Fraser Colman

Fraser MacDonald Colman (23 February 1925 – 11 April 2008) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He represented the electorates of Petone from 1967 to 1978, and then when Petone was renamed, Pencarrow from 1978 to 1987, when he retired. He was the cabinet minister chosen to represent New Zealand in 1973 on its warships during their protest against the nuclear weapons testing carried out by France.

Early life and family Colman was born in Wellington on 23 February 1925, one of five children of Kenneth and Emily Colman. He attended primary school in Wellington before his family moved to Paraparaumu, where he went to Horowhenua College. In the cabinet of Bill Rowling, he was Minister of Mines, Minister of Immigration and Postmaster-General (all 1974–1975).

Mururoa In 1973 the government decided to dispatch a Royal New Zealand Navy frigate to protest against French nuclear testing on Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific. It was decided that a cabinet minister should accompany the frigate to demonstrate the seriousness of the New Zealand government's position. Norman Kirk put all the Cabinet ministers' names into a hat and drew out the name of Colman. He departed from Auckland on 28 June aboard HMNZS Otago, which reached Mururoa a month later where he witnessed the first atmospheric test. Colman transferred to HMNZS Canterbury when it arrived to relieve the Otago, from which he witnessed the second French atmospheric test.

Opposition Following the defeat of the Third Labour Government he held the position of Opposition Spokesman on Immigration. In 1977 he became Shadow Minister of Energy and in 1978 Shadow Minister for the Environment as well. A year later he was allocated the Housing portfolio by Rowling instead. Ahead of the 1981 election he was shifted to be Shadow Minister of Transport. After the election he became Shadow Minister of Works and Shadow Minister of Mines. When David Lange replaced Rowling as leader Colman retained the Works portfolio. He criticised the Muldoon Government for outsourcing the construction of many Think Big projects, including hiring foreign contractors at the Clyde Dam, rather than using the Ministry of Works and Development employees, stating the government "sacrificed the ministry to private enterprise."

Fourth Labour Government In the fourth Labour Government, he again served as a cabinet minister holding the posts of Minister of Works and Development, Minister in Charge of the Earthquake and War Damages Commission, and Associate Minister of Energy. and in 1990 received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. His wife, Noeline, had previously been appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for community service in the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Colman was a life member of the Wellington Rugby League Club.