Robin Gray (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
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.
, Scotland. After serving in the British Army, he moved to New Zealand to take up farming in 1952, eventually settling in Mosgiel
.
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.
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
.
He was knighted in 1993.
Gray retired from politics at the 1996 elections
.
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
between 1990 and 1993.
Early life
Gray was born in BorgueBorgue, Stewartry of Kirkcudbright
Borgue is a village in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. It lies 5 miles south-west of Kirkcudbright and 6 miles south of Gatehouse of Fleet.-Notable people from Borgue:...
, Scotland. After serving in the British Army, he moved to New Zealand to take up farming in 1952, eventually settling in Mosgiel
Mosgiel
Mosgiel is an urban satellite of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand, fifteen kilometres west of the city's centre. Since the re-organisation of New Zealand local government in 1989 it has been inside the Dunedin City Council area, but was physically separate from the contiguous suburbs until...
.
Member of Parliament
He joined the National PartyNew 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:...
in 1956, and held a number of positions in its internal hierarchy. In the 1978 elections
New Zealand general election, 1978
The 1978 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to elect the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, retain office, although the opposition Labour Party managed to win the largest share of the vote...
, he was elected to replace Peter Gordon as MP for Clutha
Clutha (New Zealand electorate)
Clutha was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1866 to 1996.-Population centres:This electorate is in the rural part of Southland.-History:The electorate was established in 1866...
.
Gray became the National Party's Junior Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in 1985 and the Senior Whip in 1987.
Speaker of the House of Representatives
When National won officeFourth National Government of New Zealand
The Fourth National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 2 November 1990 to 27 November 1999. Following in the footsteps of the previous Labour government, the fourth National government embarked on an extensive programme of spending cuts...
in the 1990 elections
New 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...
, Gray was made Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
. After the 1993 elections
New Zealand general election, 1993
The 1993 New Zealand general election was held on 6 November 1993 to determine the composition of the 44th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Jim Bolger, win a second term in office, despite a major swing back towards the Labour Party. The new Alliance and New...
, 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
Peter Tapsell (New Zealand)
Sir Peter Wilfred Tapsell, KNZM, MBE, FRCS, FRCSEd was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996...
of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. Gray was appointed to the sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
of Minister of State, and also became Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Murray McCully, who was National Party Spokeperson of Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are also Associate Minister roles...
.
He was knighted in 1993.
Gray retired from politics at 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...
.