Geoff Braybrooke

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English {{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | bodyclass = vcard | bodystyle = {{#if:|width: {{{mainwidth}}}}} | child = {{{embed}}}

| abovestyle = font-size: 100%;

| above = {{#if:|

}}

{{#if:Template:Post-nominals|

Template:Post-nominals

}}

| subheaderstyle = font-size:125%; font-weight:bold;

| subheader = {{#ifeq:{{{embed}}}|yes||{{#if:|{{#if:|

}}{{{native_name}}}{{#if:|

}}}}}}

| image = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|size=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | image2 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|size=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | image3 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | captionstyle = line-height:normal;padding-top:0.2em; | caption{{#if:|3|{{#if:|2}}}} =

| headerstyle = color: #202122; {{#ifeq:{{{embed}}}|yes|background:#eee|background:lavender}}

| data2 = | header3 = {{#if:4 April 1935Gillingham, Kent, EnglandTemplate:Death date and age Palmerston North, New ZealandLabour Template:Plainlist2|Personal details}} | label4 = Pronunciation | data4 =

| label5 = Born | data5 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br

|1 = {{#if:|

{{{birthname}}}

}}

|2 = 4 April 1935
|3 = Gillingham, Kent, England
}}

| label6 = Died | data6 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br|Template:Death date and age|Palmerston North, New Zealand}}

| label7 = {{#ifexpr: Template:Strfind short

   | Manner |{{#if:|Manner|Cause}} }} of death

| data7 = {{#if:||}}

| label8 = Resting place | class8 = label | data8 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br||}}

| label9 = Citizenship | data9 =

| label10 = Nationality | data10 = {{#switch:{{#invoke:delink|delink|}} | {{#ifeq:Template:Country2nationality|{{#invoke:delink|delink|}}|{{#invoke:delink|delink|}}}} = | {{#ifeq:Template:Find country|England|British}} = | #default = }}

| label11 = Political party | data11 = {{#switch:Labour | = | Democrat | Democratic | Democrat = Democratic | Republican | United States Republican Party | Republican | Republican Party = Republican | Conservative Party | Conservative = Conservative | Labour Party | Labour = Labour | Conservative Party | Conservative = Conservative | Liberal Party | Liberal = Liberal | KMT | Kuomintang | KMT | KMT | Kuomintang | Kuomintang (KMT) | Kuomintang (KMT) = Kuomintang | DPP | DPP | Democratic Progressive Party = Democratic Progressive Party | #default = Labour }}

| label12 = Other political
affiliations | data12 =

| label13 = Height | data13 = {{#if:|Template:Infobox person/height}}

| label14 = Spouse{{#if:|s|{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize|Template:Plainlist|likely=(s)|plural=s}}}} | data14 = Template:Plainlist

| label15 = Domestic partner{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | data15 =

| label16 = Relations | data16 =

| label17 = Children | data17 = 2

| label18 = Parent{{#if:|{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}}|{{#ifexpr:Template:Count > 1|s}}}} | data18 = {{#if:|{{{parents}}}|{{#invoke:list|unbulleted|{{#if:|{{{father}}} (father)}}|{{#if:|{{{mother}}} (mother)}}}}}}

| label19 = Relatives | data19 =

| label20 = Residence{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | class20 = {{#if:Template:Death date and age Palmerston North, New Zealand||label}} | data20 =

| label21 = Education | data21 =

| label22 = Alma mater | data22 =

| label23 = Occupation | data23 =

| label24 = Profession | data24 =

| label25 = Known for | data25 =

| label26 = Salary | data26 =

| label27 = Cabinet | data27 =

| label28 = Committees | data28 =

| label29 = Portfolio | data29 =

| label30 = {{#if:|Civilian awards|Awards}} | data30 =

| label31 = {{{blank1}}} | data31 =

| label32 = {{{blank2}}} | data32 =

| label33 = {{{blank3}}} | data33 =

| label34 = {{{blank4}}} | data34 =

| label35 = {{{blank5}}} | data35 =

| label36 = Signature | data36 = {{#if:|[[File:{{{signature}}}|{{#if:|{{{signature_size}}}|128x80px}}|class=skin-invert|alt=|Geoff Braybrooke's signature]]}}

