Patrick O'Regan (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick O'Regan
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O'Regan c. 1940
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| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Inangahua |
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| In office 1893–1896 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Stout |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Buller |
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| In office 1896–1899 |
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| Preceded by | Roderick McKenzie |
| Succeeded by | James Colvin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patrick Joseph O'Regan
6 February 1869 Charleston, New Zealand |
| Died | 24 April 1947 (aged 78) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Clara Emma Haycock
(m. 1898) |
| Children | 6 |
| Relatives | Rolland O'Regan (son) Tipene O'Regan (grandson) Hana O'Regan (great-granddaughter) |
Patrick Joseph O'Regan (born 6 February 1869 – died 24 April 1947) was an important New Zealand politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for two different areas in the South Island. Later in his life, he became a member of the Legislative Council, which was like an upper house of Parliament.
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Patrick O'Regan's Early Life
Patrick O'Regan was born in a place called Charleston. This town is on the West Coast of New Zealand. His father, also named Patrick O'Regan, was an Irish immigrant and worked as a goldminer. His mother's name was Mary.
Patrick O'Regan's Political Career
Patrick O'Regan was a Member of Parliament (MP) for two different areas. He represented Inangahua from 1893 to 1896. After that, he represented Buller from 1896 to 1899. He was part of the Liberal Party.
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1893–1896 | 12th | Inangahua | Liberal | |
| 1896–1899 | 13th | Buller | Liberal | |
In the 1899 election, O'Regan tried to be re-elected for Buller but was not successful.
What Patrick O'Regan Believed In
O'Regan was interested in new ideas about how society should work. He was involved with groups like the Knights of Labour. This group worked to improve conditions for workers. He also supported Henry George's Single Tax Movement. This idea suggested that taxes should mainly be on land value.
In 1896, O'Regan tried to change how elections worked. He introduced a bill called the Proportional Representation Bill. This bill aimed to make sure that political parties got seats in Parliament based on the percentage of votes they received. However, the bill did not pass, missing by only six votes.
Patrick O'Regan as a Lawyer and Judge
Besides being a politician, O'Regan was also a lawyer. He used his legal skills to help people. For example, in 1913, he represented workers who were on strike. He also defended people called conscientious objectors during World War I. These were people who refused to fight in the war for moral or religious reasons.
O'Regan supported some members of the Labour Party. He helped Peter Fraser in the 1918 by-election for Wellington Central. He also supported Harry Holland in the 1918 by-election for Wellington North. However, O'Regan never officially joined the Labour Party himself.
In 1937, Patrick O'Regan became a judge. He worked in the Court of Arbitration. This court dealt with disagreements between workers and employers. Later, on 9 September 1946, he was appointed to the Legislative Council. This was a group of appointed members who reviewed laws. He held this position for a few months until he passed away in Wellington on 24 April 1947.
Patrick O'Regan's Family
Patrick O'Regan had six children. One of his sons was Rolland O'Regan, who became a well-known surgeon and activist. His grandson is Tipene O'Regan, and his great-granddaughter is Hana O'Regan, both of whom are also notable figures in New Zealand.
