Hugh Watt
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| Hon. Hugh Watt | |
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| In office 8 December 1972 – 1 September 1974 |
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| Prime Minister | Norman Kirk |
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| Preceded by | Robert Muldoon |
| Succeeded by | Bob Tizard |
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| In office 1 September 1974 – 6 September 1974 |
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| Preceded by | (Norman Kirk) |
| Succeeded by | Bill Rowling |
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| Born | 1912 Australia |
| Died | 1980 Wellington,  New Zealand |
| Constituency | Onehunga |
| Political party | Labour |
Hugh Watt (1912–1980) was a Labour member of Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 - 1974. He was briefly the Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand between 1 September 1974 - 6 September 1974 following the death of Norman Kirk.
Watt was appointed High Commissioner for New Zealand in the United Kingdom effective from 22 March 1975 for three years. Controversially, he stayed on as a member of parliament and Cabinet Minister. In June 1975, Watt was asked if he was about to resign as an MP. He stated that: "If I were to resign now as a Member of Parliament [for Onehunga] it would mean that I would lose my Cabinet status and the unique position that I have as Higher Commissioner with Executive Council rank that gives me access to British Government Ministers."[1]
When Robert Muldoon's government was elected on the 29 November 1975, the incoming Prime Minister promptly fired him.
He was Australian-born , like Sir Joseph Ward and several Labour Party founders, Harry Holland, Michael Joseph Savage, Bob Semple and Paddy Webb.
[edit] References
- ^ The Evening Post 13 June 1975
- Hugh Watt profile via World Statesmen
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