Henry Okey
New Zealand politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henry James Hobbs Okey (28 May 1857 – 13 September 1918) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.
28 May 1857
Henry Okey | |
|---|---|
Okey in 1905 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Taranaki | |
| In office 1907–1918 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Smith |
| Succeeded by | Sydney George Smith |
| Chairman of Taranaki County Council | |
| In office 1896–1905 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Henry James Hobbs Okey 28 May 1857 New Plymouth, New Zealand |
| Died | 13 September 1918 (aged 61) New Plymouth, New Zealand |
| Party | Reform |
| Spouse |
Louisa Morey (m. 1884) |
| Occupation | Farmer |
Early life and family
Born in New Plymouth in 1857, Okey was the son of Edward Okey, an ironmonger.[1] His brothers included Edward Nelson Okey, who in 1880 won what later became known as the Ballinger Belt for the New Zealand champion shot.[1][2]
On 2 July 1884, Okey married Louisa Morey.[3]
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907–1908 | 16th | Taranaki | Independent | ||
| 1908–1909 | 17th | Taranaki | Independent | ||
| 1909–1911 | Changed allegiance to: | Reform | |||
| 1911–1914 | 18th | Taranaki | Reform | ||
| 1914–1918 | 18th | Taranaki | Reform | ||
Okey was a member of the Taranaki County Council, and served as its chairman between 1896 and 1905.[1][4] He was also vice president and then president of the Taranaki Agricultraul and Pastoral Society.[1]
Okey contested the Taranaki electorate at the 1905 general election, coming second, 236 votes behind the incumbent, Edward Smith.[5] However, Smith died in 1907 and Okey won the subsequent by-election as an independent. He gave sympathy and support to the Reform Party, and later formally became a Reform MP. Okey held the Taranaki seat until his death in 1918.[6]
