Keith Holyoake

The Right Honorable Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO was a New Zealand politician. He was National Party Prime Minister from September 20, 1957 to December 12, 1957, then again from December 12, 1960 to February 7, 1972. Five years later, he was appointed Governor-General of New Zealand from 1977 to 1980.

Early political career

The Reform Party, which had strong rural support, selected Holyoake as its candidate for the Motueka seat in the 1931 election. The incumbent MP, George Black, held the seat, but died the following year. Holyoake was the Reform Party's candidate in the resulting by-election, and was successful. He became the youngest parliament member at the time.

Related Topics:
Reform Party - 1931 election - By-election - Parliament

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In the 1935 election, Holyoake retained his seat despite a massive swing against the Reform-United coalition. In the aftermath of this election, Holyoake played a key role in transforming the coalition into the modern National Party. Holyoake very quickly gained considerable respect from his colleagues, and was regarded as a rising star in the new party. In the 1938 election, however, Holyoake lost his seat to a challenger from the governing Labour Party.

Related Topics:
1935 election - National Party - 1938 election - Labour Party

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In 1943 he returned to Parliament as MP for Pahiatua, having been lined up by National for that nomination. In 1946, he became the party's Deputy Leader. After National won the 1949 election, new Prime Minister Sidney Holland appointed Holyoake as Minister of Agriculture. Later, Holland made him the first person to be formally appointed Deputy Prime Minister.

Related Topics:
1943 - Pahiatua - 1946 - 1949 election - Sidney Holland - Deputy Prime Minister

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