Chris Laidlaw

Chris Laidlaw
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wellington Central
In office 1992 – 1993
Preceded by	Fran Wilde
Succeeded by	Pauline Gardiner
Personal details
Born	(1943-11-16) 16 November 1943
Relations	Sue Kedgley (sister-in-law)
University	Otago University

Chris Laidlaw

Place of birth	Dunedin
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	78 kg (172 lb)
Occupation(s)	Solicitor, Administrator
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Halfback
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1962-66 1969	Otago University Oxford University
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
	Otago, Canterbury
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1963–1970	New Zealand	57	(48)

Christopher Robert Laidlaw (born 16 November 1943), Rhodes Scholar, All Black, diplomat, MP, radio host, author, is a 20th-century New Zealand figure.

Early life

Laidlaw was born in Dunedin and schooled at Kings High School from 1957-61, where he played in the first rugby team.^[1]

Laidlaw attended Otago University from 1962 to 1966, after which he went overseas with the All Blacks. In 1969 he took up his Rhodes Scholarship at Merton College, Oxford.

Rugby Union Career

Described as a rugby prodigy, Laidlaw was immediately selected for the University A side in 1962 upon leaving school. Such was the impact of his play that during the same year he played for an Otago representative side, for a South Island regional side, and for New Zealand Universities. Personal training sessions with former All Black Charlie Saxton endowed Laidlaw with "a marvellous pass and an accurate kick from forward base".^[1]

Not yet 20, Laidlaw made his debut for the All Blacks in 1963 on their tour of Britain and France. Although chosen as reserve to the incumbent scrumhalf and vice-captain, Kevin Briscoe, Laidlaw's performances catapulted him into selection for a test against France and a match against the Barbarians.^[1]

Civil Servant

In 1972, Laidlaw joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and served as Assistant to Commonwealth Secretary-General Sonny Ramphal. In 1986, Laidlaw became New Zealand's first resident High Commissioner to Harare, representing New Zealand's interests throughout Africa. In 1989, Laidlaw was appointed Race Relations Conciliator.

Member of Parliament

Laidlaw won the Wellington Central by-election in 1992, following the election of Fran Wilde to the Wellington mayoralty. He failed to win re-election (to the renamed Wellington-Karori electorate) in the 1993 General election, losing to National's Pauline Gardiner.

Laidlaw is a supporter of a New Zealand republic. In 1997 he published remarks allegedly made to him by Prince Charles during his visit of that year, which appeared to show the Prince implicitly supports a New Zealand republic. Laidlaw later published the claim in his book Rights of Passage, and again in his New Zealand Herald column in March 2005, during Prince Charles' visit. No comment was made by the Prince as to the veracity of the comments.

Wellington Regional Council

Laidlaw is a councillor of the Wellington Regional Council, representing the Wellington constituency. He was re-elected at the New Zealand local elections, 2010 with 24,838 votes.^[2] The council has occupied much of his time in recent years. He was elected at the New Zealand local elections, 2007 with 24,757 votes, the greatest number of votes for any candidate that year.^[3] He currently also hosts the Radio New Zealand National Radio Sunday morning slot.

Family

Laidlaw is married to Helen Kedgley, and is a brother-in-law of former Green MP Sue Kedgley. He has two children, daughter Anais Kedgley Laidlaw and son Jackson Kedgley Laidlaw.

See also

• New Zealand Human Rights Commission

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chris Laidlaw.

• University of Otago alumnus profile
• NZ Rugby Museum profile (archived)
• A Civilising Mission; Otago University
• New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee Rhodes Scholars (archived)
• Chris Laidlaw at AllBlacks.com
• Chris Laidlaw Says Goodbye