Joe Walding
Joe Walding | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 17th High Commissioner to the United Kingdom | |
| In office 1985–1985† | |
| Prime Minister | David Lange |
| Preceded by | Bill Young |
| Succeeded by | Bryce Harland |
| 2nd Minister of the Environment | |
| In office 8 December 1972 – 10 September 1974 | |
| Prime Minister | Norman Kirk |
| Preceded by | Duncan MacIntyre |
| Succeeded by | Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Palmerston North | |
| In office 2 December 1967 – 29 November 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Brown |
| Succeeded by | John Lithgow |
| In office 25 November 1978 – 28 November 1981 | |
| Preceded by | John Lithgow |
| Succeeded by | Trevor de Cleene |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 June 1926 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Died | 5 June 1985 London, England |
| Political party | Labour |
Joseph Albert (Joe) Walding, QSO (18 June 1926 – 5 June 1985) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He represented the Palmerston North for several terms. After his retirement from Parliament, he became High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, but died within months of taking the post.
Early life
Walding was born in Christchurch in 1926. He went to school in that city. When he was 15, he joined the New Zealand Merchant Navy and later the British Merchant Navy. The impressions that he gained through the war shaped his outlook on life.[1] He became a carpenter after the war, working in the Wellington area.[1]
He married Eileen Walding (née Paul) of Feilding in 1950. They had six daughters.[1] After the marriage, the couple moved to Palmerston North. Walding joined his mother's catering business, Smith and Walding. Together with his brother Charlie, he developed the company into a successful venture. In 1957, Walding established Prepared Foods Co Ltd, a gourmet food and canning business with an export focus.[1]
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967–1969 | 35th | Palmerston North | Labour | ||
| 1969–1972 | 36th | Palmerston North | Labour | ||
| 1972–1975 | 37th | Palmerston North | Labour | ||
| 1978–1981 | 39th | Palmerston North | Labour | ||
Walding was first elected to Palmerston North City Council in 1959; councillors were already elected for three year terms at that time. He was re-elected in 1962 and 1965. Having been elected to Parliament in 1967, he did not stand for the City Council again in 1968.[1]
Walding stood unsuccessfully against Bill Brown for the Palmerston North seat in the 1966 election. Following Brown's sudden death in 1967, Walding successfully contested the resulting 1967 by-election against four others: Gordon Cruden (National Party), John O'Brien (Social Credit Party), Goldingham (Progress) and P. J. Wedderspoon (Democratic Labour).[1]
Walding represented the Palmerston North electorate from 1967 to 1975, when he was defeated by John Lithgow, and from 1978 to 1981.[2] Between 1972 and 1974, he was Minister of Overseas Trade, Minister for the Environment, and Minister of Recreation and Sport.[3] Six months prior to the 1981 election, he announced his retirement from Parliament.[1]
High Commissioner
In late 1984, he was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Three months after starting the position, he died on 5 June 1985 in London.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hancock, Mervyn (December 2005). "Joseph Albert Walding : Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1967–1975 1978–1981" (PDF). Palmerston North Library. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 243.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 92.
References
- 1926 births
- 1985 deaths
- People educated at Kavanagh College
- New Zealand Labour Party MPs
- New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates
- Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand
- New Zealand diplomats
- New Zealand businesspeople
- High Commissioners of New Zealand to the United Kingdom
- Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- Unsuccessful candidates in the New Zealand general election, 1975
- Unsuccessful candidates in the New Zealand general election, 1966