Peter Tapsell (New Zealand politician)
Sir Peter Tapsell | |
|---|---|
Tapsell as Speaker | |
| 24th Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 21 December 1993 – 12 December 1996 | |
| Prime Minister | Jim Bolger |
| Preceded by | Robin Gray |
| Succeeded by | Doug Kidd |
| 30th Minister of Defence | |
| In office 9 February 1990 – 2 November 1990 | |
| Prime Minister | Geoffrey Palmer |
| Preceded by | Bob Tizard |
| Succeeded by | Warren Cooper |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Wilfred Tapsell 21 January 1930 Rotorua, New Zealand |
| Died | 5 April 2012 (aged 82) Ruatoria, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Relatives | Tania Tapsell (great-niece) |
Sir Peter Wilfred Tapsell KNZM MBE FRCS FRCSEd (21 January 1930 – 5 April 2012) was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996. He was notable for being the first Māori Speaker, and for being the first Speaker since Bill Barnard in 1943 to hold office while not a member of the governing party.
He was an orthopaedic surgeon before entering politics.