Thomas Mackenzie
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Sir Thomas Mackenzie
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|---|---|
 |
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| 18th Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| In office 28 March 1912 โ 10 July 1912 |
|
| Monarch | George V |
| Governor | John Dickson-Poynder |
| Preceded by | Joseph Ward |
| Succeeded by | William Massey |
| Constituency | Egmont |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1853-03-10)10 March 1853 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 14 February 1930(1930-02-14) (aged 76) Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Resting place | Dunedin Northern Cemetery |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) |
Ida Henrietta Nantes
( m. 1884; died 1926) |
| Children | 7, including Clutha |
Sir Thomas Mackenzie GCMG (10 March 1853 โ 14 February 1930) was a Scottish-born New Zealand politician and explorer who briefly served as the 18th Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1912, and later served as New Zealand High Commissioner in London.
Early years
Mackenzie was born in Edinburgh. His family emigrated to New Zealand in 1858 when he was four and Mackenzie was educated at Green Island School and at the Stone School, both in Dunedin. He tried his hand at surveying, farming and commerce.[1]
Member of Parliament
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1887โ1890 | 10th | Clutha | Independent | |
| 1890โ1893 | 11th | Clutha | Liberal | |
| 1893โ1896 | 12th | Clutha | Liberal | |
| 1900โ1902 | 14th | Waihemo | Liberal | |
| 1902โ1905 | 15th | Waikouaiti | Liberal | |
| 1905โ1908 | 16th | Waikouaiti | Liberal | |
| 1908โ1911 | 17th | Taieri | Liberal | |
| 1911โ1912 | 18th | Egmont | Liberal | |
Mackenzie was elected to the New Zealand Parliament for Clutha in 1887. He resigned in 1896 to assess the British markets for New Zealand products and remained in his native land for three years. On his return to New Zealand he was elected to Parliament successively for Waihemo 1900โ1902, Waikouaiti 1902โ1908, Taieri 1908โ1911 and Egmont (in the North Island) 1911โ1912, never losing an election.
Mackenzie was also a notable explorer. He was a member of expeditions to the Tautuku Forest (1883), the wild country between Milford Sound and Lake Te Anau (1888; discovered the Sutherland Falls), and the Matterhorn Mountains (1888; discovered a pass between Lake Manapouri and Hall Arm). He was the first person to try to map an overland route to Dusky Sound (1894โ1896). He crossed the land between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu in 1907.
Minister and Prime Minister
In January 1909 he was appointed Minister of Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Health Resorts, Scenery Preservation and State Forestry Departments in the government of Sir Joseph Ward. In May he also became Minister of Agriculture with a seat in the Cabinet. He was then successively Minister of Customs, Minister of Education and Postmaster-General. In May 1912 he succeeded Ward as Prime Minister and also served as Minister of Lands.
Mackenzie's Ministry was criticised by both the opposition and Liberal dissidents. Liberal MP Roderick McKenzie stated that Mackenzie's ministers were political novices who had forsaken their liberal principles and John Millar should have been Ward's successor as Prime Minister.[2]
The Mackenzie government survived only until July 1912 when he lost a vote of no confidence and was appointed High Commissioner in London. He served in this role until 1920 and was New Zealand delegate at the peace conferences with Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey in 1919, a member of the Dardanelles Commission and the Imperial War Graves Commission (later the Commonwealth War Graves Conmmission). In March 1921 he was appointed member of the New Zealand Legislative Council for Otago.
Later years
He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 1916 New Year Honours (1 January 1916)[3] and promoted to Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) in June 1920.[4]
His son Clutha Mackenzie who was blinded at Gallipoli was active in work for the blind.[1] In 1923 he supported Val Sanderson in establishing the Native Bird Protection Society (later the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand) and was the society's first president.[5]
Mackenzie died in Dunedin in 1930 and was buried in the Dunedin Northern Cemetery.[6]
See also
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Copyright
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