Colin McLachlan

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

Biography
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1966–1969 35th Selwyn National
1969–1972 36th Selwyn National
1972–1975 37th Rakaia National
1975–1978 38th Rakaia National
1978–1981 39th Selwyn National

McLachlan was born in Christchurch in 1924. He received his education at Lakeside Primary School and at St. Andrew's College. He farmed at Methven and bred horses.[1]

He first stood for election in the Christchurch Central electorate in 1957 election. He then became the Member of Parliament for Selwyn 1966–1972, then Rakaia 1972–1978, then Selwyn again 1978–1981.[2]

He was the Minister of Railways, 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.[3] 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 by Muldoon in 1981.

Hugh Templeton wrote that McLachlan:[4]

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

Corwar Gatekeepers Lodge in 2015

The McLachlans gave the derelict Corwar Gatekeepers Lodge near Barrhill to the people of the Ashburton District. Renovation began in 1970, with work carried out and financed by descendants of previous inhabitants of the building.[5] The building was formally reopened by the Prime Minister of the time, Robert Muldoon in March 1979.[6] The gate house is fitted out as a museum, and viewing can be arranged through the Ashburton or Methven information centres.[5]

Notes
  1. Gustafson 1986, p. 330.
  2. Wilson 1985, p. 216.
  3. Wilson 1985, p. 95.
  4. Templeton 1995, p. 11.
  5. Corwar Gatekeepers Lodge (Information panel). Next to Corwar Gatekeepers Lodge: author not stated.
  6. Corwar Lodge (Plaque). Mounted on the side of Corwar Lodge: author not stated. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

References
  • Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
  • Templeton, Hugh (1995). All Honourable Men: Inside the Muldoon Cabinet, 1975–1984. Auckland: Auckland University Press. ISBN 186940128X.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
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