Chris Laidlaw
Encyclopedia
Christopher Robert Laidlaw (born 16 November 1943), Rhodes Scholar
, All Black, diplomat
, MP
, talk radio
host, author
, is a 20th century New Zealand
figure.
from 1962 to 1966, after which he went overseas with the All Blacks
. In 1969 Laidlaw took up his Rhodes Scholarship
at Merton College
, Oxford
.
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.
to the Wellington mayoralty. He failed to win re-election (to the renamed electorate) in the 1993 General election
, losing to National's Pauline Gardiner
.
Laidlaw is a supporter of New Zealand becoming a republic
. In 1997 he published remarks allegedly made to him by His Royal Highness 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 validity of the comments.
with 24,838 votes. 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. He currently also hosts the Radio New Zealand
National Radio Sunday morning slot.
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
, All Black, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, is a 20th century New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
figure.
Academic and Rugby Union
Laidlaw attended Otago UniversityUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
from 1962 to 1966, after which he went overseas with the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
. In 1969 Laidlaw took up his Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
at Merton College
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Civil Servant
In 1972, Laidlaw joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and served as Assistant to Commonwealth Secretary-GeneralCommonwealth Secretary-General
The Commonwealth Secretary-General is the head of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the central body which has served the Commonwealth of Nations since its establishment in 1965, and responsible for representing the Commonwealth publicly...
Sonny Ramphal
Shridath Ramphal
Sir Shridath Surendranath "Sonny" Ramphal, GCMG, AC, ONZ, OE, OM, QC, FRSA served as the second Commonwealth Secretary-General from 1975-1990. Ramphal previously served as the Foreign Minister of Guyana from 1972-1975...
. In 1986, Laidlaw became New Zealand's first resident High Commissioner to Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, 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 WildeFran Wilde
The Honorable Fran Wilde QSO , is a New Zealand politician, and former Wellington Labour MP, Minister of Tourism and 31st Mayor of Wellington...
to the Wellington mayoralty. He failed to win re-election (to the renamed electorate) in the 1993 General election
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...
, losing to National's Pauline Gardiner
Pauline Gardiner
Pauline Gardiner is a former New Zealand politician.-Member of Parliament:Gardiner was a member of parliament from 1993 to 1996, representing first the National Party and then United New Zealand...
.
Laidlaw is a supporter of New Zealand becoming a republic
Republicanism in New Zealand
Republicanism in New Zealand is a theoretical political concept, the implementation of which would result in changing New Zealand's current constitutional monarchy to that of a republic...
. In 1997 he published remarks allegedly made to him by His Royal Highness Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
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
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
column in March 2005, during Prince Charles' visit. No comment was made by the Prince as to the validity 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, 2010New Zealand local elections, 2010
The 2010 New Zealand local elections were triennial elections to select local government officials and district health board members. All elections are conducted by postal ballot, with election day being Saturday 9 October 2010.Elected were:...
with 24,838 votes. The council has occupied much of his time in recent years. He was elected at the New Zealand local elections, 2007
New Zealand local elections, 2007
Triennial elections for all 73 cities, districts, twelve Regional Councils and all District Health Boards in New Zealand were held on 13 October 2007...
with 24,757 votes, the greatest number of votes for any candidate that year. He currently also hosts the Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
National Radio Sunday morning slot.