Kerry Burke

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For other persons named Thomas Burke, see Thomas Burke (disambiguation).

Sir Thomas Kerry Burke (born March 24, 1942) served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1987 to 1990. He was a member of the Labour Party, and served throughout the second term of the Fourth Labour Government.

Burke was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1960, he began three years of study at the University of Canterbury, after which he studied for a year at the Christchurch College of Education. He taught for a number of years in Rangiora and in Greymouth.

Burke was first elected to Parliament as the Labour MP for Rangiora in the 1972 elections. In the 1975 elections, however, he lost his seat, and remained outside Parliament for three years. In the 1978 elections, Burke was elected as the Labour MP for the West Coast electorate.

When Labour won the 1984 elections, Burke became Minister of Immigration and Minister of Employment. He held these roles until the 1987 elections, when he was chosen to replace the outgoing Gerard Wall as Speaker. He served in this role for three years, losing the Speakership and his seat when Labour lost the 1990 elections.

At 45 he the second youngest Speaker in the history of the New Zealand Parliament.

He was knighted in 1989.

He has been an elected councillor of the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) for three three-year terms and was chairman for the last three year term. On 24 October 2007, he was elected Chairman for a further term.[1] .

Preceded by
Dr Gerard Wall		 Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
1987–1990		 Succeeded by
Robin Gray

[edit] References

  1. ^ ECan chair re-elected, new deputy Environment Canterbury Press Release, 24 October 2007, retrieved 9 December 2007.

[edit] Further reading

  • Regional development policy: supporting statement to submission to the Hon. Kerry Burke, Minister of Regional Development [prepared by Canterbury Regional Development Council and Canterbury United Council], Christchurch, [N.Z.]: The Councils, 1986 
  • Submission to the review of financial assistance to students: presented to the Hon. Russell Marshall, Minister of Education and to Hon. Kerry Burke, The Minister of Employment, Hon. Koro Wetere, The Minister of Maori Affairs, Hon. Ann Hercus, The Minister of Social Welfare and of Womens Affairs, The Right Hon. David Lange, The Minister of Foreign Affairs., Wellington, [N.Z.]: NZUSA, 1985 
  • Burke, Kerry (1985), Labour market assistance measures: a paper from the Minister of Employment, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Employment Promotion Conference 
  • Burke, Kerry (1985), A new deal in training and employment opportunities, December 1985, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Dept. of Labour 
  • Burke, Kerry (1986), From the Minister: the Minister of Employment Kerry Burke answers questions on the government's employment programmes, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Dept. of Labour 
  • Burke's contribution is entitled: "The youthful, united cabinet."
  • Scott, Noel (convenor); Austin, Margaret & Mallard, Trevor (1985), Interim report of Government Committee on Transition Education to Hon. Russell Marshall, Minister of Education, Hon. Kerry Burke, Minister of Employment, Wellington, [N.Z.]: The Committee