Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake

Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake , 1904-83, New Zealand statesman. A farmer, he was active in agricultural organizations in the 1930s and 40s. He entered Parliament in 1932. A member of the National party, he became deputy leader in 1947. In 1949 he was named deputy prime minister and minister of agriculture in the National party government. He served briefly as prime minister in 1957, when Sidney G. Holland resigned, and was subsequently leader of the Nationalist opposition. When his party won the 1960 elections, he became prime minister, serving until 1972. He resigned the post to deputy prime minister John Marshall in order to revitalize the party for the upcoming elections (which the Nationalists lost). He was minister of state (1975-77) and then became the first politician to be appointed governor-general (1977-80). He was knighted in 1970.

Holyoake, Sir Keith Jacka (1904–83) New Zealand statesman. A farmer active in agricultural organizations in the 1930s and 1940s, he entered Parliament in 1932, becoming leader of the National Party and Prime Minister (1957 and 1960–72). An able politician in the tradition of pragmatic conservatism, he led New Zealand skilfully in the decades of growing racial tension. He served a term as governor-general of New Zealand after his retirement from politics.

Holyoake, Sir Keith Jacka (b. 11 Feb. 1904, d. 8 Dec. 1983). Prime Minister of New Zealand 1957, 1960–72 A successful farmer from the area north of Wellington, he entered New Zealand politics in 1932 as an MP for the Reform Party and spokesman for farmers' interests. In 1936 his party amalgamated with the United Party to form the National Party. He was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture under Sidney Holland, 1949–57. When Holland had to retire in September 1957 because of ill health, he briefly took over as Prime Minister and Minister of Native Affairs, but he lost the election in December. He won the 1960 general elections, however, when he also became Minister of External/Foreign Affairs (1960–72). He was a leading Commonwealth opponent of Ian Smith's establishment of a racist White government in Rhodesia, and of the apartheid regime in South Africa. Firmly committed to the country's military alliance with the USA through ANZUS, he supported US involvement in the Vietnam War, and was responsible for the participation of New Zealand troops there. He was bitterly opposed to, but unable to prevent, British entry into the'EEC (European integration), though he did manage to retain some preferential treatment for New Zealand products. He acted as Minister of State, 1975–7, and retired from party politics to become governor-general (1977–80).