Peter Davis (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Peter Davis is a sociologist
and the husband of former New Zealand
Prime Minister
Helen Clark
. He met Clark – then a political-science lecturer at Auckland – in 1977
and they married shortly after she first won election to Parliament
in the 1981 general election
.
Davis specialises in medical sociology
, and he works as the Director of the Social Statistics Research Group and Professor of Sociology at the University of Auckland
, with part-time appointments in the School of Population Health and the Department of Statistics, also at the University of Auckland. Previously he served as Professor of Public Health at the University of Otago's
Christchurch School of Medicine.
He has previously served on the Auckland Area Health Board, and was a representative in 1989 when his wife (Health Minister at the time) suspended that body. His peers regard his academic work as impeccable, and he has achieved international recognition in his field, having worked as a consultant for the World Health Organisation.
Davis, born in England
in 1947, spent his childhood in Tanzania
where his father worked for a mining-company. His father was born in China
and his mother in India
, but a great-great-grandfather had grown up in New Zealand. Davis gained a Masters degree in sociology and statistics at the London School of Economics
. He moved to New Zealand in 1970 to work at the University of Canterbury
and completed a PhD at the University of Auckland.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and the husband of former 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...
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
. He met Clark – then a political-science lecturer at Auckland – in 1977
and they married shortly after she first won election to Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
in the 1981 general election
New Zealand general election, 1981
The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 40th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, win a third term in office, although the opposition Labour Party, led by Bill Rowling, actually won the largest share of...
.
Davis specialises in medical sociology
Medical sociology
Medical sociology is the sociological analysis of medical organizations and institutions; the production of knowledges and selection of methods, the actions and interactions of healthcare professionals, and the social or cultural effects of medical practice...
, and he works as the Director of the Social Statistics Research Group and Professor of Sociology at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, with part-time appointments in the School of Population Health and the Department of Statistics, also at the University of Auckland. Previously he served as Professor of Public Health at the University of Otago's
University 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...
Christchurch School of Medicine.
He has previously served on the Auckland Area Health Board, and was a representative in 1989 when his wife (Health Minister at the time) suspended that body. His peers regard his academic work as impeccable, and he has achieved international recognition in his field, having worked as a consultant for the World Health Organisation.
Davis, born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1947, spent his childhood in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
where his father worked for a mining-company. His father was born in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and his mother in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, but a great-great-grandfather had grown up in New Zealand. Davis gained a Masters degree in sociology and statistics at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He moved to New Zealand in 1970 to work at the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
and completed a PhD at the University of Auckland.