Bill Young (New Zealand politician)

William "Bill" Lambert Young CMG (13 November 1913 – 14 July 2009) was a New Zealand politician representing the National Party.

Biography

Young was born in Kawakawa in 1913, the son of James Young. He attended Ngawha Native School (27 kilometres or 17 miles from Kawakawa) where his parents were teachers, and then Wellington College.

During World War II Young served with the 2nd New Zealand Division in North Africa, and was invalided home after the workshop section in Egypt was bombed. He worked for Murray Roberts Company Limited before and after the war (1930–1946), then music retailer Beggs (1946–1956), and was general manager of manufacturer/retailer Radio Corporation of New Zealand (1956–1966).

He was a Member of Parliament for the National Party from 1966 to 1981 representing the marginal Miramar electorate in Wellington. He stood unsuccessfully in 1963, but won the electorate in 1966 with a majority of 146. From 1975 to 1981 he served in the Third National Government as Minister of Works. Young was active with the New Zealand Automobile Association and was vice-president of the Wellington AA, and a member of the council of the North Island AA.

Young lost his seat in 1981, and was then appointed on the recommendation of Prime Minister Robert Muldoon to the post of New Zealand High Commissioner to Great Britain, and Nigeria, and Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1992 New Year Honours.

Young married Isobel Joan Luke, the daughter of George Luke, in 1946. They had five children together: James, Christine, Rosemary (married to Max Bradford), Nicola and Annabel Young who was also a (list) Member of Parliament (1997–2002).

He died in 2009.