Biography
Carter was born on 1 July 1917 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. He spent much of his youth in Kettlewell, and Kettlewell Lane in the Christchurch Central City is named after him. He was apprenticed as a carpenter and in 1936, he went with friends on an overseas experience to Argentina where they worked on a plantation. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1938. Although he enlisted for service in World War II, he did not go overseas as the army got him to work on army facilities in Burnham Military Camp, Burnham and Weedons. In 1946, he founded his construction company that he named The Carter Group. The company built many of the houses in the Christchurch suburbs of Bryndwr and Burnside, Christchurch, Burnside and at the peak, the company built 100 houses per year. Known for their quality, houses are still advertised as "Maurice Carter homes" years after his death. Carter was a local politician. An elected member of Christchurch City Council for 33 years (1956–1989), he was Mayor_of_Christchurch#List_of_Deputy-Mayors_of_Christchurch, deputy mayor under Hamish Hay from 1983 to 1989. In addition, he held membership of the Christchurch Drainage Board (27 years, with 9 as chairman), the Regional Planning Authority and then the Canterbury United Council (both predecessors to the Canterbury Regional Council), and was then a member of the Canterbury Regional Council for six years (1989–1995). Carter and his wife set up the Maurice Carter Charitable Trust in 1969; their shops in Bryndwr were vested into this trust. The trust provides grants to a variety of causes.Family and death
Carter met his wife-to-be—Merle Cunningham—at Burnham Military Camp, where she gave a concert to the troops. On 28 August 1942, Carter and Cunningham were married at Sumner, New Zealand, Sumner. They were to have five children. Carter's son David Carter (politician), David is a New Zealand National Party, National Party politician who has been a member of Parliament 1994 Selwyn by-election, since 1994. He was the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, Speaker of the House from 2013 to 2017. Carter's son Philip Carter (developer), Philip and grandson Tim have taken over the Carter Group from him and both have served on Christchurch City Council. Carter's grandson Matt Doocey has been a member of Parliament, also for the National Party, 2014 New Zealand general election, since 2014. Merle Carter died in 2008. Maurice Carter died at Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch, Princess Margaret Hospital in Christchurch on 9 May 2011. He is buried at Bromley Cemetery.Honours and awards
In the 1976 Birthday Honours (New Zealand), 1976 Queen's Birthday Honours, Carter was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to local-body and community affairs. In the 1992 Birthday Honours (New Zealand), 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire, again for services to local-body and community affairs.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, Maurice 1917 births 2011 deaths Real estate and property developers New Zealand Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Deputy mayors of Christchurch Christchurch City Councillors Canterbury regional councillors Burials at Bromley Cemetery Politicians from Bradford British emigrants to New Zealand New Zealand businesspeople New Zealand military personnel of World War II