14 Facts About Venn Young

Venn Spearman Young was a New Zealand politician.

Venn Young was a member of the National Party, and served as a Cabinet Minister in the government of Robert Muldoon.

Venn Young is known for his failed attempt to legalise "homosexual acts" in 1975.

Venn Young attended primary school in Stratford, but received his high school education in Nelson, at Nelson College from 1942 to 1944.

Venn Young then returned to Taranaki, becoming a dairy farmer.

Venn Young gained some distinction as a rugby player, representing Taranaki.

Venn Young was to hold Egmont in the next three elections, gaining a straight majority each time.

At the 1978 election, the Egmont electorate was abolished, and Venn Young successfully contested the new Waitotara electorate.

Venn Young remained the MP for Waitotara until his departure from politics.

In mid 1974, Venn Young attracted considerable controversy by putting forward a private members' bill to legalise private "homosexual acts" between consenting adults.

In 1981, Venn Young was moved to the Social Welfare portfolio, which he retained until National's defeat in the 1984 election.

In 1986, Venn Young voted against the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, after an amendment he had proposed setting the homosexual age of consent at 20 was rejected.

Venn Young died in January 1993 following a heart attack, and was buried in Hawera Cemetery.

Venn Young was survived by his wife and nine children, including Jonathan Young who served as the National MP for the New Plymouth electorate from 2008 to 2020 and Audrey Young, senior political correspondent and former political editor of The New Zealand Herald.