| label37 = Website | data37 =

| label38 = Nickname{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | data38 =

| header39 = {{#if:British Army
New Zealand Army1952–1955
1957–1970File:Army-GBR-OR-08a.svg Warrant Officer Korean War
Malayan Emergency
Vietnam War|Military service}}

| label40 = Allegiance | data40 = British Army
New Zealand Army

| label41 = {{#if:||Branch/service}} | data41 =

| label42 = {{#if:||Years of service}} | data42 = 1952–1955
1957–1970

| label43 = {{#if:||Rank}} | data43 = File:Army-GBR-OR-08a.svg Warrant Officer

| label44 = {{#if:||Unit}} | data44 =

| label45 = Commands | data45 =

| label46 = {{#if:||Battles/wars}} | data46 = Korean War
Malayan Emergency
Vietnam War

| label47 = {{#if:|Military awards|Awards}} | data47 =

| label48 = {{{military_blank1}}} | data48 =

| label49 = {{{military_blank2}}} | data49 =

| label50 = {{{military_blank3}}} | data50 =

| label51 = {{{military_blank4}}} | data51 =

| label52 = {{{military_blank5}}} | data52 =

| below =

{{#if:| As of {{{date}}}{{#if:|, {{{year}}}}}}}

{{#if:|Source: [{{{source}}}]}}

}}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#if:||{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}}}} }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox officeholder with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| regexp1 = 1blankname[%d]* | regexp2 = 1namedata[%d]* | regexp3 = 2blankname[%d]* | regexp4 = 2namedata[%d]* | regexp5 = 3blankname[%d]* | regexp6 = 3namedata[%d]* | regexp7 = 4blankname[%d]* | regexp8 = 4namedata[%d]* | regexp9 = 5blankname[%d]* | regexp10 = 5namedata[%d]* | allegiance | alma_mater | regexp11 = alongside[%d]* | alt | regexp12 = ambassador_from[%d]* | regexp13 = appointed[%d]* | regexp14 = appointer[%d]* | regexp15 = assembly[%d]* | awards | battles | battles_label | birth_date | birth_name | birth_place | birthname | regexp16 = blank[%d]* | bodyclass | branch | branch_label | cabinet | candidate | caption | categories | regexp17 = chancellor[%d]* | children | citizenship | regexp18 = co%-leader[%d]* | commands | committees | regexp19 = constituency[%d]* | regexp20 = constituency_AM[%d]* | regexp21 = constituency_MP[%d]* | regexp22 = convocation[%d]* | regexp23 = country[%d]* | regexp24 = data[%d]* | date | death_cause | death_date | death_manner | death_place | demo | regexp25 = deputy[%d]* | regexp26 = district[%d]* | education | election_date | embed | father | regexp28 = firstminister[%d]* | footnotes | regexp29 = governor[%d]* | regexp30 = governor_general[%d]* | regexp31 = governor%-general[%d]* | height | honorific_prefix | honorific-prefix | honorific_suffix | honorific-suffix | image | image name | image_name_alt | image_size | imagesize | image_upright | incumbent | regexp32 = jr/sr[%d]* | regexp33 = jr/sr and state[%d]* | known_for | regexp34 = leader[%d]* | regexp35 = legislature[%d]* | regexp36 = lieutenant[%d]* | regexp37 = lieutenant_governor[%d]* | mainwidth | regexp38 = majority[%d]* | regexp39 = majority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp40 = majority_leader[%d]* | regexp41 = majorityleader[%d]* | mawards | regexp42 = military_blank[%d]* | regexp43 = military_data[%d]* | regexp44 = minister[%d]* | regexp45 = minister_from[%d]* | regexp46 = minority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp47 = minority_leader[%d]* | regexp48 = minorityleader[%d]* | regexp49 = module[%d]* | regexp50 = monarch[%d]* | mother | name | nationality | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nocat | regexp51 = nominator[%d]* | nominee | occupation | regexp52 = office[%d]* | opponent | regexp53 = order[%d]* | otherparty | parents | regexp54 = parliament[%d]* | regexp55 = parliamentarygroup[%d]* | partner | party | party_election | portfolio | regexp56 = preceded[%d]* | regexp57 = preceding[%d]* | regexp58 = predecessor[%d]* | regexp59 = premier[%d]* | regexp60 = president[%d]* | regexp61 = primeminister[%d]* | regexp62 = prior_term[%d]* | profession | pronunciation | rank | rank_label | relations | relatives | residence | resting_place | resting_place_coordinates | restingplace | restingplacecoordinates | regexp63 = riding[%d]* | runningmate | salary | serviceyears | serviceyears_label | signature | signature_alt | signature_size | smallimage | smallimage_alt | source | speaker | speaker_office | spouse | spouses | regexp64 = state[%d]* | regexp65 = state_assembly[%d]* | regexp66 = state_delegate[%d]* | regexp67 = state_house[%d]* | regexp68 = state_legislature[%d]* | regexp69 = state_senate[%d]* | regexp70 = status[%d]* | regexp71 = suboffice[%d]* | regexp72 = subterm[%d]* | regexp73 = succeeded[%d]* | regexp74 = succeeding[%d]* | regexp75 = successor[%d]* | regexp76 = taoiseach[%d]* | regexp77 = term[%d]* | regexp78 = term_end[%d]* | regexp79 = term_label[%d]* | regexp80 = term_start[%d]* | regexp81 = termend[%d]* | regexp82 = termlabel[%d]* | regexp83 = termstart[%d]* | regexp84 = title[%d]* | unit | unit_label | regexp85 = vicegovernor[%d]* | regexp86 = vicepremier[%d]* | regexp87 = vicepresident[%d]* | regexp88 = viceprimeminister[%d]* | regexp89 = assuming[%d]* | website | width | year }}

