Eric Holland

Eric Sidney Fostyn Holland (28 June 1921 – 1 July 1989) was a New Zealand politician who served as cabinet minister and was an elected member of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1981 for the National Party.

Holland was born in 1921; he was the son of former prime minister and National Party leader Sir Sidney Holland. 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.

The death of Harry Lake in early 1967 caused the 15 April 1967 by-election in the Fendalton electorate, in which Holland defeated Labour's Bruce Barclay. 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. Under Jack Marshall, Holland was appointed Minister of Housing (9 February – 8 December 1972). 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).

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. Holland died on 1 July 1989.