Mervyn Langlois Wellington QSO (6 October 1940 – 7 September 2003) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Early life and family

Wellington was born in Inglewood in 1940,[1] and received his education at New Plymouth Boys' High School and the University of Auckland.[2] He married Elizabeth Helen Bean in 1961 and the couple had three daughters.[1] After a period as a social welfare worker between 1959 and 1961, Wellington became a school teacher and taught at St Stephen's School, Pukekohe High School and Ruapehu College.[1] He was also a Methodist lay preacher and served as a Pukekohe borough councillor.[1]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1975–1978 38th Manurewa National
1978–1981 39th Papakura National
1981–1984 40th Papakura National
1984–1987 41st Papakura National
1987–1990 42nd Papakura National

He represented the Manurewa electorate from 1975 to 1978, and then the Papakura electorate from 1978 to 1990, when he retired.

Wellington served as a Cabinet minister, being the Minister of Education from 13 December 1978 to 26 July 1984. During his tenure as Education Minister, he regularly courted controversy with teacher unions on various issues.[3] Wellington was a Muldoon loyalist, and was demoted after National's 1984 election defeat.

Honours and awards

In 1977, Wellington was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[4] In the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[5]

Death

Wellington died in 2003, following a long illness.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kitchin, Peter (18 September 2003). "Education minister failed to ignite patriotic fervour". The Dominion Post. p. 7.
  2. ^ a b Pickmere, Arnold (12 September 2003). "Obituary: Merv Wellington". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  3. ^ Bob Linguard, John Knight & Paige Porter (1993). Schooling Reform In Hard Times. The Falmer Press. p. 67.
  4. ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 389. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  5. ^ "No. 53334". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 12 June 1993. p. 38.
New Zealand Parliament Preceded byPhil Amos Member of Parliament for Manurewa 1975–1978 Succeeded byRoger Douglas New constituency Member of Parliament for Papakura 1978–1990 Succeeded byJohn Robertson Political offices Preceded byLes Gandar Minister of Education 1978–1984 Succeeded byRussell Marshall


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