Geoff Gerard (politician)

Richard Geoffrey Gerard CMG (4 October 1904 – 26 September 1997) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party, and a cabinet minister.

Gerard in 1957

Biography

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1943–1946	27th	Mid-Canterbury		National
1946–1949	28th	Ashburton		National
1949–1951	29th	Ashburton		National
1951–1954	30th	Ashburton		National
1954–1957	31st	Ashburton		National
1957–1960	32nd	Ashburton		National
1960–1963	33rd	Ashburton		National
1963–1966	34th	Ashburton		National

Gerard was born in Christchurch in 1904. He received his education at Christ's College and then farmed at Mount Hutt.[1]

He represented the Canterbury electorates of Mid-Canterbury from 1943 to 1946, and then the Ashburton electorate from 1946 to 1966 when he retired.[2] He was Minister of Marine under Holland and Holyoake (1957, 1961–1963),[3] Minister of Social Security (1957) under Holland and Holyoake,[4] Minister of Lands under Holyoake (1957, 1960–1966),[5] and Minister of Forests under Holyoake (1957, 1960–1966).[5]

He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for public services in the 1981 New Year Honours.[2][6]

His son Jim followed in his footsteps, representing the Rangiora electorate from 1984.[1]

Notes

1. Gustafson 1986, p. 313.
2. Wilson 1985, p. 199.
3. Wilson 1985, pp. 87–89.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 87.
5. Wilson 1985, pp. 88–89.
6. London Gazette (supplement), No. 48469, 31 December 1980. Retrieved 26 May 2013.

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.