the Wellington constituency. He was elected at the New Zealand local elections, 2007 with 24,757 votes, the greatest number of votes for any candidate that year.[2] He was re-elected in 2010 with 24,838 votes[3] and again in 2013.[4]

Broadcasting

Laidlaw hosted Radio New Zealand National's Sunday Morning programme from 2000 to 2013.[5]

Family

Laidlaw is married to Helen Kedgley, and is a brother-in-law of former Green MP Sue Kedgley. He has two children.

See also

References

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External links

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Wellington Central
1992–1993		 Vacant
Constituency abolished, recreated in 1996
Title next held by
Richard Prebble
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