John Brian Burke
Encyclopedia
John Burke QSO
JP (born 6 February 1946) is a former Mayor of Porirua City
, Wellington Region
, New Zealand. Prior to being Mayor in 1983–1998 he served twelve years as a City Councillor and six years from 1977 to 1983 as Deputy Mayor.
in 1946. He attended Marist College. He was employed by the New Zealand Post Office. He moved to Titahi Bay
with his wife and son when he transferred to head office in Wellington
.
He is a former Hutt Mana Charitable Trustee, and he chaired the trust on several occasions. Currently he chairs the Porirua Community Trust and the Mana Community Grants Foundation.
Burke continues service at a national level and is Chairman of the Community Gaming Association, the Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand and President of the New Zealand Licensing Trusts Association.
He received the Queens Service Order in 1989 for public services and the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal for services to New Zealand.
in 1983–1998. During these 15 years, he oversaw a significant transformation in Porirua's reputation, major growth and development of the City. Along with the support of the then Porirua City Council Chief Executive John Seddon, Burke was responsible for leading significant commercial growth in Porirua and for bringing the communities of Pauatahanui and Whitby into the City. Much of the continuing economic growth in Porirua today is credited to the Burke leadership of Porirua City.
contested the Porirua-Tawa Constituency, coming first and displacing Burke to third place, who thus failed to be elected.
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
JP (born 6 February 1946) is a former Mayor of Porirua City
Porirua
Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...
, Wellington Region
Wellington Region
The Wellington region of New Zealand occupies the southern end of the North Island.-Governance:The official Wellington Region, as administered by the Wellington Regional Council covers the conurbation around the capital city, Wellington, and the cities of Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Upper Hutt, each...
, New Zealand. Prior to being Mayor in 1983–1998 he served twelve years as a City Councillor and six years from 1977 to 1983 as Deputy Mayor.
Early life
Burke was born in InvercargillInvercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
in 1946. He attended Marist College. He was employed by the New Zealand Post Office. He moved to Titahi Bay
Titahi Bay
Titahi Bay is a suburb of Porirua in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the foot of a short peninsula along the west coast of the Porirua Harbour, to the north of Porirua city centre. The suburb's population in 2006 was 7,527...
with his wife and son when he transferred to head office in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.
Community involvement
Burke a former Chairman of the Hutt Valley Energy Board has also served on the Boards of several national organisations including Sister Cities New Zealand (National President), the Electricity Supply Association (Vice President), Local Government New Zealand (National Councillor) and The New Zealand Gas Association (Board Member).He is a former Hutt Mana Charitable Trustee, and he chaired the trust on several occasions. Currently he chairs the Porirua Community Trust and the Mana Community Grants Foundation.
Burke continues service at a national level and is Chairman of the Community Gaming Association, the Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand and President of the New Zealand Licensing Trusts Association.
He received the Queens Service Order in 1989 for public services and the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal for services to New Zealand.
Mayor of Porirua
Burke was elected as a councillor in 1971, and he became Deputy Mayor in 1977. Burke was Porirua's MayorMayor of Porirua
The Mayor of Porirua is the head of the municipal government of Porirua, New Zealand, and presides over the Porirua City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a single transferable vote electoral system. As of 2010, there have been four mayors since the establishment of the borough council...
in 1983–1998. During these 15 years, he oversaw a significant transformation in Porirua's reputation, major growth and development of the City. Along with the support of the then Porirua City Council Chief Executive John Seddon, Burke was responsible for leading significant commercial growth in Porirua and for bringing the communities of Pauatahanui and Whitby into the City. Much of the continuing economic growth in Porirua today is credited to the Burke leadership of Porirua City.
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Burke was a Greater Wellington Regional Councillor. In the 2007 election, he came second in the Porirua-Tawa Constituency, which elects two councillors. In 2010, the outgoing Porirua Mayor Jenny BrashJenny Brash
Jennifer Sylvia Brash, QSO , known as Jenny Brash, is a former Mayor of Porirua City, Wellington Region, New Zealand. Prior to being Mayor in 1998–2010, she served nine years as a City Councillor...
contested the Porirua-Tawa Constituency, coming first and displacing Burke to third place, who thus failed to be elected.