Bill Birch: key obituary facts
Is Bill Birch dead? Yes. Bill Birch died on July 17, 2026, at age 92.
Cause of death: Bill Birch's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Bill Birch known for?
He was a New Zealand politician.
More about Bill Birch
Born: 9 April 1934.
Place of birth: Hastings.
Gender: male.
Occupation: politician.
Nationality: New Zealand.
Education: Fraser High School, New Zealand.
Awards: Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Also known as: Sir Bill Birch, Sir William Birch, William Francis Birch, Sir William Francis Birch.
Bill Birch, the New Zealand politician who served as minister of finance from 1993 to 1999, died on July 17, 2026.
Born in Hastings on April 9, 1934, he was educated at Hamilton’s Technical High School and Wellington Technical Correspondence School before training as a surveyor. He later established a business in Pukekohe and became active in local community organisations, entering public life through service on Pukekohe borough council from 1965.
Known formally as Sir William Francis Birch, he was a member of the fourth National Government and held the nation’s finance portfolio during a central period in the 1990s. He had been awarded the Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.