Cam Campion

Cameron John "Cam" Campion (1943–16 October 1995)^[1] was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Private life

Campion was a queen scout and attended St Georges Preparatory School and Wanganui Collegiate. He was captain of the Wanganui under 21 rugby team. He took a tourism delegation including the Ngate Poneke concert group, New Zealand Agridome to the Calgary Stampede and Edmington Klondike days in Canada. Campion was a successful Romney Stud Sheep Breeder at Okirae farm situated East of Wanganui.

Campion married Margaret Neilson of Wanganui; they had four children (Kirsty, Amanda, Meg and Duncan).

Member of Parliament

Campion won the seat of Wanganui from Labour in 1990; the seat had been held by Russell Marshall, who was retiring. Once in Parliament, Campion quickly became associated with Michael Laws, Hamish MacIntyre and Gilbert Myles in objecting to the monetarist policy of Ruth Richardson, known as Ruthanasia, which the fourth National Government was following.

He announced his resignation from the National Party on 3 March 1993, and accused the party of attempting to rig the reselection process against him. Campion remained an Independent for the remainder of his term, up to the 1993 general election in November.

Death

Campion died of bowel cancer in 1995, which encouraged Laws in championing an unsuccessful 'Death with Dignity Bill' to legalise voluntary euthanasia.^[1][2]

His surviving wife Margaret was elected to the Wanganui District Council for the term 2001-04.

References