the Cabinet ministers' names into a hat and drew out the name of Colman. He departed from Auckland on 28 June aboard the Otago, which reached Mururoa a month later where he witnessed the first atmospheric test. Colman transferred to the Canterbury when it arrived to relieve the Otago, from which he witnessed the second French atmospheric test. Opposition Following the defeat of the Third Labour Government he held the position of Opposition Spokesman on Immigration. In 1977 he became Shadow Minister of Energy and in 1978 Shadow Minister for the Environment as well. A year later he was allocated the Housing portfolio by Rowling instead. Ahead of the 1981 election he was shifted to be Shadow Minister of Transport. After the election he became Shadow Minister of Works and Shadow Minister of Mines. When David Lange replaced Rowling as leader Colman retained the Works portfolio. He criticised the Muldoon Government for outsourcing the construction of many Think Big projects, including hiring foreign contractors at the Clyde Dam, rather than using the Ministry of Works and Development employees, stating the government "sacrificed the ministry to private enterprise." Fourth Labour Government In the fourth Labour Government, he again served as a cabinet minister holding the posts of Minister of Works and Development, Minister in Charge of the Earthquake and War Damages Commission, and Associate Minister of Energy. He ended the policy of the Muldoon Government of outsourcing works projects to contractors which he had previously been critical of. He also expanded the scope of the Ministry of Works and Development to include constructing irrigation infrastructure. Life after politics Colman retired from Parliament at the 1987 election. He was replaced in Pencarrow by Sonja Davies. He was subsequently appointed as chairman of the New Zealand Fire Service Council for a three-year term. Colman had a stroke in 1991. Another stroke in 1999 removed his ability to speak. He died on 11 April 2008, and was survived by his wife and three of their four daughters. Honours and awards In 1977, Colman was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. He was appointed a member of the Privy Council in 1985, and in 1990 received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. In the 1992 New Year Honours, Colman was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services. His wife, Noeline, had previously been appointed a Companion of the Queen's