Eric Henry Halstead (26 May 1912 – 18 June 1991) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party and later a diplomat.

Biography

Early life and career

Halstead was born in

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

in 1912, and educated at

Auckland Grammar School Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about It ...

and

Auckland University , mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work , established = 1883; years ago , endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021) , budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021) , chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant , vice_chancellor = Dawn ...

where he attained a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Commerce. He was president of the

Auckland University Students' Association The Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA), founded in 1891, represents students at the University of Auckland. AUSA organises student events, publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student c ...

for one year. In 1940, he married Millicent Joan Stewart; they had four children. While a student he had his first involvement in politics after being invited to hear National Party MP

Gordon Coates Joseph Gordon Coates (3 February 1878 – 27 May 1943) served as the 21st prime minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928. He was the third successive Reform prime minister since 1912. Born in rural Northland, Coates grew up on a cattle run an ...

speak in 1938. He served as a major in the

NZEF The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

between 1941 and 1945. After being demobilized he became a teacher and was head of the commerce and accountancy department at Seddon Technical College from 1945 to 1949.

Political career

He represented the Tamaki electorate from to 1957, when he was defeated by

Bob Tizard Robert James Tizard (7 June 1924 – 28 January 2016) was a Labour politician from New Zealand. He served as the sixth deputy prime minister, the minister of Finance, minister of Health and minister of Defence. Biography Early life and ca ...

. He was a liberal within the National Party and, alongside MP

Dean Eyre Dean Jack Eyre (8 May 1914 – 19 May 2007) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. Biography Early life and career Eyre was born in Westport in 1914. His father was an official with the Customs Department and due to this the fa ...

, he supported the alternative drainage scheme in Auckland proposed by

Dove-Myer Robinson Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (15 June 1901 – 14 August 1989) was Mayor of Auckland City from 1959 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1980, the longest tenure of any holder of the office. He was a colourful character and became affectionately known across New ...

. He was the minister assisting the Prime Minister in 1954, a role in which Halstead often found his time occupied by simply delivering messages between the Prime Minister

Sidney Holland Sir Sidney George Holland (18 October 1893 – 5 August 1961) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 25th prime minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957. He was instrumental in the creation and consolidation o ...

and the Deputy Prime Minister

Keith Holyoake Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, (; 11 February 1904 – 8 December 1983) was the 26th prime minister of New Zealand, serving for a brief period in 1957 and then from 1960 to 1972, and also the 13th governor-general of New Zealand, serving from 1977 ...

. He held several cabinet posts during the last term of the

First National Government The Anniversary of the First National Government ( es, Primer gobierno patrio) is a public holiday of Argentina, commemorating the May Revolution and the creation of the Primera Junta on May 25, 1810, which is considered the first patriotic govern ...

including; Minister for Social Security from 1954 to 1956,

Minister of Industries and Commerce The Minister of Industries and Commerce in New Zealand is a former Cabinet members, cabinet position (existing from 1894 to 1972) appointed by the Prime Minister to be in charge of matters of industrial and commercial growth and trade. In 1972 i ...

and Minister for Customs from 1956 to 1957.Lambert & Palenski: ''The New Zealand Almanac'', 1982. As a minister he worked out a welfare reciprocity deal with the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

and he established the Tourist Hotel Corporation. After his defeat in 1957 Halstead became a director of

Air New Zealand Air New Zealand Limited () is the flag carrier airline of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 20 domestic and 30 international destinations in 18 countries, primarily around and within the Pacif ...

. Halstead remained an active member of the National Party well after his defeat, despite not wishing to re-enter parliament by standing in Tamaki again. He was a longtime member of the party's Dominion Council, deputy-chairman of National's Auckland division and vice-president of the party. Ahead of the he accepted nomination for the National candidacy in the much safer seat of , but lost to

Allan Highet David Allan Highet (27 May 1913 – 28 April 1992) was a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1966 to 1984, representing the National Party for Remuera, holding the then largest majorities in the House. Early life and family Highet was b ...

Diplomatic career

He later served as Ambassador to Thailand and Laos 1970–1973, then Ambassador to Italy and

Ambassador to Iraq This is a list of United States ambassadors, or lower-ranking heads of a diplomatic mission to Iraq. * Alexander K. Sloan (1931) – ''Chargé d'Affaires'' * Paul Knabenshue (1932–1942) – ''Minister'' * Thomas M. Wilson (1942) – ''Minister ...

concurrently from 1976–1980 and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (while resident in Rome) 1977–1980.

Later life and death

In the

1980 New Year Honours The 1980 New Year Honours were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 31 December 1979 to cele ...

, Halstead was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

. After returning from World War II he developed an interest in war history. In 1989, a book put together by Halstead, entitled ''Freyberg's Men'', was refused permission to be published by the New Zealand Government because it bore too close a resemblance to copyright material originally published by the New Zealand Army Board and War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. He died in Auckland in 1991.

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Halstead, Eric 1912 births 1991 deaths People educated at Auckland Grammar School University of Auckland alumni New Zealand National Party MPs New Zealand military personnel of World War II Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand People from Auckland Ambassadors of New Zealand to Thailand Ambassadors of New Zealand to Italy Ambassadors of New Zealand to Iraq Ambassadors of New Zealand to Saudi Arabia Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates Unsuccessful candidates in the 1957 New Zealand general election New Zealand Commanders of the Order of the British Empire