Name Leon Gotz Role Politician | Died September 14, 1970 | |
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Sir Frank "Leon" Aroha Götz, KCVO (12 September 1892 – 14 September 1970) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
Biography
Götz was born in Auckland. He received his education in France and at King's College, Wanganui Collegiate School, and Otago University. He was a rubber planter in Malaya from 1913. He served in World War I in the Malayan States Rifles and in the RAF, and lost his right arm and eye. He returned to Malaya, but came to New Zealand again in 1925 when the rubber market collapsed.
Until 1935, he was general manager of New Zealand reparation estates in Western Samoa. He was then a broadcaster for 2ZB, a radio station in Wellington. This was followed by working for an Auckland-based insurance company, of which he eventually became manager.
In 1946, he unsuccessfully contested Auckland Central, being beaten by Labour's Bill Anderton. He represented the Otahuhu electorate from 1949 to 1954, and then the Manukau electorate from 1954 to 1963. In 1963 he was defeated when standing for Manurewa. He was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Island Territories on 12 December 1960, and held these posts until his defeat three years later.
As Internal Affairs was responsible for the 1963 Royal Tour, Gotz was knighted at the end of the tour in 1963 by being awarded the KCVO for personal services to the sovereign, which caused some jealousy amongst his colleagues.
From 1965 to 1968 he was the High Commissioner to Canada, after which he retired to Rotorua. Götz died on 14 September 1970 in Rotorua.