*** Welcome to piglix ***

Bill Rowling

The Right Honourable
Sir Wallace Rowling
KCMG
Bill Rowling, 1962.jpg
30th Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office
6 September 1974 – 12 December 1975
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor-General Denis Blundell
Deputy Bob Tizard
Preceded by Norman Kirk
Succeeded by Robert Muldoon
33rd Minister of Finance
In office
8 December 1972 – 6 September 1974
Prime Minister Norman Kirk
Preceded by Robert Muldoon
Succeeded by Bob Tizard
22nd Leader of the Opposition
In office
12 December 1975 – 3 February 1983
Preceded by Robert Muldoon
Succeeded by David Lange
8th Leader of the Labour Party
In office
6 September 1974 – 3 February 1983
Deputy Bob Tizard
Preceded by Norman Kirk
Succeeded by David Lange
22nd President of the Labour Party
In office
1970–1972
Preceded by Norman Douglas
Succeeded by Charles Bennett
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Buller
In office
1962–1972
Preceded by Jerry Skinner
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Tasman
In office
1972–1984
Succeeded by Ken Shirley
Personal details
Born (1927-11-15)15 November 1927
Motueka, Tasman District, New Zealand
Died 31 October 1995(1995-10-31) (aged 67)
Nelson, New Zealand
Political party Labour
Spouse(s) Glen Elna Reeves (m.1951)
Children 5
Alma mater University of Canterbury
Religion Anglican
Military service
Allegiance New Zealand Army
Rank UK Army OF2.png Captain
Battles/wars Malayan Emergency

Sir Wallace Edward Rowling KCMG PC (15 November 1927 – 31 October 1995), often known as Bill Rowling, was the 30th Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was in office for just over a year, having been appointed Prime Minister following the death of the highly popular Norman Kirk. Rowling was unable to retain the premiership but remained leader of the Labour Party until 1983.

Rowling was born in a country suburb of Mariri neighbouring the town of Motueka, near Nelson. He was a member of a long-established farming family. He was educated at Nelson College and the University of Canterbury, gaining a degree in economics. He also attended the Christchurch College of Education (currently, University of Canterbury), qualifying as a teacher. After completing his education, Rowling taught at several schools around the country, including at Motueka, Christchurch, Waverley and in Northland. In 1958, Rowling left teaching and joined the New Zealand Army, becoming Assistant Director of Army Education. He spent a short amount of time serving abroad in Malaysia and Singapore, a deployment connected with the Malayan Emergency.

In the 1960 election, Rowling was selected as the Labour Party's candidate for the Fendalton electorate in Christchurch. Fendalton was regarded as a safe National seat, and Rowling was defeated by the National Party's Harry Lake (who was appointed Minister of Finance in the new National government). Two years later, however, Rowling successfully contested the by-election for Buller, which had been caused by the death of prominent Labour MP Jerry Skinner. Rowling was to hold this seat until the election of 1972, when the seat was dissolved – Rowling then contested successfully the new seat of Tasman, which intriguingly he did travelling up and down the electorate by Commer campervan, which he lived in for the time.


...
Wikipedia

...