Ralph Kerr Maxwell MBE JP (20 March 1934 – 25 March 2012) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. After his parliamentary career, he joined New Zealand First.[1]

Early life and family

Maxwell was born in 1934. He married Frances Maxwell in circa 1963 and they had three children.[2]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1978–1981 39th Waitakere Labour
1981–1984 40th Waitakere Labour
1984–1987 41st Waitakere Labour
1987–1990 42nd Titirangi Labour

Maxwell had a high profile as chairman of the Portage Licensing Trust,[2][3] one of two Licensing Trusts in West Auckland.[4] When Maxwell stood for Parliament in the Waitakere electorate in 1978 for the Labour Party, he was successful.[5] He represented the Waitakere electorate for three parliamentary terms, and when it was abolished for the 1987 election, he successfully stood in the Titirangi electorate instead.[6] In the 1990 election, he was defeated by Marie Hasler, one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government.[2]

In 1983 he was appointed as Labour's spokesperson for Primary Industries and Horticulture by Labour leader David Lange.[7] Maxwell had a keen interest in agriculture and worked closely with Colin Moyle, who would become Minister of Agriculture in 1984.[2][8] Maxwell was the Associate Minister of External Relations and Trade and the Associate Minister of Agriculture in 1990.[6]

After parliament

Maxwell moved from West Auckland to Otumoetai after he left parliament. When New Zealand First was formed in 1993, Maxwell joined that party[2] and served on the party executive.[1] He then moved to Paerata near Pukekohe where he worked in real estate.[2]

He supported the formation of a National/New Zealand First coalition (over a Labour/New Zealand First coalition) 1996 general election.[9]

In the 1995 New Year Honours, Maxwell was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for public services.[10] Maxwell died on 25 March 2012 aged 78. He was survived by his wife and their three children.[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Audrey Young (13 December 2007). "Peters' party group rebels over Bill". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Forbes, Stephen (30 March 2012). "Man of Integrity and Vision". Western Leader. p. 3.
  3. ↑ "Former Titirangi MP dies". Western Leader. Fairfax Media. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Portage & Waitakere Licensing Trusts". The Trusts. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 219.
  6. 1 2 "Obituaries — Hon Ralph Kerr Maxwell MBE". New Zealand House of Representatives. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Labour leader allocates responsibilities". The Press. 17 March 1983. p. 3.
  8. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 98.
  9. ↑ Ferguson, Adelia (4 November 1996). "Jab at rugby match near-fatal". The New Zealand Herald. p. A11.
  10. ↑ "No. 53894". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1994. p. 34.

References

  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
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