Colin Campbell Alexander McLachlan (28 November 1924 – 26 September 1985) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

McLachlan was born in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

in 1924. He received his education at Lakeside Primary School and at St. Andrew's College. He farmed at Methven and bred horses. He first stood for election in the electorate in . He then became the Member of Parliament for Selwyn 1966–1972, then

Rakaia Rakaia is a town seated close to the southern banks of the Rakaia River on the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island, approximately 57 km south of Christchurch on State Highway 1 and the Main South Line. Immediately north of the ...

1972–1978, then Selwyn again 1978–1981. He was the

Minister of Railways A Ministry of Railways is a Cabinet department that exists or has existed in many Commonwealth states as well as others. It generally occurs in countries where railroad transportation is a particularly important part of the national infrastructure. ...

, Minister of Transport and Minister of Civil Aviation and Meteorological Services in the Third National Government from 1975 to 1981, and a close friend of Prime Minister Muldoon. They owned race horses together, and at one time McLachlan was a "front bencher" which surprised many political observers. He was appointed to the board of the

Reserve Bank A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is an institution that manages the currency and monetary policy of a country or monetary union, and oversees their commercial banking system. In contrast to a commercial bank, a central ba ...

by Muldoon in 1981.

Hugh Templeton Hugh Campbell Templeton (born 24 March 1929) is a former New Zealand diplomat, politician and member of parliament for the National Party. Early life and family Templeton was born in Wyndham, Southland, in 1929. He was educated at Gore Hig ...

wrote that McLachlan: :was the only real confidant Muldoon had in power. I had a feeling that Muldoon may have enticed him into politics as someone who had a good knowledge of the National Party and whom he liked. As a minister, McLachlan was slow and not very active, but he was influentially placed in the middle of cabinet. Muldoon could trust him completely; he knew that unlike others McLachlan would never compete. They spent a lot of time together, talking shop and drinking. Muldoon, from my experience, did most of the talking. McLachlan, the listener, was the ultimate good mate. He was an invaluable sounding board for the relatively friendless Muldoon and his door was one route through which fellow parliamentarians might approach the prickly prime minister. In 1984,

Ruth Richardson Ruth Margaret Richardson (born 13 December 1950) is a New Zealand retired politician of the National Party who served as Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993. Her 1991 budget, which she dubbed the "Mother of all Budgets", formed the catalyst ...

successfully challenged the re-nomination of McLachlan in the Selwyn electorate. Barrhill 083

The McLachlans gave the derelict Corwar Gatekeepers Lodge near Barrhill to the people of the

Ashburton District Ashburton District is a territorial authority district in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It encompasses the town of Ashburton, a number of small towns and settlements and the surrounding rural area, roughly coterminou ...

. Renovation began in 1970, with work carried out and financed by descendants of previous inhabitants of the building. The building was formally reopened by the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

of the time,

Robert Muldoon Sir Robert David Muldoon (; 25 September 19215 August 1992) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand, from 1975 to 1984, while leader of the National Party. Serving as a corporal and sergeant in th ...

in March 1979. The gate house is fitted out as a museum, and viewing can be arranged through the Ashburton or Methven information centres.

Notes

References

* * * , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:McLachlan, Colin 1924 births 1985 deaths Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand New Zealand farmers New Zealand National Party MPs Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates 20th-century New Zealand politicians