Fred Gerbic

Gerbic was born in Kaitaia in 1932.[1] He became an electrical lineman and later married Joy Constance Nisbet and had three children together. He was a trade union organiser before being appointed as Auckland's industrial conciliator.[2]

From 1962 to 1965 he was a member of the New Lynn Borough Council.[2] He was involved in the Labour Party and became the chairman of the New Lynn electorate committee. He resigned as chairman in 1966 in protest of the party head office forcing the retirement of New Lynn MP Rex Mason.[3]

He was elected in the ensuing by-election to replace Frank Rogers in the seat of Onehunga when Rogers died in 1980.[4] After winning the Labour nomination, Gerbic took a leave of absence from his job as an Industrial Conciliator. As he was not classified as a civil servant under the electoral act he was not obliged to resign his position. He was cautioned in regards to his role by the Minister of Labour Jim Bolger on his future as an Industrial Conciliator in the event he lose the election. Bolger's warning was made in retaliation to Gerbic's criticisms of the government's response to an industrial dispute holding up construction of the Mangere Bridge.[5] In February 1982 he was elected to the Shadow Cabinet and appointed Shadow Minister of Labour and State Services by party leader Bill Rowling.[6]

After the 1987 election he was appointed as an undersecretary to the Ministers of Immigration, Transport, Civil Aviation and Meteriological Services. Gerbic was later a Minister without Portfolio, outside of cabinet, towards the end of the Fourth Labour Government. He was associate Minister of Immigration, Transport, Civil Aviation and Meteriological Services from 9 February 1990 to 2 November 1990.[7]

Parliamentary colleague Michael Bassett described Gerbic as a "boss' man" who would always take the side of whoever was leader.[8] Jonathan Hunt said he had a very generous spirit and an infectious sense of humour.[2] He retired from politics in 1990, after he was defeated by National's Grahame Thorne.[1]

After leaving parliament Gerbic found himself centered in a political scandal when in September 1992 rebel National MP Gilbert Myles accused him of operating a graft while a minister. Myles, under Parliamentary privilege, alleged that Gerbic took financial donations in exchange for residency approvals in his capacity as associate Minister of Immigration and in support tabled a transcript of an alleged tape recorded conversation between two Auckland Labour Party members. Gerbic denied the allegations and maintained his innocence throughout. The claims were investigated by John McGrath QC who found no evidence of impropriety by Gerbic and dismissed Myles' claims.[9]

Following politics he worked for an immigration consultancy firm with former National MP Aussie Malcolm.[1][10] Malcolm described Gerbic as "very much part of the old Labour school that had the interests of the ordinary man at heart."[2]

In the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gerbic was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (civil division), for public services.[11]

Gerbic died at his home in Hillsborough on 29 October 1995 whilst mowing his lawn.[1]