Early environmentalist MP
Ian Shearer politician b December 10, 1941 d June 1, 2021
Ian Shearer, who has died aged 79, was a member of Parliament, an environmentalist, research scientist and author, and a man who, in the words of his autobiography, had ‘‘always been a servant of the people’’.
In his latter years, his personal beliefs meant he moved a little further from the National Party – for which he served as MP for Hamilton East from 1975-84 – to the point, said second wife Cheryl, that ‘‘for the first time ever he voted for Labour in the last election, because we had two bottom lines and National didn’t support those’’.
One, she said, was abortion law reform – something on which Shearer had crossed the House in 1977. ‘‘He made it perfectly clear to Rob Muldoon ‘it is not the place of any man to dictate to any woman what she’s entitled to do with her body’ . . . so when this latest legislation came in and National wasn’t supportive of it, Ian was ‘I don’t like that’.’’
The other was end-of-life legislation. ‘‘As far as Ian was concerned, end of life is a person’s choice, it is up to the patient and the medical care they are receiving.’’
East Coast Labour MPKiri Allan’s demeanour and behaviour during the Whakaari/White Island disaster had also impressed him, Cheryl said.
Shearer’s earlier distancing from National had involved publicly questioning the party on membership and finances in 1985, resulting in his suspension. Although this was later lifted, he resigned all his party roles in December that year.
After an unsuccessful dabble in Onehunga for NZ First in 1993, he ‘‘pretty much never really had anything to do with politics again’’, said Cheryl.
Ian John Shearer was born in Whakata¯ne, where he attended primary and secondary school while living on the family farm near Ta¯neatua. He then attended Massey University and later Nottingham University, in the UK, adding a PhD in reproductive physiology to his earlier bachelor and masters degrees in agricultural science.
On his return to New Zealand, he was bonded to the government and worked at the Ruakura Research Centre in animal science, eventually spending nine years there.
He was elected to Parliament in the 1975 general election, now infamous for National’s dancing cossacks television advertisement; it was lesser known for being the first in which a youth vote counted (18 to 20-year-olds were eligible), and for seeing the best result for the country’s first green party, Values.
Shearer outlined his own green credentials in his maiden statement on July 14, 1976 – a speech that also touched on his interests in health and education.
‘‘I come into the House with somewhat of a reputation for being an environmentalist – and I do not deny that – but I am also a realist and I believe that, as long as a balanced approach prevails, much can be done to preserve that which is good and still enable, and in fact encourage, development of the country and its resources.
‘‘We should endeavour at all times to seek not what is best for ourselves in today’s world, but that which is best for future generations in tomorrow’s world.’’
Those beliefs would also see him cross the floor of the House in the other major conflict he had with prime minister Rob Muldoon.
As Shearer noted in his autobiography, The Boy from the Bay, the height of the late 1970s/early 1980s energy crisis spurred National to propose a National Development Act to accelerate the process of finding new generation possibilities (known as the ‘‘Think Big’’ strategy).
‘‘I was most concerned about the numerous possible environmental effects this legislation could have, and informed the PMthat I would be voting against my own government on this matter,’’ Shearer wrote of his actions.
He was joined by fellow backbenchers Marilyn Waring and Mike Minogue – ‘‘for their own but different reasons’’. Despite this dissent, Shearer was still appointed to the Cabinet.
His actions, in crossing the floor and campaigning to save the Motu River, saw ‘‘the proverbial hit the fan’’, said Cheryl, so it was a surprise that early in 1981 he was given the environment, science and technology portfolios and, after that year’s election, broadcasting.
She said she and her husband thought it ‘‘hilariously funny’’ when Muldoon wrote of Shearer, in 1984, that he was ‘‘a totally dedicated environmentalist and yet a man of very good humour and reasonableness’’.
‘‘Sir Robert also said that he felt that Ian was a valuable asset and would contribute further to the progress of this country,’’ Cheryl said.
After his political career, Shearer was the dean of science and engineering at the Auckland University of Technology for nine years and held various positions at the Waitangi Tribunal, including manager and acting director for 11 years, retiring from public service in January 2005.
His work at the Waitangi Tribunal was something of which he was intensely proud, and a highlight of a visit last year to the capital was the chance to meet up again with Supreme Court Judge Joe Williams, who had been chief judge of the Ma¯ori Land Court and chair of the tribunal at the time Shearer worked there.
That trip also involved a chance to return to the House. ‘‘It just so happened they were doing the minute’s silence for Whakaari, and Ian being from Whakata¯ne, that was pretty special,’’ Cheryl said.
‘‘Everything’s silent and then all of a sudden there’s a click, click, hiss, and it’s Ian’s portable oxygen making the noise.
‘‘Trevor Mallard was looking around – then gave a smile – and just the other day, after I emailed him to say Ian had died, he emailed back to say he was really grateful for me having brought him there in December, because it gave him an opportunity to point out to the so-called environmentalists in Parliament that it’s not new.
‘‘This man was advocating this stuff back when he started in Parliament in 1975. He was always known as being an environmentalist.’’
On retirement, he took up his other passion: researching the history of people and places, and writing fiction.
With his first wife, Sandra, Shearer had a son and a daughter.
He died at home in Whakata¯ne on June 1, suddenly but not unexpectedly, after a long battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. –