Arthur Ellis Kinsella QSO (15 January 1918 – 4 March 2004) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party, and was a cabinet minister.
Arthur Kinsella | |
---|---|
28th Minister of Education | |
In office 20 December 1963 – 22 December 1969 | |
Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake |
Preceded by | Blair Tennent |
Succeeded by | Brian Talboys |
38th Postmaster-General | |
In office 2 May 1961 – 20 December 1963 | |
Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake |
Preceded by | Thomas Hayman |
Succeeded by | Jack Scott |
8th Minister of Broadcasting | |
In office 12 December 1960 – 20 December 1963 | |
Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake |
Preceded by | Ray Boord |
Succeeded by | Jack Scott |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hauraki | |
In office 13 November 1954 – 29 November 1969 | |
Preceded by | Andy Sutherland |
Succeeded by | Leo Schultz |
Personal details | |
Born | 15 January 1918 Waikino, New Zealand |
Died | 4 March 2004 Paraparaumu, New Zealand |
Political party | National |
Children | 4 |
Kinsella was born at Waikino in 1918. He was educated at Waihi District High School, Waihi School of Mines, University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland Teachers College; he graduated with MA and Diploma in Education. He was a farmer and teacher before becoming an MP.[1]
In World War II he served with NZ Engineer Forces (7th Field Company) in UK, Middle East and Greece where he was wounded and returned to New Zealand.
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1954–1957 | 31st | Hauraki | National | ||
1957–1960 | 32nd | Hauraki | National | ||
1960–1963 | 33rd | Hauraki | National | ||
1963–1966 | 34th | Hauraki | National | ||
1966–1969 | 35th | Hauraki | National |
Kinsella was elected as the Member of the rural electorate of Hauraki in the 1954 election.[2][3] He was Minister of Broadcasting (1960–1963)[4][5][6] in the second National Government under Keith Holyoake, overseeing the introduction of Television to New Zealand. He was Postmaster-General (1961–1963),[6][7] and was Minister of Education (1963–1969).[4][8][9] He retired from Parliament in 1969[2] following a bad car crash.[10]
As a minister he enabled private stations on radio and television (rather than limit them to direct state stewardship) via the Broadcasting Corporation amendment bill. He also faced a chronic shortage of telephones in New Zealand with a waiting list of 19,000 in the early 1960s. He lengthened the teacher training period from two years to three and attempted to reduce class sizes. He also established a new medical school in Auckland.[10]
In 1970 Kinsella was granted the right to retain the title of The Honourable for life.[11] In 1971 Kinsella was elected to the Auckland City Council serving one term.[12] Later, in 1983 he was elected to the Wellington City Council[13][14] He lost his seat three years later but regained a seat following a 1987 by-election.[15][16]
After his retirement from politics, he was a business consultant before his return to teaching as Principal of the Technical Correspondence Institute.[1]
In the 1992 New Year Honours, Kinsella was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[17]
Kinsella died in 2004.[10]