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Eric Henry Halstead CBE ED (26 May 1912 – 18 June 1991) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party and later a diplomat.
Biography
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1949–1951 | 29th | Tamaki | National | |
| 1951–1954 | 30th | Tamaki | National | |
| 1954–1957 | 31st | Tamaki | National | |
Halstead was born in Auckland in 1912, and educated at Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University. He served as a major in the NZEF during World War II.
In 1940, he married Millicent Joan Stewart; they had four children.
He represented the Tamaki electorate from 1949 to 1957, when he was defeated by Bob Tizard. He held the following cabinet posts:
- Minister for Social Security 1954–1956
- Minister of Industries and Commerce 1956–1957
- Minister for Customs 1956–1957
He later served as Ambassador to Thailand and Laos 1970–1973, then Ambassador to Italy and Ambassador to Iraq concurrently from 1976–1980 and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (while resident in Rome) 1977–1980.
In 1989, a book put together by Halstead, entitled Freyberg's Men, was refused permission to be published by the New Zealand Government because it bore too close a resemblance to copyright material originally published by the New Zealand Army Board and War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs.
In the 1980 New Year Honours, Halstead was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He died in Auckland in 1991.