Richard Harrison

Sir John Richard Harrison (23 May 1921 – 5 September 2003) was a New Zealand politician. After serving in a number of capacities in the National Party, he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1978 to 1984.

Early life Harrison was born in Hastings, New Zealand, on 23 May 1921. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and Canterbury University, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. During World War II, Harrison served in the army, and saw active service in Italy. He remained in the army for several years after the war. After leaving the military, he established himself as a farmer, although remained active as an army reservist. He served as commander of the reservist Hawke's Bay Regiment from 1956 to 1959. In 1953, Harrison was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.

In 1948, he married Margaret Kelly, the daughter of E. J. Kelly. They had three sons and one daughter.

Political career

In the 1963 election, Harrison stood for Parliament in the electorate of Hawke's Bay, and was successful. He served as a National Party backbencher for six years. After the 1969 election, he was made Junior Whip, and was Chairman of Committees in 1972, and again from 1976 to 1978. In 1978, he was elected Speaker after the death of Roy Jack. His Speakership ended at the 1984 election, when National Government lost, and when Harrison lost the election in the Hawke's Bay electorate to Bill Sutton.

In the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours, Harrison was appointed a Knight Bachelor, two years after becoming speaker.

Later life After leaving Parliament, Harrison lived on his farm at Takapau. An early advocate for the potential of Central Hawke's Bay as a wine-growing region, he developed a vineyard on his farm in the early 1990s. Harrison died at Takapau on 5 September 2003, at the age of 82.