George Gair
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The Honourable George Gair CMG QSO |
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| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for North Shore |
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In office 1966–1990 |
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| Preceded by | Dean Eyre |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Cliffe |
| 3rd Mayor of North Shore | |
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In office 1995–1998 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Titchener |
| Succeeded by | George Wood |
| 19th High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom | |
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In office 1991–1994 |
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| Preceded by | Bryce Harland |
| Succeeded by | John Collinge |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Frederick Gair 13 October 1926 Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Died | 17 August 2015 (aged 88) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Relations | Joanne Gair (daughter) |
| Occupation | Politician |
George Frederick Gair CMG QSO (13 October 1926 – 17 August 2015) was a New Zealand politician. He was once deputy leader of the National Party in the New Zealand Parliament, and was considered by many to be a possible contender for the leadership itself. He was known for his polite and diplomatic style, which often contrasted with the political situation around him – Michael Laws described him as "a refugee from the age of manners." He is the father of Joanne Gair.
Gair was born in Dunedin, but moved to Wellington when young. A graduate of Victoria University and University of Auckland, he worked as a journalist and as a public relations officer. He also became involved in the organisational wing of the National Party, and briefly served on the staff of Keith Holyoake.
Gair first stood for the National Party nomination for the Remuera electorate in the 1966 election, losing the nomination to Allan Highet. Gair then went across the bridge and contested and won the North Shore nomination from retiring National MP Dean Eyre. He was successful, and was elected to Parliament that year.
In Parliament, Gair came to be regarded as a competent and diligent administrator. He briefly became Minister of Customs in 1972 at the end of the Second National government, but this was interrupted when National lost the 1972 election to the Labour Party under Norman Kirk. When National was returned to power in the 1975 election, Gair was returned to cabinet in the Third National government. Between that time and National's defeat in the 1984 election, Gair held a number of challenging portfolios, including serving as Minister of Health and Minister of Social Welfare. He also served as Minister of Housing, Minister of Energy, Minister of Transport, Minister of Railways and a number of other roles.
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