Sir Alex McKenzie
KBE
5th President of the National Party
In office
1951–1962
Preceded byWilfrid Sim
Succeeded byJack Meadowcroft
Personal details
Born
Alexander McKenzie

(1896-10-26)26 October 1896
Invercargill, New Zealand
Died20 August 1992(1992-08-20) (aged 95)
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyNational
Spouse
Constance Mary Howard
​
​
(m. 1935; died 1966)​
Children4
OccupationSharebroker

Sir Alexander McKenzie KBE (26 October 1896 – 20 August 1992) was a New Zealand sharebroker and company director. He served as president of the National Party from 1951 to 1962.

Biography

Born in Invercargill on 26 October 1896, McKenzie was the son of Alexander and Isabella McKenzie.[1][2] He was educated at Southland Technical College and Southland Boys' High School.[1]

McKenzie enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during World War I on 14 November 1916, and saw active service in France with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was wounded in action on 18 August 1917, and was subsequently assessed as being permanently unfit for active service and returned to New Zealand for discharge.[3]

McKenzie married Constance Mary Howard on 10 October 1935, and the couple went on to have four children.[1]

McKenzie was a sharebroker, underwriter, and director of several companies. He was chair of the Auckland division of the National Party from 1942 until being elected as party president in 1951, in which role he served until 1962.[1][4]

In the 1962 New Year Honours, McKenzie was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for political services.[5] He died in Auckland on 20 August 1992, aged 95.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Traue, J. E., ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 182. ISBN 0-589-01113-8.
  2. ^ "Birth search: registration number 1896/12845". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  3. ^ "McKenzie, Alexander – WW1 40996 – Army". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  4. ^ "National Party conference". The Press. Vol. 87, no. 26470. 11 July 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  5. ^ "No. 42554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1962. p. 40.
  6. ^ "McKenzie, Sir Alexander, KBE. 1896–1992". New Zealand Card Index. Auckland Council. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
Party political offices Preceded byWilfrid Sim President of the National Party 1951–1962 Succeeded byJack Meadowcroft
Categories