Geoffrey Bernard Braybrooke Template:Post-nominals (4 April 1935 – 9 March 2013) was a New Zealand politician.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1981 to 2002, representing the Labour Party. He was notably one of the party's more socially conservative MPs.

BiographyEdit

Early life and careerEdit

Braybrooke was born in Gillingham, Kent, England, on 4 April 1935, the son of Geoff and Edith Braybrooke, and was educated at Chatham House Grammar School in Ramsgate.<ref name="HBTQ">Template:Cite book</ref> It was the same school that future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Edward Heath had attended. He attended Chatham House after he won a state scholarship and there was exposed to snobbery and exclusion by fellow students as he came from a working class family.<ref name="Long Road">Template:Cite news</ref>

He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1952 and served in the Korean War. In 1955, he became a police officer in London, but in 1957, he chose to move to New Zealand and re-enter the army. Braybrooke reminisced about emigrating: "I became a New Zealand citizen in 1958 and I never regretted it. I am a Kiwi by choice, not by an accident of birth. It started when I was in the Metropolitan Police and I was standing at Charing Cross in the pouring rain directing traffic. I was nearly run over a bus and later I had three pub fights to sort out. I walked past New Zealand House, which was in the Strand then, and it looked so good that I went in and made enquiries. I had to join the Army again to be accepted."<ref name="Long Road"/>

