Sir George Maurice O’Rorke was a New Zealand politician, representing the Auckland seat of Onehunga, and later Manukau, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was a committed provincialist and was the eighth Superintendent of the Auckland Province. Upon receiving his knighthood in 1880, he became known as Sir Maurice.
George Maurice O’Rorke
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand, the speaker of the House of Representatives, commonly known as the speaker of the House, is the presiding officer and highest authority of the New Zealand House of Representatives. The individual who holds the position is elected by members of the House from among their number in the first session after each general election. They hold one of the highest-ranking offices in New Zealand. The current Speaker is Gerry Brownlee, who was elected on 5 December 2023.
Current Speaker Gerry Brownlee at his confirmation as Speaker with Governor-General Cindy Kiro
The Speaker, Ronald Algie (wearing a wig and robes), seated in the chair in the debating chamber, 1966
Speaker Sir Arthur Guinness, wearing the speaker's wig, 1911. The formal wig fell into disuse some decades later.
Image: Sir Charles Clifford, ca 1860
