     sir thomas kerry burke (born 24 march 1942) served as speaker of the new zealand house of representatives from 1987 to 1990. he was a member of the labour party, and served throughout the second term of the fourth labour government. ==early life== burke was born in christchurch, new zealand. in 1960, he began three years of study at the university of canterbury, after which he studied for a year at the christchurch college of education. he taught for a number of years in rangiora and in greymouth. ==political career==         burke was first elected to parliament as the labour mp for rangiora in the 1972 elections. in the [[new zealand general election,
1942_births Knights_Bachelor Living_people Local_political_office-holders_in_New_Zealand Members_of_the_Cabinet_of_New_Zealand Members_of_the_New_Zealand_House_of_Representatives New_Zealand_Labour_Party_MPs New_Zealand_educators New_Zealand_knights People_from_Christchurch People_from_the_West_Coast,_New_Zealand Speakers_of_the_New_Zealand_House_of_Representatives University_of_Canterbury_alumni Unsuccessful_candidates_in_the_New_Zealand_general_election,_1975 Unsuccessful_candidates_in_the_New_Zealand_general_election,_1990