Norman King (New Zealand politician)

Norman James King QSO (28 December 1914 – 28 May 2002) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and a cabinet minister.

The Honourable Norman King QSO
13th Minister for Social Welfare
In office 8 December 1972 – 12 December 1975
Prime Minister	Norman Kirk Bill Rowling
Preceded by	Lance Adams-Schneider
Succeeded by	Bert Walker
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Birkenhead
In office 29 November 1969 – 29 November 1975
Preceded by	seat established
Succeeded by	Jim McLay
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Waitemata
In office 13 November 1954 – 29 November 1969
Preceded by	seat created
Succeeded by	Frank Gill
Personal details
Born	28 December 1914 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	28 May 2002 Auckland, New Zealand
Political party	Labour

Biography

Early life and career

King was born in Auckland in 1914. He had no secondary schooling and lived in a state house. He worked as a storeman in the Minties confectionary factory.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1954–1957	31st	Waitemata		Labour
1957–1960	32nd	Waitemata		Labour
1960–1963	33rd	Waitemata		Labour
1963–1966	34th	Waitemata		Labour
1966–1969	35th	Waitemata		Labour
1969–1972	36th	Birkenhead		Labour
1972–1975	37th	Birkenhead		Labour

In both 1950 and 1953 King stood unsuccessfully on a Labour ticket for the Auckland City Council.[2][3]

King first stood for Parliament in Hobson in 1951, coming second. He then represented the Waitemata electorate from 1954 to 1969, and the Birkenhead electorate from 1969 to 1975, when he was defeated by Jim McLay.[4]

In 1957 he defeated Robert Muldoon in his second attempt to enter parliament. Zavos says that King:[5]

was a poor speaker, a tiny birdlike man, a storeman and packer before taking up politics ... (but) a shrewd operator, however, whose greatest strength was that he was aware of his limitations. He realised he could not match the expert debating techniques Muldoon had developed.

So King restricted himself to two campaign meetings, and the slight swing to Labour carried King back.[5] He was described by contemporaries as "gentle and hard working".[6] King was adept at engaging with labourers and factory workers more so than any of his more intellectual colleagues in caucus, who considered him a lightweight, but Warren Freer said he possessed the "common touch".[7]

Cabinet Minister

King was Minister of Social Welfare (1972–1975), first under Norman Kirk, then under Bill Rowling for the duration of the Third Labour Government.[8] He was noted by cabinet colleagues for his dedication to fulfilling all of Labour's election pledges regarding his portfolio, being said to "work like a beaver". Warren Freer stated "It seemed that no cabinet meeting could be held without another proposal from Norman in his desire to honour every promise involving social welfare and pensioners."[9]

He introduced new measures to help solo parents, pensioners, the disabled and at-risk youth. King introduced the Domestic Purposes Benefit, Christmas bonuses for beneficiaries, wheelchair access to buildings. He was particularly proud of the Children and Young Persons Act which reduced child abuse and juvenile offending by keeping children out of court.[1] King felt almost a personal connection with the people who the payments were intended for as well as the hardships they faced which matched his own experiences earlier in his life.[10]

Later life and death

King later spent nine years as first lay observer for the Auckland, Hamilton and Taranaki district law societies where he acted as public adjudicator in public complaints against lawyers. He was also patron of the North Harbour of IHC.[1]

In the 1977 New Year Honours, King was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[11]

He died on 28 May 2002.[1]

Notes

1. "Fighter for the underdog". The Evening Post. 6 June 2002. p. 5.
2. "Electoral". New Zealand Herald. 30 November 1950. p. 14.
3. "Declaration of Poll". The New Zealand Herald. 16 November 1953. p. 16.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 210.
5. Zavos 1978, p. ?. sfn error: no target: CITEREFZavos1978 (help)
6. Grant 2014, p. 222.
7. Freer 2004, p. 235.
8. Wilson 1985, p. 92-3.
9. Freer 2004, p. 182.
10. Grant 2014, p. 347.
11. "No. 47104". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1976. p. 42.

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
• The Real Muldoon by Spiro Zavos (1978, Fourth Estate Books, Wellington)
• Grant, David (2014). The Mighty Totara: The life and times of Norman Kirk. Auckland: Random House. ISBN 9781775535799.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Freer, Warren (2004). A Lifetime in Politics: the memoirs of Warren Freer. Wellington: Victoria University Press. ISBN 0-86473-478-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• tribute by Ann Hartley

Political offices
Preceded by Lance Adams-Schneider	Minister for Social Welfare 1972–1975	Succeeded by Bert Walker
New Zealand Parliament
Vacant Constituency abolished in 1946 Title last held by Henry Thorne Morton	Member of Parliament for Waitemata 1954–1969	Succeeded by Frank Gill
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Birkenhead 1969–1975	Succeeded by Jim McLay