Prime Minister Jim Bolger Political party National Succeeded by Peter Tapsell Nationality New Zealand Role New Zealand politician | Preceded by Peter Gordon Name Robin Gray Preceded by Kerry Burke Profession Farmer | |
Born 2 July 1931 (age 92)
Borgue, Scotland ( 1931-07-02 ) Party New Zealand National Party | ||
Sir Robert "Robin" McDowall Gray (born 2 July 1931) is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1978 to 1996, and served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 1990 and 1993.
Contents
- Early life
- Member of Parliament
- Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Life after Parliament
- References
Early life
Gray was born in Borgue, Scotland. After serving in the British Army, he moved to New Zealand to take up farming in 1952, eventually settling in Mosgiel.
Member of Parliament
He joined the National Party in 1956, and held a number of positions in its internal hierarchy. In the 1978 elections, he was elected to replace Peter Gordon as MP for Clutha.
Gray became the National Party's Junior Whip in 1985 and the Senior Whip in 1987.
Speaker of the House of Representatives
When National won office in the 1990 elections, Gray was made Speaker of the House of Representatives. After the 1993 elections, however, the National Party held a majority of only a single seat – as the Speaker could not vote, re-appointing Gray to the Speakership would leave Parliament deadlocked. National therefore offered the Speakership to Peter Tapsell of the Labour Party. Gray was appointed to the sinecure of Minister of State, and also became Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In the 1994 New Year Honours, Gray was made a Knight Bachelor. He retired from politics at the 1996 elections.
As Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gray was entitled to the title of The Honourable and became The Hon. Sir Robert "Robin" McDowall Gray which is a title he was granted for the rest of his life after leaving parliament.
Life after Parliament
Gray effectively retired following his stepping down as an MP but still makes occasional appearances and commentary at various Conferences around New Zealand. He has undertaken mild criticism aimed at the National Party for failing to promote Members interests at conferences to which he achieved a degree of success in ensuring Delegate's had more opportunity for engagement at the formal meetings.
Gray also sits as the Founding President on the Board of Trustees for the New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust.