Peter Wilkinson (politician)

Peter Ian Wilkinson (12 November 1934 – 19 October 1987) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1969–1972	36th	Rodney		National
1972–1975	37th	Rodney		National
1975–1978	38th	Rodney		National
1978–1981	39th	Kaipara		National
1981–1984	40th	Kaipara		National

Wilkinson was born in Hexham, Northumberland, England, in 1934, the son of Rev G. L. B. Wilkinson. He received his education at schools in the Waikato and Auckland, at Durham University in England (from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts with honours), and at the University of Auckland (from where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws).[1]

He represented the Rodney electorate in Parliament from 1969 to 1978, having unsuccessfully stood for National in the Waitakere electorate in the 1966 election. He then represented the Kaipara electorate from 1978 to 1984, when he retired.[2] In the 1978 election, Nevern McConachy of the Social Credit Party came within 520 votes of winning the electorate, the best chance that Social Credit had that election for gaining another representative; at the time, only Bruce Beetham was in Parliament for Social Credit.[3] Wilkinson was succeeded in the Kaipara electorate by Lockwood Smith.[4] Wilkinson was a Cabinet Minister, and held the position of Attorney-General in the Third National Government.

He was a half-brother of former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Jim McLay who succeeded him as the Attorney-General.[5]

He died in Auckland Hospital of a brain haemorrhage, aged 52 years.[6] He was survived by his wife, Cunitia Wilkinson.[7] The Wilkinson Trophy road running race has been held annually at Kaipara. First awarded in 1973 by Wilkinson, his widow continues to financially support the race.[7]

Notes

1. Traue 1978, p. 287.
2. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
3. Chapman 1999, p. 208.
4. "Obituary: Rex Preston". The Kaipara Lifestyler. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
5. Templeton, Hugh (1995). All Honourable Men: Inside the Muldoon Cabinet, 1975-1984. Auckland University Press. p. 112. ISBN 186940128X.
6. Waikato Times 12 October 1987
7. "Takapuna team takes out Wilkinson Trophy road race". Hibiscus Matters. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2015.

References

• Chapman, Robert (1999). New Zealand Politics and Social Patterns: Selected Works. Victoria University Press. Retrieved 1 September 2015.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Traue, James Edward, ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Political offices
Preceded by Martyn Finlay	Attorney-General 1975–1978	Succeeded by Jim McLay
Preceded by Hugh Templeton	Postmaster-General 1977–1978	Succeeded by Ben Couch
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Jack Scott	Member of Parliament for Rodney 1969–1978	Vacant Constituency abolished, recreated in 1984 Title next held by Don McKinnon
Vacant Constituency recreated after abolition in 1946 Title last held by Clifton Webb	Member of Parliament for Kaipara 1978–1984	Succeeded by Lockwood Smith