Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour CH

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Instituted in June 1917 by King George V as a reward for
outstanding achievements.

To be conferred on a limited number
of persons for whom this special distinction seems to be
the most appropriate form of recognition.

Founded on the same date as the Order of the British Empire

The Order consists of the Sovereign and a maximum of 65 members,
although Commonwealth and Foreigners may be added as
honorary members.

A Quota of 47 members for the UK, 7 for Australia, 4 for New Zealand
and 7 for other Commonwealth Countries.

The motto is “In action faithful and in honour clear”

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Peter FRAZER NZ Prime Minister 4 January 1946
CH, PC,

Born 28th August 1884
Died 12th December 1950

Born in Hill of Fearn, Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands.

Emigrated to NZ in 1910, and gained work as a stevedore.

Spent one year in jail for sedition,[speaking against conscription
in the first world war]

Became involved with the founding of the Labour Party in 1916,
and entered Parliament by winning the seat of Wellington Central
in 1918 by-election.

Worked hard to counter the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 - 19,
of which he himself was a survivor.

Acted as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under Michael
Joseph SAVAGE, who became PM [Prime Minister] on the
death of Harry HOLLAND.

Assumed leadership/PM on the death of Michael Joseph Savage
in 1940, and became the 24th PM of NZ.

Lead the “War Cabinet” [a mixture of both political parties],

He insisted that NZ have control over its own forces, he felt that
the more populous countries, like England, viewed the NZ Military
as a mere extension of their own, rather than the forces of a separate
sovereign country.

He insisted that Bernard Ferguson, commander of the 2nd NZ
Expeditionary Force should report to the NZ Government just as
extensively as to the British Authorities.

He won a fourth election in 1946, and died in Wellington from
a heart attack.

Awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935,
the King George V1 Coronation Medal in 1937,
Appointed a Privy Councillor in 1940,
and CH in 1946

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Sidney George HOLLAND NZ Prime Minister 7 June 1951
GCMG, CH, PC,

Born 18 October 1883
Died 5 August 1961

Born in Greendale, Canterbury, his father served as Mayor
of Christchurch between 1912 and 1919.

In WW 1 he rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, saw action in
the Battle of Messines where he contracted a severe illness
that eventually cost him a lung.

A provincial and inter-island rep at Hockey, and managed
an unbeaten tour of the NZ Hockey team of Australia in 1932.

Was instrumental in the creation of the National Party, co-opted
other political parties like the Liberal Party, the Soldier’s
Movement and the People’s Movement into the National Party,
which was to dominate NZ politics for the second half of the
20th Century.

25th PM for NZ, from 13th Dec 1949 to 20th September 1957.

This was National’s first win in the Elections,

They abolished the Legislative Council [the upper house of
Parliament] on the grounds that it was ineffective.

In 1951, faced with a major challenge from the Waterside
Workers’ Union, he ordered the Armed Services to unload the
cargo from the ports [the unloading rate increased by 25%
and the rate of theft fell by 90%] he then called a “Snap Election”
on 11th July 1951 and won with a greater majority.

Signed the ANZUS Treaty and sent troops to Korea.

Joined the SEATO in September 1954, aimed at combating the
spread of Communism in the Southeast Asia.

Introduced PAYE Income tax system in place of the annual
assessment system that was in place.

Handed over leadership of the Country and party to Holyoake
on 20th September 1957,

Was awarded the GCMG on 5th August 1951
and the CH on 5th August 1951

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Walter Nash NZ Prime Minister 13 June 1959
GCMG, CH, PC

Born 12th February 1882
Died 4 June 1968

Born in Kidderminster, England, arrived in NZ in 1903,

Served as NZ representative in the USA during WW 2, and
attended the Conferences to create the UN.

Also recommended that NZ joined the IMF.

After winning the election by 41 seats to 39, he became
the 27th PM at the age of 75 in 1957.

He will be remembered for “The Black Budget” required to
help the countries financial position

Awarded the CH on 4th June 1958

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Keith Holyoake NZ Prime Minister 1 January 1963
KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ, PC

Born 11th February 1904 in Mangamutu, Pahiatua.
Died 8 December 1983 in Wellington

Named Kiwi Keith to distinguish him from an Australian cousin
Aussie Keith.

