Doug Graham
Encyclopedia
Sir Douglas Arthur Montrose "Doug" Graham KNZM
(Born 12 January 1942) is a former New Zealand
politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1999, representing the National Party
.
, and attended Southwell School
and Auckland Grammar School
. He obtained an LLB
from the University of Auckland
and became a lawyer
, establishing his own practice in 1968. From 1973 to 1983, he lectured in legal ethics
at the University of Auckland.
as MP for the Auckland electorate of Remuera
, replacing the retiring member Allan Highet
.
, Graham was appointed to Cabinet
, becoming Minister of Justice
, Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, and Minister of Cultural Affairs. In 1991, he became Minister in Charge of Treaty
Negotiations, perhaps his most prominent role. He was widely praised by both Pākehā
and Māori for his work on numerous Treaty settlements, although opponents of the process have voiced criticisms of his policies. Later, Graham also became Attorney General
and Minister for Courts. In the 1996 elections
, when the Remuera seat was abolished, Graham became a list MP. He was ranked sixth on National's party list, a relatively high placing.
. He was made a Knight Companion in the New Zealand Order of Merit
on 31 December 1998.
His great-grandfather Robert Graham
was a member of the 2nd
, 3rd
& 4th
New Zealand parliaments, from 1855 to 1868. In 2008, his brother Kennedy Graham
was elected into parliament as a candidate for the Green Party
.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(Born 12 January 1942) is a former New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1999, representing the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
.
Early life
Graham was born in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, and attended Southwell School
Southwell School
Southwell School is an independent co-educational Anglican preparatory school located in Hamilton, New Zealand. Southwell School caters for the academic, cultural, sporting and spiritual needs of 4 to 13 year olds...
and Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
. He obtained an LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
and became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, establishing his own practice in 1968. From 1973 to 1983, he lectured in legal ethics
Legal ethics
Legal ethics encompasses an ethical code governing the conduct of persons engaged in the practice of law and persons more generally in the legal sector.-In the United States:...
at the University of Auckland.
Member of Parliament
Graham was elected to Parliament in the 1984 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
as MP for the Auckland electorate of Remuera
Remuera (New Zealand electorate)
Remuera is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population Centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of Auckland suburbs. The area is high-income, and has been represented by a succession of National MPs....
, replacing the retiring member Allan Highet
Allan Highet
David Allan Highet QSO was a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1966 to 1984, representing the National Party for Remuera, holding the then largest majorities in the House.-Early life and family:...
.
Cabinet Minister
When the National Party won the 1990 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
, Graham was appointed to Cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
, becoming Minister of Justice
Minister of Justice (New Zealand)
The Minister of Justice is a minister in the government of New Zealand. The minister has responsibility for the formulation of justice policy and for the administration of law courts....
, Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, and Minister of Cultural Affairs. In 1991, he became Minister in Charge of Treaty
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
Negotiations, perhaps his most prominent role. He was widely praised by both Pākehā
Pakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
and Māori for his work on numerous Treaty settlements, although opponents of the process have voiced criticisms of his policies. Later, Graham also became Attorney General
Attorney-General (New Zealand)
The Attorney-General is a political office in New Zealand. It is simultaneously a ministerial position and an administrative office, and has responsibility for supervising New Zealand law and advising the government on legal matters...
and Minister for Courts. In the 1996 elections
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, when the Remuera seat was abolished, Graham became a list MP. He was ranked sixth on National's party list, a relatively high placing.
Life after politics
He retired from politics at the 1999 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
. He was made a Knight Companion in the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
on 31 December 1998.
His great-grandfather Robert Graham
Robert Graham (New Zealand)
Robert Graham was a 19th century New Zealand politician in the Auckland area.He represented the Southern Division electorate in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament from 1855 to 1860, and then represented the Franklin electorate in the 3rd Parliament and the 4th Parliament from 1861 to 1868, when he...
was a member of the 2nd
2nd New Zealand Parliament
The 2nd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 15 April 1856, following New Zealand's 1855 election. It was dissolved on 5 November 1860 in preparation for 1860–61 election...
, 3rd
3rd New Zealand Parliament
The 3rd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Elections for this term were held between 12 December 1860 and 28 March 1861 in 43 electorates to elect 53 MPs...
& 4th
4th New Zealand Parliament
The 4th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 61 electorates between 12 February and 6 April 1866 to elect 70 MPs. Parliament was prorogued in late 1870. During the term of this Parliament, two Ministries were in power...
New Zealand parliaments, from 1855 to 1868. In 2008, his brother Kennedy Graham
Kennedy Graham
Dr Kennedy Gollan Montrose Graham is a New Zealand politician and MP for the Green Party. He has served in the New Zealand Foreign Service for sixteen years, and lectured at the University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington....
was elected into parliament as a candidate for the Green Party
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
.