Eric Halstead

Eric Henry Halstead, CBE (26 May 1912 – 18 June 1991) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party and later a diplomat.

Biography

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1949–1951	29th	Tamaki		National
1951–1954	30th	Tamaki		National
1954–1957	31st	Tamaki		National

Halstead was born in Auckland in 1912, and educated at Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University. He was a Major in the NZEF in World War II.^[1]

In 1940 he married Millicent Joan Stewart; they had four children.

He represented the Tamaki electorate from 1949 to 1957, when he was defeated.^[2] He held the following cabinet posts:^[3]

• Minister for Social Security 1954–1956
• Minister for Industry and Commerce 1956–1957
• Minister for Customs 1956–1957

He later served as Ambassador to Thailand and Laos 1970–1973,^[4][1] then Ambassador to Italy and Ambassador to Iraq concurrently from 1976–1980^[5] and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (while resident in Rome) 1977–1980.

He was awarded a C.B.E. in 1980.^[1] He died in Auckland in 1991.

Notes

1. