Bob Tizard in 2013, flanked by first wife Dame Cath and daughter Judith. (Pic: Andrea/GayNZ.com) Sir Bob Tizard, who as an MP gave his much-needed vote in favour of Homosexual Law Reform and whose family went on to be immensely supportive of glbti initiatives, died today aged 91. The no-nonsense and sometimes irascible Labour politician served variously as finance minister and deputy prime minister after first entering Parliament in 1957. He had an incisive mind and a deep commitment to social equity. This showed when he was one of the Labour MPs who voted in favour of the 1986 Homosexual Law Reform ACT which freed gay and bi men from the fear of being persecuted and even jailed for same-sex intimacy. The vote for Law reform went right up to the wire with many MPs vacillating but Tizard's vote in favour was one which was always a given. His then-wife, Cath Tizard, became an outspoken advocate for glbti rights and was deeply committed to the fight against HIV infection and the need for better treatment of HIV-positive people. When Tizard left Parliament his daughter Judith succeeded him into the Panmure seat and she too was a strong advocate on glbti issues, particularly when she was MP for Auckland Central.
Credit: GayNJZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 28th January 2016 - 8:00pm