Jim Gerard

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Richard James (Jim) Gerard, QSO (born 20 October 1936) is a former New Zealand politician. He was a National Party Member of Parliament from 1984 to 1997.

Early life

Gerard was born on 20 October 1936 in Canterbury.[1] His father was the National MP Richard Geoffrey Gerard. Gerard received his education at Christ's College and then became a sheep farmer in Cheviot. He held several roles with Federated Farmers.[2]

Political career

Gerard served on the Oxford County Council for some time. He was the National Party chair of the Rangiora electorate for eight years.[2]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
1984–1987 41st Rangiora National
1987–1990 42nd Rangiora National
1990–1993 43rd Rangiora National
1993–1996 44th Rangiora National
1996–1997 45th List 17 National

He was first elected to Parliament in the 1984 election, replacing the retiring Derek Quigley in the Rangiora electorate.[3] He remained MP for Rangiora until the 1996 election, when the electorate was abolished. Gerard was unsuccessful in his campaign for the new Waimakariri electorate, losing to former Labour Party leader Mike Moore. He remained in Parliament as a list MP.

In 1990, Gerard was elected Chairman of Committees. Until 1992, the Chairman of Committees was known as the Deputy Speaker only when presiding over the House. On 10 November 1992, the position of Deputy Speaker was made official under the Standing Orders, and the role of Chairman of Committees was discontinued, with Gerard becoming the first Deputy Speaker.[4] He held that role until 13 December 1996.

In April 1997, he resigned from Parliament to become New Zealand's High Commissioner to Canada in Ottawa.[5] He was replaced by the next candidate on National's party list, Annabel Young. In the 1999 New Year Honours, Gerard was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public service.[6]

Waimakariri District

Gerard was elected Mayor of Waimakariri in 2001. He was re-elected in 2004, but lost the mayoralty in 2007 to Ron Keating.[5][7] In October 2010, he was elected councillor for Waimakariri.[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Who’s Who in the New Zealand Parliament 1993 by the Parliamentary Service, Wellington NZ
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gustafson 1986, p. 313.
  3. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 199.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 1999 New Year Honours List, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

References

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Political offices
Preceded by Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives
1990–1992		 Position abolished
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Rangiora
1984–1996		 Electorate abolished
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