Peter Gresham

The Honourable Peter Gresham ONZM JP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Waitotara
In office 1990–1996
Preceded by	Venn Young
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for National party list
In office 1996–1999
Personal details
Born	Peter John Gresham (1933-07-07)7 July 1933 Geraldine, New Zealand
Died	31 August 2024(2024-08-31) (aged 91) Whanganui, New Zealand
Political party	National
Spouse	Margot Gresham
Cabinet	Minister of Social Welfare and Minister of Senior Citizens

Peter John Gresham ONZM JP (7 July 1933 – 31 August 2024) was a New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1990 to 1999, representing the National Party.

Early life

Gresham was born in Geraldine in 1933, and was educated at St Kevin's College in Oamaru. Before entering politics, Gresham was an accountant.^[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate	List	Party
1990–1993	43rd	Waitotara			National
1993–1996	44th	Waitotara			National
1996–1999	45th	List	24		National

Gresham was first elected to Parliament in the 1990 election as MP for Waitotara, and then re-elected in the 1993 election. At the 1996 election, the bulk of his Waitotara seat was merged with Wanganui to create the new seat of Whanganui, and Gresham was defeated by Jill Pettis of the Labour Party. Gresham remained in Parliament as a list MP, but retired at the 1999 election.^[2]

From 1993 to 1996, he served as Minister of Social Welfare and Minister of Senior Citizens.^[3][4]

Death

Gresham died in Whanganui on 31 August 2024, at the age of 91.^[5] He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Margot, in 2022.^[6]

Honours

In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, Gresham was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for public services.^[7] He was a Knight of Malta, a Catholic religious military order.

References

1. Paltridge, Antony (8 October 1996). "Sitting MPs fight for Whanganui". Taranaki Daily News. p. 21.
2. G A Wood (ed), Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament, University of Otago, Dunedin, 1996, p. 91.
3. G A Wood (ed), p. 81 and 91.
4. Craig Spanhake (compiler), Ministers and members in the New Zealand Parliament, 1996-2005 : supplement for the years 1996-2005 to G.A. Wood's Ministers and members in the New Zealand Parliament : together with appendices updating J.O. Wilson's New Zealand parliamentary record, Tarkwode, Dunedin, 2006, pp. 2 and 5.
5. "Peter Gresham obituary". Whanganui Chronicle. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
6. "Margot Gresham obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
7. "Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Venn Young	Member of Parliament for Waitotara 1990–1996	Constituency abolished Contested Whanganui instead