The Queen honours him with a Knighthood so well deserved
Venkat Raman (Indian Newslink)
Auckland, June 4, 2018
The Right Honourable Simon Willian English, known to New Zealand and the rest of the world, as Bill English, is being appointed to the Knighthood as a part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
The List, announced overnight to mark Queen’s Birthday being marked by New Zealanders today (first Monday in June), although different countries celebrate her birthday on different dates. Queen Elizabeth II was actually born on April 21. Please look for a separate article.
Dignity and Respect
From the time he entered politics in 1990 to the time he quit as the Leader of the Opposition in February 28, he brought nothing but dignity and respect to the various posts he held- first as a Member of Parliament, then as a Minister of the Crown, later as the Prime Minister and finally as the Leader of the Opposition, ‘The Worst Job on the Planet.’
I have known Mr English since he became the National Party’s Spokesperson for Finance and Shadow Finance Minister after a Labour Coalition came to power in November 1999. He brought a certain finesse to his role, never criticising a government policy for the sake of it and never putting down an Opposition Member just because that was his job.
If he was a responsible Finance Minister under National for nine years (2008 to 2017), he was more so during his nine-year stint in the Opposition benches.
Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy, in her citation, has said that Mr English was being knighted for her services to the State- a Statement that fits the man with perfection. Whatever he did, Mr English did with passion and without prejudice.
Services to the State
A Government House brief said that as the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand (from December 2016 to October 2017), he focused on trade relations, development of social investment, and new ways of the Crown working with Maori.
“As Finance Minister from 2008 until 2016, Mr English oversaw one of the fastest-growing economies in the developed world, steering New Zealand through the Global Financial Crisis and the Christchurch earthquakes and ensuring the Crown accounts were in a strong financial position,” the brief said.
In Historic Perspective
Mr English was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Wallace (now the Clutha-Southland electorate) in 1990 and was MP for Clutha-Southland until standing as a List only MP in 2014 and 2017.
His first Ministerial roles were as Minister of for Crown Health Enterprises and Associate Minister of Education in early 1996, later being appointed Minister of Health that same year and then Minister of Finance and to the portfolio of Treasurer in 1999.
He led the National Party in opposition from October 2017 until stepping down from politics in February 2018, having previously been Leader of the Opposition from 2001 until 2003. Following the 2008 election, he became Deputy Prime Minister in the fifth National Government and was appointed Minister of Infrastructure for a single term of Parliament and Minister of Finance.
Bill, the Columnist
Indian Newslink was privileged to have Mr English as a Columnist for several years, and he wrote on a number of topics, including ‘Revisiting the Treaty of Waitangi’ and a ‘Common Code of Citizenship’ (May 1, 2003), a strong attack on the Helen Clark government’s move to abolish the Privy Council (Indian Newslink, October 15, 2003). Although his views on the National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) was not clear, he was keen to raise standards of learning and teachings, first as Education Minister and then as its Spokesperson after November 1999.
Bill, a great leader
Bill English was a successful Finance Minister who steered the economy through years of Global Financial Crisis; he was a clean politician with an unblemished career of 27 years. He was a gentleman so simple that very often he forgot that he was the Prime Minister of the country, albeit for less than ten months.
It is unfortunate that leaders should be dismissed for poll debacles.
In the case of Mr English it was unfair as well.
For, as we had mentioned in the past, despite returning 56 members to Parliament last September, the National Party was short of five seats and with no one other than an almost defunct ACT Party to support (with one seat), there was no chance for National to enter a fourth-term government.
A fourth term for the centre-right National Party would have been a near-unprecedented feat; only two governments have won four consecutive elections since the World War Two. It will be even more of a challenge following the surprise resignation in late 2016 of Mr Key, who continued to enjoy high popularity ratings.
Victim of circumstances
In many ways, Mr English was a victim of circumstances. He assumed leadership at a time when differences within the Party began to be heard and the defeat at the September 2017 polls brought those differences to the fore. It is now becoming apparent that Mr English decided to quit with dignity and honour on his terms rather than face an almost certain ouster.
Today, we salute an astute leader and yet a simple man who symbolises the Ordinary New Zealand. Wish you well, Sir!
For full list of Queen’s Birthday Honours, please visit
https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2018
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Photo Caption:
- Grin and Bear it! Bill English with David Shearer at the Fifth Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards., Sky City Convention Centre, November 19, 2012
- We have exchanged places: Bill English dines for the first time with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the Tenth Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards, Sky City Convention Centre, November 27, 2017 (Pictures for Indian Newslink by Creative Eye Fotographics)
- Bill English with his cabinet and Parliamentary colleagues, supporters and well-wishers launching our Electionlink pages on February 27, 2017. (Picture for Indian Newslink by Ashok Kochhar)
