Leon Götz

Sir Frank Leon Aroha Götz KCVO (12 September 1892 – 14 September 1970) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. Noted as a colourful character, he was commonly referred to by parliamentary colleagues as "the pirate" as he wore a black patch over a missing eye.[1]

The Honourable Sir Leon Götz KCVO
Götz in 1957
9th High Commissioner of New Zealand to Canada
In office 31 March 1965 – 30 August 1968
Prime Minister	Keith Holyoake
Preceded by	John S. Reid
Succeeded by	Dean Eyre
17th Minister of Internal Affairs
In office 12 December 1960 – 20 December 1963
Prime Minister	Keith Holyoake
Preceded by	Bill Anderton
Succeeded by	David Seath
6th Minister of Island Territories
In office 12 December 1960 – 20 December 1963
Prime Minister	Keith Holyoake
Preceded by	John Mathison
Succeeded by	Ralph Hanan
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Otahuhu
In office 30 November 1949 – 13 November 1954
Preceded by	Charles Robert Petrie
Succeeded by	James Deas
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Manukau
In office 13 November 1954 – 30 November 1963
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Colin Moyle
Personal details
Born	12 September 1892 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	14 September 1970 (aged 78) Rotorua, New Zealand
Political party	National
Relatives	Enid McElwee (niece)

Biography

Early life and career

Götz was born in Auckland. He received his education in France (at the insistence of his Alsatian father) and at King's College, Wanganui Collegiate School, and Otago University. He was a rubber planter in Malaya from 1913. He served in World War I in the Malayan States Rifles and in the RAF, and lost his right arm and eye in an explosives accident. He returned to Malaya, but came to New Zealand again in 1925 when the rubber market collapsed.[2]

Until 1935, he was general manager of New Zealand reparation estates in Western Samoa. He was then a broadcaster for 2ZB, a radio station in Wellington. This was followed by working for an Auckland-based insurance company, of which he eventually became manager.[2]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1949–1951	29th	Otahuhu		National
1951–1954	30th	Otahuhu		National
1954–1957	31st	Manukau		National
1957–1960	32nd	Manukau		National
1960–1963	33rd	Manukau		National

In 1946, he unsuccessfully contested Auckland Central,[2] being beaten by Labour's Bill Anderton.[3] He then sought the National Party nomination for the Mount Albert by-election in 1947, but lost to Jack Garland.[4][5]

He then represented the Otahuhu electorate from 1949 to 1954, and then the Manukau electorate from 1954 to 1963. In 1963 he was defeated when standing for Manurewa.[6] He was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Island Territories on 12 December 1960, and held these posts until his defeat three years later.[7][8] He had been a backbencher for 11 years and was 68 years old, but Prime Minister Keith Holyoake thought him capable to be a minister despite Deputy Prime Minister Jack Marshall not thinking him qualified.[1]

He had ministerial responsibility for acclimatisation and was caught returning from a duck shooting trip by a local ranger carrying more than the legal limit allowed, causing significant embarrassment for the government.[9]

As Internal Affairs was responsible for the 1963 Royal Tour, Götz was knighted at the end of the tour in 1963 by being appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for personal services to the sovereign,[6] which caused some jealousy amongst his colleagues.[10] In March 1964, Götz was granted the right to retain the title of The Honourable in recognition of his term as a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand.[11]

Later life and death

From 1965 to 1968 he was the High Commissioner to Canada. While there he occupied much of his time hunting bears near the Arctic Circle.[9] When his term expired he retired to Rotorua.[2] Götz died on 14 September 1970 in Rotorua.[2]

Notes

1. Marshall 1989, p. 6.
2. Gustafson 1986, p. 315.
3. Wilson 1985, p. 180.
4. "National Nominees For Mt Albert". The Northern Advocate. 23 August 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
5. "National Candidate for Mt Albert Seat". The Northern Advocate. 2 September 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
6. Wilson 1985, p. 200.
7. Wilson 1985, p. 89.
8. New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, Vols. 327-337 (1961-1963).
9. Marshall 1989, p. 7.
10. Bassett 1997, p. 184.
11. "No. 43282". The London Gazette. 27 March 1964. p. 2762.

References

• Bassett, Michael (1997). The Mother of All Departments. Auckland: Auckland University Press. ISBN 1-86940-175-1.
• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
• Marshall, Jack (1989). John Marshall Memoirs Volume Two: 1960-1988. Auckland: Collins. ISBN 1-86950-003-2.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
• Obituaries in Evening Post, 14 September 1970 & New Zealand Herald, 15 September 1970