John McKenzie (New Zealand)

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Palmerston, New Zealand. The McKenzie cairn is visible on the top of Puketapu, the hill to the right of the picture

Sir John McKenzie KCMG (6 October 1839 - 6 August 1901) was a New Zealand politician. He served as Minister of Lands and Agriculture in the Liberal Government of John Ballance.

McKenzie was born in Ardross, Scotland, and while young saw the hardships caused by the Highland Clearances. He arrived in Otago in 1860, working for Johnny Jones in Waikouaiti. He later farmed near Palmerston.

[edit] Member of Parliament

He first ran for election to the Otago Provincial Council in 1868 (for Waikouaiti), but was not elected (for Waihemo) until 1871.

From 1881 to 1900 he served in the New Zealand Parliament; for the Otago electorates of Moeraki, then Waihemo (1887), Waitaki (1890), and Waihemo again from 1893 to 1900, when he resigned due to ill-health.

He served as Minister of Lands and Agriculture from 1891 to 1900 in the First Liberal Government. He oversaw many land reforms, favouring small family farmers and the opening up of land for closer settlement. He was knighted in 1901, and died of bladder cancer only six weeks later.

There is a memorial cairn to McKenzie on top of Puketapu, a prominent hill close to Palmerston in Otago.

[edit] References

• Photo of Sir John McKenzie
• Biography at Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
• 'KENZIE, Sir John, K.C.M.G.', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966
• Sir John McKenzie: Champion of the Small Farmer
• "McKenzie, Sir John." Encyclopædia Britannica

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