David Beattie

For other people of the same name, see David Beatty (disambiguation).

The Honourable Sir David Stuart Beattie GCMG, GCVO, QSO, QC
14th Governor-General of New Zealand
In office 6 November 1980 – 22 November 1985
Prime Minister	Robert Muldoon (1980–1984) David Lange (1984–1985)
Preceded by	Sir Keith Holyoake
Succeeded by	Sir Paul Reeves
Personal details
Born	29 February 1924(1924-02-29) Sydney, Australia
Died	4 February 2001(2001-02-04) (aged 76) New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealand
Profession	Judge

Sir David Stuart Beattie, GCMG, GCVO, QSO, QC (29 February 1924 – 4 February 2001) was the 14th Governor-General of New Zealand, from 1980 to 1985.

Early life

Born in Sydney on 29 February 1924, he was brought up by his mother in Takapuna. He went to Dilworth School in Auckland.

In 1941, at age 17, he joined the army during World War II, and rose to the rank of sergeant before transferring to the Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Sub-Lieutenant.

Judge of the Supreme Court

After the war, he gained a law degree at the University of Auckland in 1948 before setting up in private practice. In 1969 Beattie was appointed as a Supreme Court 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.

He was heavily involved in sports administration, serving as New Zealand Olympic Committee president for 11 years. He was president of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association in 1989 and was president of the Sports Foundation twice. His work was recognized with the award of the Olympic Order. He was also patron of 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.

Governor-General

Beattie was appointed Governor-General by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of her Prime Minister Robert Muldoon in 1980.

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.^[1]

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.^[1]

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 therefore import tariffs on cars anymore either – the tax benefit to Beattie was $85,000.00.^[1]

Constitutional Crisis

Main article: New Zealand constitutional crisis, 1984

Following the 1984 general election, a political crisis arose. Muldoon declined to follow the instructions of the incoming Prime Minister David Lange, as he was constitutionally entitled to do.^[2] 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 a Muldoon's cabinet threatened to remove him as leader themselves if he did not accept Lange's instructions.^[3]

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

He died in Upper Hutt in February 2001.

Arms

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Gavin Mclean (October 2006), The Governors, New Zealand Governors and Governors-General, Otago University Press, p. 281 
2. ^ "Cabinet Manual 2008". http://cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/node/32#6.11. Retrieved 10 April 2011. 
3. ^ Television New Zealand (1994-07-10). "TVNZ On Demand – Frontline – Four days in June". http://tvnzondemand.co.nz/content/ondemand_classics/ondemand_classics_video_skin?tab=&sb=date-descending&e=frontline_5_days_in_july#ep_frontline_5_days_in_july. 

External links

• Official biography

Government offices
Preceded by Sir Keith Holyoake	Governor-General of New Zealand 1980–1985	Succeeded by Sir Paul Reeves

Persondata
Name	Beattie, David Stuart
Alternative names
Short description	Viceroy, jurist
Date of birth	29 February 1924
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Date of death	4 February 2001
Place of death	New Zealand