Minister celebrates 30 years

Press, 1 December 1987, Page 7

Minister celebrates 30 years

PA Wellington Parliament’s longestserving member of Parliament, the Minister of Defence, Mr Tizard, celebrated 30 years since he first entered Parliament yesterday. But his day was little different from any other; yesterday morning he flew from his Auckland electorate for the regular Monday morning Cabinet meeting. A spokesman for the Minister said that he would hold a private celebration with Parliamentary colleagues. Mr Tizard was first elected in 1957 as member for Tamaki, a seat lost in 1960 to Sir Robert Muldoon.

He re-entered Parliament after winning the

Otahuhu by-election late in 1962, and was the member for Pakuranga from the 1963 General Election until 1972. He then represented the re-

constituted Otahuhu electorate until winning the new seat of Panmure in 1984. With the election of the third Labour Government in 1972, Mr Tizard served as Minister of Health and State Services. In 1974 he became Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister.

He was appointed Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, Statistics and Minister in Charge of the Audit Department after the 1984 election and is currently Minister of Defence and of Science and Technology. Mr Tizard was appointed a member of the Privy Council' during the visit of Queen Elizabeth on her visit to New Zealand last year.