Name George Chapman | Role Party president | |
Sir George Alan Chapman (born 13 April 1927) is a New Zealand accountant, businessman and company director. He was president of the National Party from 1973 to 1982, and was described as "one of the National Party’s most influential presidents" by Barry Gustafson. He joined the party in 1948, and has been chairman of the Young Nationals, an electorate secretary and chairman, Wellington Division chairman, Dominion Councillor, and was party vice-president between 1966 and 1973.
He was an Upper Hutt borough councillor from 1952 to 1955 and served as deputy mayor between 1953 and 1955.
In the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours Chapman was appointed a Knight Bachelor for political and public services.
He was born in the Trentham Military Camp, Trentham where his ex-British Army father was Chief Armourer; and was educated at Hutt Valley High School and Victoria University of Wellington. He married Jacqueline Irvine in 1950.
His memoir The Years of Lightning covers several noteworthy general events; the 1969 election, 1972 election, 1975 election, 1978 election, and the period with Robert Muldoon as party leader.