Peter Gresham

The Honourable
Peter Gresham
ONZM JP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Waitotara
In office
1990–1996
Preceded byVenn Young
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National party list
In office
1996–1999
Personal details
Born
Peter John Gresham

(1933-07-07)7 July 1933
Geraldine, New Zealand
Died31 August 2024(2024-08-31) (aged 91)
Whanganui, New Zealand
Political partyNational
SpouseMargot Gresham
CabinetMinister of Social Welfare and Minister of Senior Citizens

Peter John Gresham ONZM JP (7 July 1933 – 31 August 2024) was a New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1990 to 1999, representing the National Party.

Early life

Gresham was born in Geraldine in 1933, and was educated at St Kevin's College in Oamaru. Before entering politics, Gresham was an accountant.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
1990–1993 43rd Waitotara National
1993–1996 44th Waitotara National
1996–1999 45th List 24 National

Gresham was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 election as MP for Waitotara, and then re-elected in the 1993 election. At the 1996 election, the bulk of his Waitotara seat was merged with Wanganui to create the new seat of Whanganui, and Gresham was defeated by Jill Pettis of the Labour Party. Gresham remained in Parliament as a list MP, but retired at the 1999 election.[2]

From 1993 to 1996, he served as Minister of Social Welfare and Minister of Senior Citizens.[3][4]

Death

Gresham died in Whanganui on 31 August 2024, at the age of 91.[5] He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Margot, in 2022.[6]

Honours

In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, Gresham was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for public services.[7] He was a Knight of Malta, a Catholic religious military order.

References

  1. ^ Paltridge, Antony (8 October 1996). "Sitting MPs fight for Whanganui". Taranaki Daily News. p. 21.
  2. ^ G A Wood (ed), Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament, University of Otago, Dunedin, 1996, p. 91.
  3. ^ G A Wood (ed), p. 81 and 91.
  4. ^ Craig Spanhake (compiler), Ministers and members in the New Zealand Parliament, 1996-2005 : supplement for the years 1996-2005 to G.A. Wood's Ministers and members in the New Zealand Parliament : together with appendices updating J.O. Wilson's New Zealand parliamentary record, Tarkwode, Dunedin, 2006, pp. 2 and 5.
  5. ^ "Peter Gresham obituary". Whanganui Chronicle. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Margot Gresham obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Waitotara
1990–1996 		Constituency abolished
Contested Whanganui instead