William Blair Tennent
Encyclopedia
William Blair Tennent CBE
(4 December 1898 – 1 May 1976), known as Blair Tennent, was a New Zealand
politician of the National Party
and a cabinet minister.
on 4 December 1898 to Elizabeth Blair and her husband, David Tennent. He was dux at Greymouth District High School
.
from 1956-1959.
electorate from 1949 to 1954, when he was defeated by Philip Skoglund
. He then represented the Manawatu
electorate from 1957 to 1966, when he retired.
He was Minister of Education
in the Second National Government
from 1960 to 1963.
on 1 May 1976.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(4 December 1898 – 1 May 1976), known as Blair Tennent, was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician of the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
and a cabinet minister.
Early life
Tennent was born at GreymouthGreymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
on 4 December 1898 to Elizabeth Blair and her husband, David Tennent. He was dux at Greymouth District High School
Greymouth High School
Greymouth High School is the largest school on the West Coast of New Zealand with a roll of 649 sutdents. The school has a national distance learning division, Karoro Learning. The Mawhera Services Academy , a military orientated course, is a division of Greymouth High School.-External links:****...
.
Local body politics
Tennent was a councillor for Palmerston North City Council from 1933-1941. He was Mayor of Palmerston NorthMayor of Palmerston North
The Mayor of Palmerston North is the head of the municipal government of Palmerston North, New Zealand, and presides over the Palmerston North City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
from 1956-1959.
Member of Parliament
Tennent represented the Palmerston NorthPalmerston North (New Zealand electorate)
Palmerston North is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Palmerston North is Iain Lees-Galloway of the Labour Party...
electorate from 1949 to 1954, when he was defeated by Philip Skoglund
Philip Skoglund
Philip Oscar Selwyn Skoglund was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and a cabinet minister.He represented the Palmerston North electorate from 1954 to 1960 when he was defeated by William Henry Brown....
. He then represented the Manawatu
Manawatu (New Zealand electorate)
Manawatu was a parliamentary electorate in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand that existed during three periods between 1871 and 1996.-History:The electorate existed during three periods: from 1871 to 1890, 1896 to 1911, and 1919 to 1996....
electorate from 1957 to 1966, when he retired.
He was Minister of Education
Minister of Education (New Zealand)
The Minister of Education is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the country's schools, and is in charge of the Ministry of Education.The present Minister is Anne Tolley, a member of the National Party.-History:...
in the Second National Government
Second National Government of New Zealand
The Second National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1960 to 1972. It was a conservative government which sought mainly to preserve the economic prosperity and general stability of the early 1960s...
from 1960 to 1963.
Later life
He was awarded a CBE in 1973. Tennent died at his home in Palmerston NorthPalmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
on 1 May 1976.
Further reading
- The First 50 Years: A History of the New Zealand National Party by Barry Gustafson (1986, Reed Methuen, Auckland; has biographical appendix of National MPs) ISBN 0474001776