50 Facts About Hugh Watt

Hugh Watt had been the fifth deputy prime minister of New Zealand since 8 December 1972.

Hugh Watt's father, William Watt, was a mining engineer, and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 1914, when he was two years old, settling in Auckland.

Hugh Watt's father lost an arm in Australia and moved back to New Zealand to take up a position as a watchman at the Auckland Harbour Board.

Hugh Watt attended Remuera Primary School, where his headmaster was Sir Leslie Munro's father.

Hugh Watt attended Seddon Memorial Technical College, where he studied engineering and played senior grade rugby for the Tech Old Boys' club.

Hugh Watt became an apprentice engineer and joined the Engineers' Union, of which he was a member for 16 years.

Hugh Watt enjoyed his union membership but never aspired to hold any office within it.

Hugh Watt continued to run the business until 1969, when he accepted a doctor's advice to lessen his workload.

Hugh Watt was married twice: first to Alice Merry Fowke from 1935 to 1965, when they divorced; and then to Irene Frances Ray from 1968.

Hugh Watt had two sons and two daughters with his first wife.

Hugh Watt was Australian-born, like Labour Party founders such as Harry Holland, Michael Joseph Savage, Bob Semple, and Paddy Webb, and later MPs such as Mabel Howard and Jerry Skinner.

Hugh Watt was born on the same street where Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, of whom Watt was a great admirer, once lived.

Hugh Watt was the chairman of the Onehunga Labour Representation Committee and a member of the Labour Party's national executive.

Hugh Watt stood unsuccessfully for Labour in Remuera in 1949 and in Parnell in 1951.

Hugh Watt was then successful in winning the parliamentary seat of Onehunga in a 1953 by-election after the death of Arthur Osborne, and held it until 1975.

Hugh Watt was first appointed as a minister in the Second Labour Government led by Walter Nash; he was Minister of Works from 1957 to 1960, and additionally, Minister of Electricity from 1958 until 1960.

Hugh Watt resigned from the Auckland Harbour Board in December 1957 after his appointment to the cabinet.

Hugh Watt was the Chairman of the National Roads Board from 1957 to 1960.

Hugh Watt thought his reform of the National Roads Board levy system was his biggest achievement in the government's term and saw a large improvement in urban motorways as a result of diversifying the board members to come from cities as well as rural areas.

In January 1960 Hugh Watt signed an agreement with Consolidated Zinc to establish an aluminium smelter to be built in Southland to make aluminium out of alumina shipped from Australia.

Hugh Watt quoted an assurance made by the company that the engineering works would be constructed so as to enhance the scenic effects, nor would the lake levels be raised so high as to endanger the town of Te Anau.

Hugh Watt was already well known as an MP and former minister and thought ideal for the role.

However, Hugh Watt ruled himself out stating he felt he could make a greater contribution to the city's development by remaining in national politics and that he wished to do so by serving in the cabinet of the next Labour government.

When Labour was in opposition, several previous ministers had either died or retired and Hugh Watt soon found himself as one of the party's most experienced MPs.

Hugh Watt stood for the position of Deputy Leader in 1962 following the death of Jerry Skinner but was defeated by Fred Hackett.

At 11 years, 4 months and 12 days Hugh Watt is Labour's longest-serving deputy leader, first under Arnold Nordmeyer and then under Kirk.

Hugh Watt was the Shadow Minister of Works and Electricity while Labour was in opposition.

In February 1971, Arthur Faulkner and potentially Bill Rowling were contemplating standing against him, however neither did allowing Hugh Watt to be re-elected unopposed.

Hugh Watt visited London and met with Prime Minister Edward Heath in an attempt to win British support, even offering to let Heath skipper the protest vessel, but failed to persuade the British government to support New Zealand's stand.

Hugh Watt continued to have a high workload and Kirk mooted taking the Works and Development portfolio from him to help, however Hugh Watt was reluctant to drop Works and Development as he enjoyed the role.

Hugh Watt preferred to give up the Labour portfolio, but Kirk wanted him to remain in it as he was "making his mark" in it.

Hugh Watt, who was then serving as Deputy Prime Minister, acted as prime minister for six days before a new leader was elected.

The party's National Executive and the Federation of Labour preferred Hugh Watt to Rowling and made their support known.

Marshall said Hugh Watt's appointment was well deserved as "he had served the House for so long and so faithfully".

Hugh Watt then decided to retire at the next general election in 1975 to be succeeded by Frank Rogers.

Hugh Watt was appointed New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom effective from 22 March 1975 for three years.

In June 1975, Hugh Watt was asked if he was about to resign as an MP.

Hugh Watt made it a priority to boost confidence with employees by going out of his way to engage with people in person, gather groups to make decisions collectively and by attending all the staff training sessions himself.

Hugh Watt was shocked at how high a workload the post of high commissioner had, finding himself doing almost the same amount of work as he was when he was a minister.

Hugh Watt worked to advocate for New Zealand's trade interests in Britain, which were severely impacted by Britain's joining the European Communities.

Hugh Watt served only fifteen months of his three-year contract and as part of a well publicised deal he relinquished the role of High Commissioner in exchange for the role of Commissioner of the Accident Compensation Corporation in Wellington.

Hugh Watt was replaced by Douglas Carter which served to strengthen the public perception that his removal was politically motivated.

In late 1977, after witnessing the Moyle Affair and generally depreciating state of politics under Muldoon, Hugh Watt put himself forward as a nominee for Onehunga stating that he felt that a man of his experience could guide MPs in conduct.

Hugh Watt had intended to win the nomination again and only serve one term, using the time to lay the groundwork for Mike Moore, his friend and former MP for Eden, to succeed him.

Hugh Watt had previously encouraged Moore to seek the Onehunga nomination when he retired in 1975, even offering to return from London to campaign on his behalf, but Moore declined.

Hugh Watt gave up his position with ACC when his term ended in June 1979, opting not to renew it for another triennium.

Hugh Watt's health began to decline rapidly soon after his retirement and he was admitted to Auckland's Green Lane Hospital in October 1979 for surgery to drain a fluid buildup around his lungs.

Hugh Watt died on 4 February 1980 in Green Lane Hospital after a long illness, aged 67 years.

Hugh Watt was survived by his wife, ex-wife and four children.

Hugh Watt Drive, a road running along the Onehunga waterfront in Auckland, was named to commemorate Watt.