Roderick McKenzie

For other people named Roderick McKenzie, see Roderick McKenzie (disambiguation).

Roderick McKenzie (1852 – 9 October 1934) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Buller and Motueka, in the South Island. He was a member of the Liberal Party.

Early life

He was born in Ross-shire, Scotland and was educated at the Glasgow Academy. He came to New Zealand in 1869 and was a member of the Westport Harbour Board,[1] Nelson Harbour Board and Kumara Hospital Board. McKenzie was an engineer and bridgebuilder. His projects included construction of the Westport Staiths at a cost of 22,000 pounds, the railway bridge at Arahura and he laid the rails to Hokitika.[2]

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
18931896 12th Buller Liberal
18961899 13th Motueka Liberal
18991902 14th Motueka Liberal
19021905 15th Motueka Liberal
19051908 16th Motueka Liberal
19081911 17th Motueka Liberal
19111914 18th Motueka Liberal

McKenzie was the MP for Buller between 1893 and 1896 and the MP for Motueka from 1896 to 1914. He was Chairman of Committees from 1906 to 1908.[3] He was Minister of Public Works and Mines 1909–1912.[4]

Roderick McKenzie was a "strong supporter of the Seddon administration".[5] However, in 1912 McKenzie would have nothing to do with Thomas Mackenzie's (no relation) Liberal Ministry stating that: John Millar should have been Prime Minister, Mackenzie's ministers were political novices and had forsaken their liberal principles.[6]

In 1932, when he was 80 years old, McKenzie contested the Motueka seat at the by-election following the death of George Black.[7] McKenzie died on 9 October 1934.[8]

Notes

  1. Cyclopedia 1906, p.30
  2. Cyclopedia of New Zealand 1906, Vol. 5, p.30
  3. Wilson 1985, p. 252.
  4. Wilson & Wood
  5. Cyclopedia 1906, p.31
  6. Bassett, pp.12–13
  7. Scholefield 1940, p. 71.
  8. "Obituary". The Evening Post. CXVIII (87). 10 October 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 15 August 2011.

References

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
John A. Millar
Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives
19061908
Succeeded by
Thomas Wilford
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Eugene O'Conor
Member of Parliament for Buller
18931896
Succeeded by
Patrick O'Regan
In abeyance
Title last held by
John Kerr
Member of Parliament for Motueka
18961914
Succeeded by
Richard Phineas Hudson