Gordon Christie

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English Gordon Christie Template:Post-nominals (27 August 1914 – 13 June 2001) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Christie was born on 27 August 1914. He received his education at Nelson Park School and Napier Technical College. He was on the executive of the North Island Waterfront Association for six years, and president of the Napier Watersiders Union for ten years from 1957 to 1967. He was a member of the Napier Port Conciliation Committee, and vice-chairman of the Napier Port Safety Committee. At the 1965 local body elections he stood for a seat on the Napier Harbour Board, but was unsuccessful.

Member of Parliament

Template:NZ parlbox header Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox footer He represented the electorate of Template:NZ electorate link in Parliament from 1966 to 1981, when he retired and was succeeded by Geoff Braybrooke. Both Christie and Braybrooke were described as Labour "stalwarts who effectively held the electorate in a tight grip".

During his time in parliament Christie was noted as a reliable and hard-working constituency member.Template:Sfn Christie was responsible for the establishment of the Kennedy Park motel complex in Napier (consisting of motels, caravan sites, camp sites, and cabins) by putting a local Bill through the House. Parliamentary colleague Warren Freer described him as a solid and dependable MP who was a consistent and practical advocator for his constituents needing assistance as well as being a most conscientious select committee member.Template:Sfn During the 1972–75 Parliament he was chairman of the Petitions select committee. He would constantly raise issues in caucus when policies would adversely affect the least fortunate in society. During the Third Labour Government (1972–75), together with Template:NZ electorate link MP Joe Walding, he coined the phrase "if it adversely effects them, it's bad policy".Template:Sfn

After the surprise defeat of the Third Labour Government in 1975, Labour leader Bill Rowling designated Christie Shadow Minister of Police. In September 1977 he was part of the New Zealand delegation that attended the annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held in Ottawa.

Later life and death

In 1977, Christie was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1985 New Year Honours, for public and community service. In 1990, he was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

Christie died at Taupō on 13 June 2001. He was predeceased by his wife Betty (née Bowers) (1924–1997), with whom he had three children.

References

Template:NZLabour-politician-stub