Colin Campbell Alexander McLachlan (1924–1985) was a 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...

 politician of the National Party

New Zealand National Party

The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...

. A farmer by profession, he was the Member of Parliament for Selwyn

Selwyn (New Zealand electorate)

Selwyn is the name of three seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives, based around towns on the outskirts of Christchurch city. In an historical sense, the name refers to an electorate that existed between 1866 and 1919...

 1966–72, Rakaia

Rakaia (New Zealand electorate)

Rakaia was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury region from 1972 to 1978 and 1993 to 2008.The seat was held by Brian Connell MP from 2002 to 2008.-Population Centres:The electorate included the following population centres:* Ashburton...

 1972–78, then Selwyn

Selwyn (New Zealand electorate)

Selwyn is the name of three seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives, based around towns on the outskirts of Christchurch city. In an historical sense, the name refers to an electorate that existed between 1866 and 1919...

 again 1978–81, when he retired.

He was the Minister of Railways

Minister of Railways (New Zealand)

The Minister of Railways was the minister in the government responsible for the New Zealand Railways Department 1895–1981, the New Zealand Railways Corporation 1981–1993, and New Zealand Rail Limited 1990–1993...

 in the Third National Government

Third National Government of New Zealand

The Third National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. It was an economically and socially conservative government, which aimed to preserve the Keynesian economic system established by the First Labour government while also being socially conservative...

 from 1975 to 1981, and a close friend of Prime Minister Muldoon

Robert Muldoon

Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...

. They owned race horses together, and at one time McLachlan was a "front bencher" which surprised many political observers. He was appointed to the board of the Reserve Bank

Reserve Bank of New Zealand

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is the central bank of New Zealand and is constituted under the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989. The Governor of the Reserve Bank is responsible for New Zealand's currency and operating monetary policy. The Bank's current Governor is Dr. Alan Bollard...

by Muldoon in 1981.