Rex Austin
New Zealand politician (1931–2022)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Rex Austin MBE (23 May 1931 – 23 June 2022) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
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23 May 1931
Rex Austin | |
|---|---|
Austin in 1950 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Awarua | |
| In office 1975–1987 | |
| Preceded by | Aubrey Begg |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Grant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Rex Austin 23 May 1931 Riverton, New Zealand |
| Died | 23 June 2022 (aged 91) Invercargill, New Zealand |
| Party | National |
| Spouse |
Miriam Helen Brumpton
(m. 1958; died 2007) |
| Relations | Butler Te Koeti (great-uncle) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Lincoln College |
Biography
Austin was born in Riverton, Southland, in 1931.[1] Of Māori descent, he affiliated to Ngāi Tahu, Waitaha and Kāti Māmoe.[2] He received his education at Southland Technical College and Lincoln College;[3] at the latter institution, he obtained a diploma in agriculture.[4] In 1958, he married Miriam Helen Brumpton, with whom he had four sons.[1]
Austin farmed at Colac Bay in Southland and lived in Riverton. From 1971, he was a member of the Southland Hospital Board.[1]
In the 1975 election he was elected to Parliament as the National Party MP for Awarua, which he represented until 1987.[5]
Austin and Ben Couch were the second and third Māori (after Sir James Carroll) to win a general electorate, as opposed to one of the Māori electorates.
Austin died in Invercargill on 23 June 2022, at the age of 91.[6]
Honours
In 1977, Austin was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[7] In the 1994 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the community.[8]
