Norman Jones (Invercargill)

Norman Philip Hastings Jones, QSM (1923 – 19 November 1987) was a New Zealand National Party politician, who represented the seat of Invercargill in the Parliament of New Zealand from 1975 to 1987.

Jones served as a private in the 23rd Infantry Battalion during World War II and lost his right leg to tank fire. On returning to New Zealand he trained as a teacher and became a polytechnic tutor in commerce.

Jones was an Invercargill city councillor for 18 years, and served one term as deputy mayor. He was particularly notable for his vehement opposition to the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986. Due to his outspokenness on this and other issues, the media dubbed him "the mouth from the south".

"Turn around and look at them ... gaze upon them ... you're looking into Hades ... don't look too long – you might catch AIDS."[1]

Norman Jones referring to homosexuals in 1985

When the Labour Party won office in 1984, an economic summit was held in the debating chamber. Representatives from industry, unions and community groups attended. Jones refused to vacate his seat saying he would not give up his chair for some communist to sit down.

Norman Jones died on 19 November 1987[2][3] from a brain tumour at the age of 64. His autobiography, Jonesy, published five years earlier in 1982, detailed his wartime service and his political career, although a number of the most controversial aspects and events of his public service occurred after the book's publication.

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