Rob Talbot

Born in Temuka on 18 October 1923, Talbot was the son of Elsie and Leslie Talbot.{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Alister |last2=Coddington |first2=Deborah |author-link1=Alister Taylor |author-link2=Deborah Coddington |title=Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand |year=1994 |publisher=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa |location=Auckland |isbn=0-908578-34-2 |page=358}} He was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School. In 1947, Talbot married Anne Sandston, and the couple had three children.

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{{NZ parlbox|party=New Zealand National Party

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|start={{NZ election link year|1966}}|end=1969|term=35th}}

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|start={{NZ election link year|1969}}|end=1972|term=36th}}

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|start={{NZ election link year|1975}}|end=1978|term=38th}}

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|start={{NZ election link year|1978}}|end=1981|term=39th}}

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|start={{NZ election link year|1981}}|end=1984|term=40th}}

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|start={{NZ election link year|1984}}|end=1987|term=41st}}

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Talbot represented the Ashburton electorate in Parliament from 1966 to 1969, then the South Canterbury electorate from 1969 to 1978, and then the Ashburton electorate again from 1978 until his retirement in 1987 whereupon he was replaced by Jenny Shipley.

As Postmaster-General he signed off on New Zealand's first cellular network in 1983.{{cite news | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/archive/national-news/529494/It-beats-the-brick-says-Rob | title=It beats the brick, says Rob | date=12 July 2008 | work=The Dominion Post | access-date=15 March 2014 | first=Greer | last=McDonald}} In 1984, at a time when the use of Māori phrases was as yet uncommon in New Zealand, an Auckland telephone operator, Naida Glavish, was instructed to stop using "kia ora" when greeting callers after the post office had received a complaint. She refused to do so and was consequently stood down, with the whole affair attracting much public interest. Talbot, as Postmaster-General, is credited with successfully convincing the Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, to overturn that prohibition.

On 4 July 2007, Talbot was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from former United States Ambassador to New Zealand Bill McCormick for his efforts in fostering positive relations between the United States and New Zealand during his tenure with the New Zealand American Association.{{cite web|title=Ambassador Bill McCormick remarks for 4th July |url=https://photos.state.gov/libraries/newzealand/19965/4jul2007/july_4_wgtn_remarks.pdf | date=4 July 2007 |website=photos.state.gov/ |publisher=Office of Public Affairs, US Embassy, Wellington | access-date=15 March 2014}}

Talbot died on 13 December 2012 in Wellington. His wife Anne had died before him. He was survived by partner, Wilhelmina Pondman, one son, and two daughters.

In 1977, Talbot was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. In the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours, Talbot was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.{{London Gazette |issue=52564 |date=15 June 1991 |page=31 |supp=2}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |orig-year=First published in 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc=154283103 }}

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{{s-bef | before = John Falloon}}

{{s-ttl | title = Postmaster-General | years=1982–1984}}

{{s-aft | after = Jonathan Hunt}}

{{s-par | nz}}

{{s-bef | before= Geoff Gerard}}

{{s-ttl | rows = 2 | title= Member of Parliament for Ashburton| years=1966–1969
1978–1987}}

{{s-vac | abeyance | next = himself}}

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{{s-vac | abeyance | last = himself}}

{{s-aft | after = Jenny Shipley}}

{{s-new | constituency}}

{{s-ttl | title=Member of Parliament for South Canterbury | years=1969–1978}}

{{s-non | reason=Constituency abolished}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Talbot, Rob}}

Category:1923 births

Category:2012 deaths

Category:New Zealand National Party MPs

Category:Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand

Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives

Category:New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates

Category:Companions of the Queen's Service Order

Category:People from Ashburton, New Zealand

Category:People from Temuka

Category:People educated at Waitaki Boys' High School