Ernest Aderman

Rev. Ernest Philip Aderman OBE (22 May 1894 – 27 February 1968) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Aderman was born in Queensland, Australia, in 1894. He received his education at Lapwood Primary (Queensland), and at Church of Christ Theological College (Melbourne), from where he obtained a diploma in theology. He attended the University of Queensland (Brisbane) between 1920 and 1925, and graduated with a BA. During his student years, he helped out on his parents' farm, and later served the church in Auburn, Sydney.

He married Phyllis May Lowther at the Ann Street Church of Christ, Brisbane, on 8 March 1927. The couple arrived in Wellington, New Zealand, on 13 March 1928 by the Marama.

Aderman lectured at the Church of Christ Theological College in Glenleith, Dunedin, and ministered in South Dunedin. From 1930, he served the church at Dominion Road, Auckland. He was President of the Churches of Christ in 1936. During World War II, he was a chaplain to the 2nd Taranaki Regiment.

Aderman contested the 1938 election in the Dunedin South electorate and was unsuccessful against the incumbent, Fred Jones.

He won the New Plymouth seat in an upset victory in 1943 over Rev. Frederick Frost, who was also a Christian minister. He represented the New Plymouth electorate from 1943 until he retired in 1966.

In 1957, he was Senior Whip, and from 1958 to 1960, he was Junior Whip under Richard Geoffrey Gerard. In 1961 he was one of ten National MPs to vote with the Opposition and remove capital punishment for murder from the Crimes Bill that the Second National Government had introduced.

Aderman was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for public and political services in the 1967 New Year Honours.

Aderman died on 27 February 1968, and his ashes were buried at Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth.