Roger Kerr
Encyclopedia
Roger Lawrence Kerr, CNZM
(17 January 1945 – 28 October 2011), a public policy and business leader, was the executive director of the New Zealand Business Roundtable
, a free-market think-tank based in Wellington
, New Zealand
.
in Nelson
. He held an MA (Honours, First Class) from the University of Canterbury
and a BCA from Victoria University of Wellington
. He served as a director of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand
from 1986 to 1994, as a member of the Council of Victoria University of Wellington
from 1995 to 1999, and as a member of the Group Board of Colonial Limited in Melbourne from 1996 to 2000.
Kerr spent much of his career in the economic policy debate in New Zealand, mainly through written commentary. Kerr was a vocal proponent of Rogernomics
and of policies that can be broadly characterised as free market.
Before joining the New Zealand Business Roundtable, Kerr worked as an assistant secretary at the New Zealand Treasury
and as a senior figure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
.
for a year.
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...
(17 January 1945 – 28 October 2011), a public policy and business leader, was the executive director of the New Zealand Business Roundtable
New Zealand Business Roundtable
The New Zealand Business Roundtable , a market-oriented thinktank, operates from Wellington, New Zealand. Businessman Robert McLeod chairs the organisation, with Bill Gallagher MBE, Nick Calavrias and Bill Day as Vice-Chairs. Members, who pay a five-figure subscription fee, represent most of the...
, a free-market think-tank based in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, 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...
.
Career
Kerr attended Appleby Primary and Waimea CollegeWaimea College
Waimea College is a co-educational secondary school in Richmond, Nelson, New Zealand. With a growing roll of 1500+ students from year groups 9-13, Waimea College is equipped with a park-like campus and numerous facilities....
in Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
. He held an MA (Honours, First Class) from 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 a BCA 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...
. He served as a director of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand
Electricity Corporation of New Zealand
The Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Ltd is a New Zealand state-owned enterprise formed on 1 April 1987, as a transition entity in the process of deregulating the New Zealand electricity market...
from 1986 to 1994, as a member of the Council of 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...
from 1995 to 1999, and as a member of the Group Board of Colonial Limited in Melbourne from 1996 to 2000.
Kerr spent much of his career in the economic policy debate in New Zealand, mainly through written commentary. Kerr was a vocal proponent of Rogernomics
Rogernomics
The term Rogernomics, a portmanteau of "Roger" and "economics", was coined by journalists at the New Zealand Listener by analogy with Reaganomics to describe the economic policies followed by Roger Douglas after his appointment in 1984 as Minister of Finance in the Fourth Labour Government...
and of policies that can be broadly characterised as free market.
Before joining the New Zealand Business Roundtable, Kerr worked as an assistant secretary at the New Zealand Treasury
New Zealand Treasury
The New Zealand Treasury is a public sector organisation and the Government’s lead advisor on economic and financial policy. Its role is to help the Government improve economic performance and manage scarce resources...
and as a senior figure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the New Zealand Government ministry responsible for promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and international relations....
.
Personal life
Kerr was married to Margaret Northcroft for over 30 years with whom he had three sons, Bernard, Nicholas and Richard, two of whom live in the United States and one of whom lives in New Zealand. The marriage to Northcroft ended in divorce. He married Catherine Isaac in January 2010. Kerr died on 28 October 2011, having suffered from metastatic melanomaMelanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
for a year.
Awards
- NZIERNew Zealand Institute of Economic ResearchThe New Zealand Institute of Economic Research is a think tank based in New Zealand.It is non-profit incorporated society and was established in 1958....
QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
Economics Award, 2001 - Tasman Medal, 1994
- Companion of the New Zealand Order of MeritNew Zealand Order of MeritThe 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...
, 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to business.