Kerry Burke

For other uses, see Kerry Burke (reporter).

For other people named Thomas Burke, see Thomas Burke (disambiguation).

The Honourable Sir Kerry Burke
22nd Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 1987–1990
Prime Minister	David Lange
Preceded by	Gerard Wall
Succeeded by	Robin Gray
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for West Coast
In office 1978 – 1990
Preceded by	Paddy Blanchfield
Succeeded by	Margaret Moir
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Rangiora
In office 1972 – 1975
Preceded by	Herbert Pickering
Succeeded by	Derek Quigley
Personal details
Born	(1942-03-24) 24 March 1942 Christchurch, New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Profession	Teacher

Sir Thomas Kerry Burke (born 24 March 1942) served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1987 to 1990. He was a member of the Labour Party, and served throughout the second term of the Fourth Labour Government.

Early life

Burke was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1960, he began three years of study at the University of Canterbury, after which he studied for a year at the Christchurch College of Education. He taught at Rangiora High School from 1967 to 1972 and at Greymouth High School from 1976 to 1978.

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1972–1975	37th	Rangiora		Labour
1978–1981	39th	West Coast		Labour
1981–1984	40th	West Coast		Labour
1984–1987	41st	West Coast		Labour
1987–1990	42nd	West Coast		Labour

Burke was first elected to Parliament as the Labour MP for Rangiora in the 1972 election. In the 1975 election, however, he lost his seat, and remained outside Parliament for three years. In the 1978 election, Burke was elected as the Labour MP for the West Coast electorate.

When Labour won the 1984 election, Burke became Minister of Immigration and Minister of Employment. He held these roles until the 1987 election, when he was chosen to replace the outgoing Gerard Wall as Speaker. At 45 he was the second youngest Speaker in the history of the Parliament of New Zealand.

He served in this role for three years, losing the Speakership and his seat when Labour lost the 1990 election.

He was first elected councillor of the Canterbury Regional Council in 1998 and was chairman from 2004. On 24 October 2007, following the local body elections, he was elected Chairman for a further term. On 24 September 2009, Burke lost a motion of no confidence and was replaced as Chairman. In 2010 the New Zealand Government fired Burke, and the remaining Regional Councillors of Environment Canterbury, two years after the previous Local Body Elections. They were replaced by Government-appointed Commissioners and elections for Environment Canterbury are to be held in 2013. The reason cited for the sacking was due to poor direction, "woeful" performance and governance and an overall collapse of confidence in the organisation.

Outside politics

He was knighted in the 1990 New Year Honours. He is currently president of the board of Cholmondeley Children's Home in Governors Bay. In March 2012 Sir Kerry joined the board of the Draco Foundation (NZ) Charitable Trust, an organisation whose purpose is the protection and promotion of democracy and natural justice in New Zealand.

Drink driving conviction

In January 2016 aged 73 Burke was convicted of drink driving having 517mcg of alcohol to a litre of breath. He was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for six months [The Press http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/75736455/former-parliament-speaker-sir-kerry-burke-admits-drinkdriving].

Further reading

• Burke's contribution is entitled: "The youthful, united cabinet."

Political offices
Preceded by Dr Gerard Wall	Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives 1987–1990	Succeeded by Robin Gray
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Herbert Pickering	Member of Parliament for Rangiora 1972–1975	Succeeded by Derek Quigley
Preceded by Paddy Blanchfield	Member of Parliament for West Coast 1978–1990	Succeeded by Margaret Moir