Jack Luxton - Biography

Biography

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
1966–1969 35th Piako National
1969–1972 36th Piako National
1972–1975 37th Piako National
1975–1978 38th Piako National
1978–1981 39th Matamata National
1981–1984 40th Matamata National
1984–1987 41st Matamata National

Luxton was born in 1923 in Waitoa, between Morrinsville and Te Aroha. He attended the local primary school, followed by Hamilton Technical College. After leaving school, he was a dairy farmer in Waitoa. He became prominent in the Waikato branch of Federated Farmers, serving as dominion councillor before his election to Parliament. He continued a family involvement with the Tatua Dairy Company as a director for several years.

He entered Parliament in 1966 as the National Party member for Piako and then, after boundary changes for the 1978 election, Matamata. He represented the predominantly rural electorate for 21 years to 1987. He was elected Chairman of Committees in 1976, a position he held until National's defeat in 1984. He was particularly interested in Pacific Island affairs, and in 1976 led a Government-sponsored tour of eight Pacific nations to investigate local industries, with a view to increasing New Zealand involvement there.

On his retirement from politics in 1987, his son John Luxton succeeded him in the Matamata (later Karapiro) electorate, from 1987 to 1999.

After politics, Luxton took an active part in his family's horticulture block in Katikati.

Luxton was a companion of the Queen's Service Order. He died in 2005, aged 82, in Morrinsville. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, sons Rodney, Bruce, & John, daughter Barbara and their families.

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