David Beattie

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This article is about the Governor-General of New Zealand. For the Scottish businessman, see David Beattie (businessman). For the Scottish footballer, see David Beattie (footballer). For people of a similar name, see David Beatty (disambiguation).

KStJ, QC
14th Governor-General of New Zealand
In office
6 November 1980 – 10 November 1985
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterRobert Muldoon
David Lange
Preceded bySir Keith Holyoake
Succeeded bySir Paul Reeves
Personal details
Born(1924-02-29)29 February 1924
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died4 February 2001(2001-02-04) (aged 76)
Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Spouse
Norma Margaret Sarah Macdonald
​
​
(m. 1950)​
ProfessionJudge

Sir David Stuart Beattie,

governor-general of New Zealand, from 1980 to 1985. During the 1984 constitutional crisis, Beattie was nearly forced to dismiss the sitting prime minister, Robert Muldoon
.

Early life and family

Born in Sydney, Australia, on 29 February 1924, Beattie was the son of Una Mary and Joseph Nesbitt Beattie.[1] He was brought up by his mother in Takapuna, New Zealand, and educated at Dilworth School in Auckland.[1]

In 1941, at age 17, Beattie joined the army during the

Second World War, and rose to the rank of sergeant before transferring to the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve as a sub-lieutenant. He played rugby union for New Zealand services teams in 1944 and 1945.[1]

In 1950, Beattie married Norma Margaret Sarah Macdonald, and the couple had seven children.[1]

Legal career

After the war, Beattie studied law at

Queen's Counsel in 1964, and served as president of the Auckland District Law Society in 1965.[1] In 1969, Beattie was appointed as a Supreme Court[2] judge (the old name for the High Court, not to be confused with the new final court of appeal, the Supreme Court of New Zealand), serving on the bench until 1980.[3]

Beattie chaired the 1977–78 Royal Commission on the Courts.[1] In 1977, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.[1]

Governor General of the Commonwealth Realm of New Zealand

Beattie delivers the speech from the throne at the Opening of Parliament, 1982

On 1 August 1980 Beattie was appointed as a

Doctor of Laws by the University of Auckland.[10]

Controversies

At the height of the

Springbok tour of 1981, Beattie met a delegation from Halt All Racist Tours. Beattie promised to discuss their issues with the Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. Beattie was ridiculed by supporters of the tour, and as a result, the prime minister refused to speak to the governor-general about his meeting with HART.[11]

Beattie again caused controversy when he met with protesters trying to petition the Queen at the 1983 Waitangi Day celebrations, after the prime minister had blocked all petitions. As a result, Muldoon declared that Beattie's term would not be extended beyond the traditional five-year tenure.[11]

Beattie's final controversial move was to import two Mercedes-Benz cars at the end of his term in 1985. At the time the governor-general was exempt from paying taxes and thus exempt from paying import tariffs on cars as well. The tax benefit to Beattie was $85,000.00.[11]

Constitutional crisis

Main article:
New Zealand constitutional crisis, 1984

Following the

political crisis arose. Muldoon declined to follow the instructions of the incoming prime minister, David Lange, as he was constitutionally required to do.[12] At the time, many felt that Muldoon should accede to Lange's demands. It has been stated that Beattie suggested to senior members of the National Party that he could dismiss Muldoon and appoint his deputy, Jim McLay, as prime minister before swearing in David Lange as prime minister (McLay was to replace Muldoon as leader later that year). However, such action proved unnecessary as Muldoon's cabinet threatened to remove him as leader themselves if he did not accept Lange's instructions.[13]

The crisis led to an inquiry that recommended passing the Constitution Act 1986.

Later life

After leaving office as governor-general, Beattie continued his involvement in public life, carrying out a number of government enquiries, and serving on company boards and sporting organisations. He prepared the Report on Science and Technology in 1986–87, the Report on the

New Zealand Rugby Union, the New Zealand Boxing Association, the New Zealand Squash Rackets Association
, and the Legion of Frontiersmen (NZ) Command. He was a keen golfer, tennis player and fisherman.

In 1990, Beattie was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[1]

Beattie died in Upper Hutt on 4 February 2001. Norma, Lady Beattie, died on 9 May 2018.[14]

Arms

Coat of arms of David Beattie
Notes
The arms of David Beattie consist of:
Crest
Upon a wreath argent and gules, issuant from a circlet of estoiles azure and Pohutukawa (metrosideros exelsa) blossom a Piwakawaka fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) proper.
Escutcheon
Gules, on a chevron engrailed argent between three full bottomed wigs a royal crown between two bees proper.
Supporters
Dexter: A male athlete proper wearing shorts and a singlet sable. Sinister: A judge of the High Court of New Zealand in full ceremonial robes proper.
Motto
Pro civitate (For the Nation)
Other elements
Mantling gules and argent.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-908578-34-2
    .
  2. ^ "Appointment of Members of Rules Committee" (17 April 1969) 23 New Zealand Gazette 735.
  3. ^ "Resignation of Judges of the High Court" (16 October 1980) 122 New Zealand Gazette 3063.
  4. ^ "Honours and Awards" (31 July 1980) 90 New Zealand Gazette 2323.
  5. ^ "No. 48456". The London Gazette. 18 December 1980. p. 17522.
  6. ^ "Commission Appointing the Honourable Sir David Stuart Beattie, G.C.M.G., Q.C., to be Governor- General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand" (6 November 1980) 130 New Zealand Gazette 3254.
  7. ^ "Assumption of the Office of Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand by the Honourable Sir David Smart Beattie, G.C.M.G., Q.C." (6 November 1980) 130 New Zealand Gazette 3253.
  8. ^ "Revocation of the Commission Appointing the Honourable Sir David Stuart Beattie, G.C.M.C, G.C.V.O., Q.S.O., Q.C, to be Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand" (8 November 1985) 207 New Zealand Gazette 4895
  9. ^ "Honours and Awards" (7 November 1985) 206 New Zealand Gazette 4893
  10. ^ "Honorary graduates". University of Auckland Calendar 1984 (PDF). University of Auckland. 1984. p. 23. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  11. ^ a b c Mclean, Gavin (October 2006). The Governors, New Zealand Governors and Governors-General. Otago University Press. p. 281.
  12. ^ Cabinet Office Cabinet Manual 2008 at [6.12]
  13. Television New Zealand (10 July 1994). "TVNZ on Demand – Frontline – Four days in June". Archived from the original
    on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
  14. ^ "Norma Beattie death notice". The New Zealand Herald. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.

External links

Government offices
Preceded by Governor-General of New Zealand
1980–1985 		Succeeded by
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