Blair Tennent

Hon Blair Tennent CBE, MP
Blair Tennent in 1954
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Palmerston North
In office 1949–1954
Preceded by	Ormond Wilson
Succeeded by	Philip Skoglund
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Manawatu
In office 1957–1966
Preceded by	Matthew Oram
Succeeded by	Les Gandar
27th Minister of Education
In office 12 December 1960 – 20 December 1963
Prime Minister	Keith Holyoake
Preceded by	Philip Skoglund
Succeeded by	Arthur Kinsella
20th Mayor of Palmerston North
In office 1956–1959
Preceded by	Geoffrey Tremaine
Succeeded by	Gilbert Murray Rennie
Personal details
Born	1898 Greymouth
Died	1 May 1976(1976-05-01) (aged 77)
Political party	National Party

William Blair Tennent CBE (4 December 1898 – 1 May 1976), known as Blair Tennent, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party and a cabinet minister.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Local body politics 3 Member of Parliament 4 Later life 5 References 6 Further reading

Early life

Tennent was born at Greymouth on 4 December 1898 to Elizabeth Blair and her husband, David Tennent. He was dux at Greymouth District High School.^[1]

Local body politics

Tennent was a councillor for Palmerston North City Council from 1933-1941. He was Mayor of Palmerston North from 1956-1959.^[2][3]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1949–1951	29th	Palmerston North		National
1951–1954	30th	Palmerston North		National
1957–1960	32nd	Manawatu		National
1960–1963	33rd	Manawatu		National
1963–1966	34th	Manawatu		National

Tennent represented the Palmerston North electorate from 1949 to 1954, when he was defeated by Philip Skoglund. He then represented the Manawatu electorate from 1957 to 1966, when he retired.^[4]

He was Minister of Education in the Second National Government from 1960 to 1963.^[4]

Later life

He was awarded a CBE in 1973. Tennent died at his home in Palmerston North on 1 May 1976.^[1]

References

Further reading

• The First 50 Years: A History of the New Zealand National Party by Barry Gustafson (1986, Reed Methuen, Auckland; has biographical appendix of National MPs) ISBN 0474001776

Parliament of New Zealand
Preceded by Ormond Wilson	Member of Parliament for Palmerston North 1949–1954	Succeeded by Philip Skoglund

Persondata
Name	Tennent, Blair
Alternative names	Tennent, William Blair
Short description	Member of Parliament
Date of birth	4 December 1898
Place of birth	Greymouth
Date of death	1 May 1976
Place of death	Palmerston North