Doug Kidd
Encyclopedia
Sir Douglas Lorimer Kidd, KNZM
(born 12 September 1941) is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1978 to 2002, representing the National Party
. He served for three years as Speaker of the House of Representatives
.
. From 1960 to 1964, he served in the New Zealand Army Territorial Force as a bombardier
gunlayer. He later obtained a LLB
from Victoria University of Wellington
, and worked as a lawyer
. He also had business interests in aquaculture
, forestry
, and wine making.
, becoming MP for Marlborough
. In the government of Jim Bolger
, Kidd held a number of minor ministerial portfolios, including Fisheries, Energy and Labour. He held his Marlborough seat until the 1996 elections
, when the seat was superseded by the new (and larger) Kaikoura electorate. Kidd held Kaikoura until the 1999 elections
, when he opted to become a list MP. He was followed in Kaikoura by Lynda Scott
.
; Derek Quigley
also contested the position. He replaced Peter Tapsell
, a Labour Party
MP who had held the speakership because National did not want to lose a vote by appointing a Speaker from its own ranks. As the government's majority was now not so precarious, and as Tapsell had lost his seat in any case, National was able to appoint Kidd without difficulty.
Kidd lost the speakership when the National Party lost the 1999 elections
, being replaced by Jonathan Hunt
of the Labour Party. After serving a term in Opposition, he chose to retire from politics at the 2002 elections
.
He was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
(DCNZM) in 2000, and accepted the equivalent honour of a knighthood (KNZM) when returned to the honours system in 2009.
He was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal
in 2004.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 12 September 1941) is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1978 to 2002, representing 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:...
. He served for three years as Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
.
Early life
Kidd was born in LevinLevin, New Zealand
Levin is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand, and is the largest town in the Horowhenua district. It is 90 kilometres north of Wellington, 50 kilometres south of Palmerston North, and two kilometres to the east of Lake Horowhenua....
. From 1960 to 1964, he served in the New Zealand Army Territorial Force as a bombardier
Bombardier (rank)
Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal....
gunlayer. He later obtained a LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, and worked as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He also had business interests in aquaculture
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
, and wine making.
Member of Parliament
Kidd was first elected to Parliament in the 1978 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1978
The 1978 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to elect the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, retain office, although the opposition Labour Party managed to win the largest share of the vote...
, becoming MP for Marlborough
Marlborough, New Zealand
Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Marlborough is a unitary authority, both a region and a district, and its council is located at Blenheim. Marlborough is known for its dry climate, the picturesque Marlborough Sounds, and sauvignon blanc...
. In the government of Jim Bolger
Jim Bolger
James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
, Kidd held a number of minor ministerial portfolios, including Fisheries, Energy and Labour. He held his Marlborough seat until the 1996 elections
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, when the seat was superseded by the new (and larger) Kaikoura electorate. Kidd held Kaikoura until the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, when he opted to become a list MP. He was followed in Kaikoura by Lynda Scott
Lynda Scott
Lynda Marie Scott is a former New Zealand politician. She was a member of the National Party.-Early life:Scott attended Mairehau High School in Christchurch. She trained as a nurse in Wellington and then became a doctor in Auckland. She worked as a geriatrician...
.
Speaker of the House
After the 1996 elections, Kidd was elected Speaker of the House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
; Derek Quigley
Derek Quigley
Derek Francis Quigley, QSO is a former New Zealand politician. He was a prominent member of the National Party during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and was known for his support of free market economics and trade liberalization...
also contested the position. He replaced Peter Tapsell
Peter Tapsell (New Zealand)
Sir Peter Wilfred Tapsell, KNZM, MBE, FRCS, FRCSEd was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996...
, a Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
MP who had held the speakership because National did not want to lose a vote by appointing a Speaker from its own ranks. As the government's majority was now not so precarious, and as Tapsell had lost his seat in any case, National was able to appoint Kidd without difficulty.
Kidd lost the speakership when the National Party lost the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, being replaced by Jonathan Hunt
Jonathan Hunt (New Zealand)
Jonathan Lucas Hunt, ONZ is a New Zealand politician, and was New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2005 to March 2008. He formerly served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was until recently the longest-serving MP...
of the Labour Party. After serving a term in Opposition, he chose to retire from politics at the 2002 elections
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
.
He was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(DCNZM) in 2000, and accepted the equivalent honour of a knighthood (KNZM) when returned to the honours system in 2009.
He was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal
Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975...
in 2004.