Wallace (Bill) Rowling

Bill Rowling was born in Motueka, near Nelson, in 1927. He was educated at Lower Moutere School and Nelson College. later he went to Christchurch Teachers College and also Canterbury University where he gained an MA in economics.

He taught at Lake Rotoiti School in Motueka and later in Christchurch and Northland. In 1951 he married Glen Elna Reeves who was also a teacher. In 1995 he gained a Fulbright Scholarship and taught for a year in Seattle in the United States.

He joined the Army upon his return and became a Captain and Assistant Director of Army Education and spent some time serving in Singapore and Malaysia. He also lectured part-time in Economics at Canterbury University.

In 1960 Rowling stood for Labour in Fendalton and lost. He then stood in Buller in the 1962 by-election. And was narrowly elected. He moved his family to Westport.

In 1969 he was elected unopposed (which was a first) President of the Labour Party and held this position until 1972. When Labour won power in 1972 he was appointed by Kirk as Minister of Finance. It was a difficult time to be Finance Minister as export prices were dropping and oil prices increasing. Plus overseas debt was at an alarming level.

Kirk’s sudden death in 1974 saw Rowling elected Leader and Prime Minister. Opposition Leader Muldoon ran a strong aggressive campaign and Labour lost heavily in 1975. Rowling stayed on as Labour Leader for 1978 and 1981 election, but National managed to hold on to enough seats to stay in office. In 1982 he was replaced as Labour Leader by David Lange and retired from parliament in 1984.

After politics he went on to have an active life as Ambassador to the United States where he had to deal with the ANZUS problems caused by Labour’s anti-nuclear legislation. He was involved in many community activities and spent seven years on the Museum of New Zealand Trust Board including a stint as Chairman. He is credited with being the major driving force behind convincing the Bolger National Government to build the new National Museum, Te Papa.

Rowling died of cancer on the 31^st of October 1995.