36 Facts About Arnold Nordmeyer

Arnold Nordmeyer served as minister of finance and later as leader of the Labour Party and leader of the Opposition.

Arnold Nordmeyer was born on 7 February 1901 in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Arnold Nordmeyer's father was a German immigrant, his mother was from Northern Ireland.

Arnold Nordmeyer was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School, and at the University of Otago where he completed his BA.

In 1925 Arnold Nordmeyer received his ordination as a Presbyterian minister and was appointed to a position in the small town of Kurow.

Arnold Nordmeyer became interested in the welfare of workers involved in the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Waitaki River.

Arnold Nordmeyer became increasingly politically active as a result witnessing both the working conditions of the labourers and the poor living conditions of the unemployed men and their families who were attracted to the area by the promise of work.

Shortly before the 1935 election Arnold Nordmeyer stepped down from his church position, stating an intent to contest the Oamaru seat for the Labour Party.

In Parliament Arnold Nordmeyer proved to be a skilled debater but had a somewhat troubled relationship with his party's leadership.

Gradually Arnold Nordmeyer became disillusioned with Lee, alleging that Lee was egotistical and self-important.

Arnold Nordmeyer later co-operated with more moderate politicians such as Walter Nash in drafting the party's social security policies.

Arnold Nordmeyer chaired both the caucus committee and the parliamentary select committee which considered the matters in more depth.

Arnold Nordmeyer attempted to take a position between both groups but was generally closer to Lee's camp than to the other.

Arnold Nordmeyer was one of the few speakers against the motion to expel Lee at the party conference that year, an action which would in later years give him a reputation for political courage.

Arnold Nordmeyer nominated Gervan McMillan, an old friend from Kurow and a supporter of Lee, as the party's new leader.

From 1947 to 1949, Arnold Nordmeyer was Minister of Industries and Commerce.

Arnold Nordmeyer was charged with the administration of New Zealand's comprehensive system of import licensing controls and was an advocate for the establishment of new industries and having greater protection for local industries.

Arnold Nordmeyer pushed for development policies designed to make New Zealand more economically self-sufficient.

Arnold Nordmeyer himself lost his seat of Oamaru against Thomas Hayman.

In late 1950 Peter Fraser died and Arnold Nordmeyer was elected in the 1951 by-election as his replacement in the seat of Brooklyn.

When Labour won the 1957 election Arnold Nordmeyer was made Minister of Finance and was ranked third within the government.

Arnold Nordmeyer's idea was that a short sharp corrective budget would fix the economic situation and from then on there would be nothing other than improvement until the next election.

Over time Arnold Nordmeyer had drifted to the right of the Labour Party despite being on the left and defending Lee in the 1930s.

Arnold Nordmeyer's defeat severed a link with Labour's past as Nordmeyer, by then, was alone among his colleagues as having served in the first Labour government's cabinet.

Arnold Nordmeyer remained a respected figure in the Labour Party for his experience and service and continued to be regarded by historians as one of the best ministers the Labour Party had produced.

Arnold Nordmeyer remained in Parliament for another four years, retiring at the 1969 election.

Between 1971 and 1974, Arnold Nordmeyer served as president of the New Zealand Insurance Workers' Union.

Arnold Nordmeyer was the first public figure to be elected president, as earlier union leaders had been full-time insurance workers.

Arnold Nordmeyer was elected president due to the union's desire for someone with more experience in industrial and financial fields.

Arnold Nordmeyer later held a number of government appointments after retiring from parliament.

Arnold Nordmeyer then became the chairman of Maui Development Ltd and was a director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Arnold Nordmeyer was one of the staunchest opponents of capital punishment and was staunchly opposed to abortion, being a patron of New Zealand's main anti-abortion group Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child.

Arnold Nordmeyer died in Wellington on 2 February 1989, survived by his wife Frances and their two children.

Arnold Nordmeyer's family declined the offer of a state funeral instead opting to scatter his ashes by Lake Ohau.

Arnold Nordmeyer married Frances Maria Kernahan in Oamaru on 28 October 1931.

On 6 February 1987, Arnold Nordmeyer was the fifth appointee to the Order of New Zealand.