Image: Bill Birch

Description: The Rt. Hon. Sir William Francis ('Bill') Birch was born on 9 April 1934 in Hastings. A registered surveyor, prior to his parliamentary career he worked in his own surveying and engineering practice in Pukekohe from 1957 to 1972. Sir William also came to politics from a background of community service. This included the position of president of the Pukekohe Jaycees in 1962, serving as a member of the Pukekohe High School Board of Governors and also as a Jaycees International Senator, being a member of a Rotary Group Study exchange team which toured overseas. From 1965 to 1974 he was a member of Pukekohe Borough Council, serving six years as the Deputy Mayor. A member of the National Party from 1960, Sir William Birch entered politics as MP for Franklin in 1972. He held the Rangiriri electorate from 1978-1984, the Maramarua electorate from 1987-1993, and the Franklin electorate from 1972-1978, 1984-1987 and 1994 until his retirement in 1999.

In 1974 Sir William was appointed Junior Opposition Whip, and in 1975 became Senior Government Whip in the National Government. Between 1978 and 1984 he held the positions of Minister of Energy (1978-1984), Minister of Regional Development (1981-1984), Minister of National Development (1978-1984) and Minister of Science and Technology (1978-1981), and is often described as the architect of the third National Government's high profile 'Think Big' energy projects.

From 1975-1977 Sir William held the position of chairman of the Public Expenditure Select Committee. He also represented New Zealand at meetings of the International Energy Agency in Paris, which he chaired in 1984. In opposition, following the election of the Labour Government of 1984 under the Rt. Hon. David Lange, Sir William became Shadow Leader of the House and Spokesperson for Finance from 1985-1986. He was also a member of the Labour Select Committee from 1984-1987, and acted as Opposition Spokesperson for Labour, State Services, Immigration and Pacific Island Affairs from c.1989-1990.

Following the election of a National Government in 1990, Sir William held a number of significant ministerial offices under both the Rt. Hon. James B. ('Jim') Bolger (Prime Minister, 1990-1997) and the Rt. Hon. Jenny Shipley (Prime Minister, 8 December 1997-1999). Sir William was a member of the Privy Council from 1992. As Minister of Labour he was instrumental in introducing far-reaching reforms to the New Zealand labour market, implemented under the Employment Contracts Act, 1991. Under his other portfolios he also introduced reforms in New Zealand's immigration policy, accident compensation scheme and public health service. As Minister of Finance, he was responsible for the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 1994, a landmark piece of legislation intended to enforce transparency and accountability in maintaining good fiscal management by the elected government and, in particular, the incumbent Minister of Finance. In August 1999 he was awarded the Insignia of a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (GNZM) for public services as a Member of Parliament and Minister of the Crown.

Sir William retired from Parliament following the 1999 general election. A number of political papers from Bill Birch were transferred to Archives New Zealand

The image shown here of Bill Birch is from a collection of photos transferred to Archives New Zealand from the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Reference: ABGX 7574 W4969 1e archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=2186523
Author: New Zealand Government
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