He ended his formal education at 12 years old.
Did further study at home, in the evenings, from his
mother who had been a teacher.

By age 20 he had taken over the family farm.

Entered Parliment in 1932 for the Reform Party
but lost his seat six years later.

Re-entered Parliment in 1943, in the safe seat of Pahiatua.

Became the first Deputy Prime Minister in NZ. on the naming
of the position, in 1947.

Held this position until Sid Holland resigned.

He became the 26th Prime Minister of NZ for two months
[20th September to 12 December 1957, up to the general
the election, in 1957].

Became PM again from 12 December 1960 to 7th February

13th Governor General of NZ, from 26th October 1977 to
25th October 1980
[ the normal five-year term was shortened to three on account of his age]
The only person to have filled both these positions.

awarded the KG in 1980,
Awarded the CH on 8th December 1983

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Jack Marshall NZ Prime Minister 1 January 1973
GBE, CH, ED PC,

Born 5 March 1912 in Wellington.
Died 30 August 1988 in Snape Suffolk, England.

Served in the RNZ Army, rising to the rank of
Major, he served in the South Pacific and Italy

Acquired the nickname of “Gentleman Jack” in the
Political world,

28th Prime Minister of NZ after serving 12 years as
Deputy in 1972, he lead from 7 February to 8
December 1972.

Went on to write children’s books in retirement,

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Rob Muldoon NZ Prime Minister 11 June 1977
GCMG, CH, PC,

Born 25 September 1921
Died 5 August 1982

Served as an SNCO in WW2 in the RNZ Army, in
the South Pacific and Italy.

Completed his accountancy and sat his final exam
in Jack Marshall’s Tent, in Italy.

After the war, he went to an English Accountancy firm
for a year, then returned to NZ as the first Cost
Accountant.

Took the Tamaki seat from the incumbent Bob Tizzard
in 1960, and held the seat for the next 32 years.

Appointed Finance Minister in February 1967,
[the youngest person to fill that post]

A position he held for 14 of the next 17years.

Introduced ‘Mini-Budgets’ from 4 May 1967 to correct
the downturn of the NZ Economy.

After David Yallop drew his attention to the Harvey &
Jeanette Crewe murder he asked Robert Adams-Smith QC
to investigate the case.

When told an injustice may have been done he pushed through
a Royal Pardon for Arthur Allan Thomas.

A later Royal Commission awarded Thomas $950.000 as
compensation
.
During the South African Rugby Tour he believed that
Politics should not interfere with Sport, and and he resisted
banning the tour, which divided the country into two camps
with major riots,

In 1982 his government supported the British in the Falklands
war by sending two NZ Frigates [HMNZS Canterbury and
Waikato] to the Indian Ocean to replace two British Frigates
that could then be deployed as required.

31st Prime Minister of NZ from 12 December 1975 to 14 July 1984,
when he called a “Snap Election” over a contentious
“Nuclear Free” Legislation.

Which the opposition Labour party won by 56 to 37 seats.

Had a short stage career as the Narrator of the Rocky
Horror Show.

Retired from politics on 17th December 1991 and died
5th August 1982

Awarded the CH in June 1977 Silver Jubilee and Queen’s
Birthday Honours
GCMG in January 1984 [the second PM to receive a
Knighthood while still in office]

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Brian Tallboys Deputy Prime Minister 30 April 1981
CH, KCB, AC, PC,

Born 7 June 1921 in Wanganui
Died 7 June 2012 in Invercargill

Served in the RNZAF during WW 2.

Returned to Southland as a Farmer

Served two terms as Deputy PM to Robert Muldoon,
from 12 December 1975 to 4 March 1981.

Failed in a coup for leadership and was replaced as Deputy.

Awarded the CH on 3rd June 2012
KCB in 1991

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David Lange NZ Prime minister 30 December 1969
ONZ, CH, PC,

Born 4 August 1942
Died 13 August 2005

Became, at 41, the youngest PM, No 32, NZ had
ever had,

Elected on 14 July 1984, his party won the following
election and he resigned on the 8th August 1989

Will be remembered for the “Rainbow Warrior” and
his stand for“Nuclear Free NZ”,

Awarded the CH on 13 August 2005

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