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John Bowie Gordon QSO (23 July 1921 – 17 March 1991), known as Peter Gordon, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
Peter Gordon | |
|---|---|
| 10th Minister of Transport | |
| In office 12 December 1966 – 8 December 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake Jack Marshall |
| Preceded by | John McAlpine |
| Succeeded by | Basil Arthur |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Clutha | |
| In office 1960–1978 | |
| Preceded by | James Roy |
| Succeeded by | Robin Gray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Bowie Gordon 23 July 1921[1] Stratford, New Zealand |
| Died | 17 March 1991 (aged 69) |
| Political party | National |
| Parent(s) | William Gordon Doris Gordon |
| Relatives | Graham Gordon (brother) |
Gordon was born in Stratford in 1921 to Stratford doctors William and Doris Gordon. Like his two brothers, he attended St Andrew's College, Christchurch, where he was a boarder from 1935 to 1937.[2] He then attended Lincoln College and the Nuffield School in farming in Crookston, Minnesota.[3]
In World War II, he was a flight lieutenant and pilot for the Royal New Zealand Air Force.[3] After the war, he was a farmer and joined many organisations, where he had leading roles with the West Otago A & P Association (president), Farmers' Mutual Insurance (director, 1952–1960), and Shaw, Savill & Company (member of the New Zealand Advisory Board, 1956–1960).[3]
Gordon was the Member of Parliament for Clutha from 1960 to 1978, when he retired for health reasons.[3][4] With Robert Muldoon and Duncan MacIntyre he was one of the three 'Young Turks' of the National Party, a "ginger group" who entered Parliament in 1960.[5]
In 1966 the Prime Minister at the time Keith Holyoake promoted Gordon to the Cabinet,[6] along with several other backbenchers including future Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.[7] In the Second National Government under Keith Holyoake, he was made Minister of Railways (1966–1972), Minister of Transport (1966–1972), and Minister of Civil Aviation (1966–1968).[8] He maintained the transport and railways portfolios under Jack Marshall in 1972, and was made Minister of Marine and Fisheries.[9]
In the Third National Government under Muldoon, Gordon was from 1975 Minister of Labour and Minister of State Services until his retirement in 1978.[10] He was made a Privy Councillor in 1978,[4] and a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services in the 1990 New Year Honours.[11] He died in 1991.
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