He served in the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps from 1957 until 1970. During his military career, he served in the Malayan Emergency and Vietnam War as a Warrant Officer. Despite serving there, he was firmly of the opinion that New Zealand should never have gotten itself involved in the Vietnam War stating "I saw all the horror and filth of war and read all the rubbish that was written about it back here and it was all to support corrupt officials. We weren't supporting democracy, we were protecting people who flew out of Vietnam with bags of gold. It was a fascist regime and a communist regime having a go at each other. But, for all that, I am not a pacifist. I believe in a strong, well-trained and well-equipped army for New Zealand's defence. But it should be for self-defence only. I do not believe in fighting other people's wars for them. I know it is hard to spend money on an army when people are going without, but New Zealand cannot afford to become defenceless."<ref name="Long Road"/> He blamed his ill-health in later life on the effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1959, Braybrooke married Janice Cater, and the couple went on to have two children.<ref name="HBTQ"/> He represented the New Zealand Army in both soccer and basketball and was later an official with the New Zealand Amateur Athletics Association. After leaving the army, he became a sales manager for a pharmaceutical research company until 1980.<ref name="Long Road"/>

Member of ParliamentEdit

Template:NZ parlbox header Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox Template:NZ parlbox footer Braybrooke had joined the British Labour Party when only fourteen years old, and when he moved to New Zealand, he became a supporter of the New Zealand Labour Party. In the 1969 elections, he managed Mick Connelly's campaign in the Wigram seat. He then unsuccessfully contested the seats of Franklin, Pakuranga, and Papakura in the 1972 elections, 1975 elections, and the 1978 elections, respectively.<ref name="Long Road"/> He also made an abortive attempt to become Labour's candidate for the 1977 Mangere by-election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the 1981 elections, he was finally elected MP for Napier.Template:Sfn

Upon entering Parliament he stated his support for the armed forces, opposition to abortion and his desire for the Labour Party to return to what it stood for under previous leader Norman Kirk (whom he admired greatly).<ref name="Long Road"/> In 1983 he was appointed as Labour's spokesperson for War Pensions and Rehabilitation by Labour leader David Lange.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During the controversial Fourth Labour Government Braybrooke was chairman of the communications and road safety select committee. After the defeat of the government in 1990 he was appointed Shadow Minister of Transport and Disabilities by leader Mike Moore.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He supported Moore when he was successfully challenged by Helen Clark after Labour narrowly lost the 1993 election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Subsequently he was appointed Shadow Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs by Clark.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Braybrooke was one of the more socially conservative members of the Labour Party and was at times he was offside with liberal-minded colleagues. According to Braybrooke his affiliation with Labour was attributed to his working class background stating in 1982 "My background was as poor as a church mouse's. I know what it is like to labour away and be broke at the end of the week and have to go without."<ref name="Long Road"/> In 1985, when his fellow Labour MP Fran Wilde attempted to overturn legal prohibitions against homosexuality, Braybrooke was active in campaigning against the change, and later opposed measures promoted by National's Katherine O'Regan to combat discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2011, near the end of his life, he said that his views had changed and he had come to accept the gay community.<ref name="Shadwell" /> He opposed Helen Clark's rise to the Labour Party's leadership, remaining strongly loyal to her predecessor, Mike Moore. This led him to be involved in the failed discussions during 1995 & 1996 about forming a new breakaway party led by Moore.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When he retired from politics, however, he praised Clark in his valedictory speech as "one of the great Labour leaders," and said with regard to his vote for Moore over her that "It just shows that we can all make mistakes and we can all learn. I mean that sincerely."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Throughout his career in Parliament, Braybrooke never had ambition to hold any ministerial roles, but did serve as Deputy Speaker and Labour defence spokesperson.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Soon after entering parliament he stated his ideal role would have been a Labour government's Senior Whip stating "I think I would be well suited to being a senior whip. There are similarities between a whip and a sergeant major."<ref name="Long Road"/> He held the Napier seat until his retirement at the 2002 elections.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Later life and deathEdit

He died in Palmerston North in 2013.<ref name="Shadwell">Template:Cite news</ref>

Honours and recognitionEdit

He was an appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1970.<ref name="Long Road"/> In 1990, Braybrooke was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.<ref name="HBTQ"/> Following his retirement from Parliament, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services, in the 2003 New Year Honours.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

NotesEdit

Template:Reflist

ReferencesEdit

Template:Cite book

Template:S-start Template:S-par Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft

{{safesubst:#if:|||} }}{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:End with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| html | 1 }}