▁ ▁is ▁a ▁former ▁New ▁Zealand ▁politician ▁of ▁the ▁Labour ▁Party . ▁ ▁She ▁represented ▁the ▁Bir ken head ▁elect or ate ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁election ; ▁when ▁she ▁defeated ▁the ▁National ▁candidate ▁for ▁the ▁seat , ▁Barry ▁Gust af son , ▁after ▁Jim ▁Mc L ay ▁retired . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁she ▁was ▁defeated ▁by ▁the ▁new ▁National ▁candidate , ▁Ian ▁Rev ell . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 3 , ▁Kirk ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Su ff rage ▁Cent enn ial ▁Medal . ▁In ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁Queen ' s ▁B irth day ▁Hon ours , ▁she ▁was ▁appointed ▁a ▁Member ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Order ▁of ▁Mer it , ▁for ▁services ▁to ▁local - body ▁and ▁community ▁affairs . ▁ ▁References ▁Minister s ▁and ▁M embers ▁in ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Parliament ▁by ▁G . A . ▁Wood ▁( Univers ity ▁of ▁O tag o ▁Press , ▁ 2 nd ▁edition ▁ 1 9 9 6 ) ▁▁ ▁Category : L iving ▁people ▁Category : New ▁Zealand ▁Labour ▁Party ▁MP s ▁Category : W omen ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁Category : M embers ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Order ▁of ▁Mer it ▁Category : New ▁Zealand ▁MP s ▁for ▁A uck land ▁elect or ates ▁Category : M embers ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁Category : Uns u ccess ful ▁candidates ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁New ▁Zealand ▁general ▁election ▁Category