Sir Thomas Kerry Burke was born on 24 March 1942 and is a former New Zealand politician and Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.
18 Facts About Kerry Burke
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Kerry Burke was a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1978 to 1990, and later served twelve years on Canterbury Regional Council from 1998 to 2010.
3.
Kerry Burke taught at Rangiora High School from 1967 to 1972.
4.
Kerry Burke appreciated that leaving parliament would give him more time to spend with his sons.
5.
Kerry Burke decided to return to teaching, though found there to be no teaching vacancies in Canterbury at the time.
6.
Kerry Burke established himself locally and when the local MP, Paddy Blanchfield, announced his retirement Burke sought the Labour Party candidacy.
7.
Kerry Burke supported Rowling when he was challenged for the leadership in 1980 by deputy leader David Lange.
8.
When Lange replaced Rowling in 1983 Kerry Burke fell in the rankings and was left only with the regional development portfolio.
9.
When Labour won the 1984 election, Kerry Burke became Minister of Immigration and Minister of Employment.
10.
Kerry Burke held these roles until the 1987 election, when he was chosen to replace the outgoing Gerry Wall as Speaker.
11.
Kerry Burke served in this role for three years, losing the Speakership and his seat when Labour lost the 1990 election.
12.
Kerry Burke did not contest West Coast in the 1993 election; Damien O'Connor succeeded him as Labour's candidate.
13.
Kerry Burke contested and was elected to the Canterbury Regional Council in 1998, beginning what would be 12 years of service.
14.
Kerry Burke first became chairman in 2004 and was reelected to the chair after the 2007 local elections.
15.
On 24 September 2009, Kerry Burke lost a motion of no confidence and was replaced as chairman by former National MP Alec Neill.
16.
Kerry Burke remarried with journalist Helen Paske in October 1984, with whom he had a third son in 1985.
17.
At one time Kerry Burke was patron of Cholmondeley Children's Home in Governors Bay.
18.
Kerry Burke was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for six months.