Eric Holland

Eric Sidney Fostyn Holland (28 June 1921 – 1 July 1989) was a New Zealand politician who served as Shadow Minister of Energy under Robert Muldoon[1] and was an elected member of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1981 for the National Party.

Holland in 1958

Biography

Early life and career

Holland was born in 1921; he was the son of former prime minister and National Party leader Sir Sidney Holland.[2] He received his education at Elmwood School and St. Andrew's College in Christchurch. Holland fought in WW2 in the Pacific and in Italy. He was president of the Canterbury Savings Bank in 1965 and 1966, and president of the Associated Trustee Savings Banks of New Zealand in 1966 and 1967.[3]

In 1944, Holland married Janet Mary Wills, the daughter of Wilfrid John Wills. They had one son and two daughters, and divorced in 1970. In 1972, he married Nancy Mary Nilner.[3]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1967–1969	35th	Fendalton		National
1969–1972	36th	Riccarton		National
1972–1975	37th	Riccarton		National
1975–1978	38th	Riccarton		National
1978–1981	39th	Fendalton		National

Holland was involved in the National Party and became chairman of the Fendalton Electorate Committee and deputy-chairman National's Canterbury-Westland division.[2]

The death of Harry Lake in early 1967 caused the 15 April 1967 by-election in the Fendalton electorate. Holland entered contention and won the National Party nomination.[4] He defeated Labour's Bruce Barclay in the election. The Fendalton electorate was abolished in 1969, and Holland won election in the Riccarton electorate. He represented this electorate for three parliamentary terms until 1978, when Riccarton was in turn abolished. In the 1978 election, he returned to the reinstated Fendalton constituency for the 1978–1981 period, following which he retired.[5] Under Jack Marshall, Holland was appointed Minister of Housing (9 February – 8 December 1972).[6] Under Robert Muldoon, Holland was appointed Minister of Energy Resources, Minister of Electricity, and Minister of Mines (all 12 December 1975 – 8 March 1977), and then Minister of Housing (8 March 1977 – 13 December 1978).[7]

Later life and death

Holland died on 1 July 1989.

Notes

1. Templeton 1995, p. 64.
2. Gustafson 1986, p. 321.
3. Traue 1978, p. 144.
4. "National Candidate for Fendalton". The Press. CVI (31, 323). 22 March 1967. p. 14.
5. Wilson 1985, p. 205.
6. Wilson 1985, p. 91.
7. Wilson 1985, p. 95.

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years: A History of the New Zealand National Party. Reed Methuen. ISBN 0474001776.
• Templeton, Hugh (1995). All honourable Men : Inside the Muldoon Cabinet 1975–1984. Auckland: Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-128-3. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
• Traue, James Edward, ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.