Edwin Keating

Edwin Joseph (Ted) Keating, CMG (29 October 1910 – 22 October 1987), was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for the Labour Party, academic and director of the Bank of New Zealand.

Early life and career

Keating was born in Aldershot, England in 1910 and arrived in New Zealand in 1926 alongside family members. He found employment with the New Zealand Post Office and attended the University of Auckland part-time, eventually graduating with a master of arts majoring in history.

He married Rita Wigg in Dunedin on 29 March 1948 with whom he had four sons and one daughter.

He was Vice-President of the New Zealand Post Office Association from 1949 to 1954 and a member of the Post Office Promotion Board from 1950 to 1954. He was a member of the Government Superannuation Board from 1948 to 1953.

Political career

At the 1953 local-body elections he stood unsuccessfully for the Wellington Harbour Board on a Labour ticket.

Keating represented the Hastings electorate from 1954 to 1960, when he was defeated by National's Duncan MacIntyre. He attempted to regain the seat in 1963, but was unsuccessful.

He was a member of the Labour Party's national executive from 1957 to 1960 and chairman of the Wellington Labour Party Division from 1968 to 1975. In 1969 Keating stood for the vice-presidency of the Labour Party. He gained minimal support with only 2 delegates voting for him in the ballot.

Later career

After politics he became a tutor and senior lecturer in industrial relations at Victoria University of Wellington. Keating also served as a director of the Bank of New Zealand from 1975 to 1987. He had previously been a member of the bank's housing allocation committee from 1947 to 1960.

He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honours for public and community services.

Death

He died in 1987 in Wellington after a lengthy illness. He was survived by his wife, five children and three grandchildren.