Herbert John Walker (2 June 1919 – 4 January 2008) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Walker was born in

Rangiora Rangiora is the largest town and seat of the Waimakariri District, in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is north of Christchurch, and is part of the Christchurch metropolitan area. With an estimated population of Rangiora is the 30th largest urb ...

in 1919, and was educated at Rangiora High School. In

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

he served in the Pacific as a NCO in the No. 9 Squadron of the

RNZAF The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) ( mi, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa, "The Warriors of the Sky of New Zealand"; previously ', "War Party of the Blue") is the aerial service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zeal ...

from 1942 to 1945, and then qualified as an accountant. He represented the

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 Rive ...

electorates of

St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major town on the old Roman ...

in Parliament from 1960 to 1969, and then

Papanui Papanui is a major suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated five kilometers to the northwest of the city centre. Papanui is a middle socio-economic area with a population of 3,645 consisting predominantly of Pākehā (NZ Eur ...

from 1969 to 1978, when he was defeated by Mike Moore. In 1961 he was one of ten National MPs to vote with the Opposition and remove

capital punishment Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the state-sanctioned practice of deliberately killing a person as a punishment for an actual or supposed crime, usually following an authorized, rule-governed process to conclude that ...

for murder from the Crimes Bill that the Second National Government had introduced. In 1969–1972 he was a cabinet minister in the Second National Government: Minister for Broadcasting and Tourism, and Postmaster-General in 1972. In 1973 when the Labour government of

Norman Kirk Norman Eric Kirk (6 January 1923 – 31 August 1974) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 29th prime minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. Born into poverty in Southern Canterbury, Kirk left school at ...

introduced the Domestic Purposes Benefit (DPB) he said that many lone (solo) mothers on the DPB were "bludgers living off the state". In 1975–1978 he was Minister of Social Welfare in the Third National Government, and threatened to take legal action against (DPB) beneficiaries in de facto relationships. In the he lost to Mike Moore. Walker was a President of

Victoria League Canterbury The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship (1901–present) is a voluntary charitable organisation that connects people from Commonwealth countries. There are currently branches in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand with affiliated organisatio ...

. In the

1983 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1983 were appointments by most of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and honorary ones to citizens of other countries ...

, he was appointed a

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour ...

, for public and community service. He died in

on 4 January 2008.

References

*''Obituary'' in Dominion Post of 10 January 2008 page B7. * , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Bert 1919 births 2008 deaths New Zealand Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand New Zealand military personnel of World War II New Zealand National Party MPs Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates Unsuccessful candidates in the 1978 New Zealand general election Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives People from Rangiora People educated at Rangiora High School New Zealand justices of the peace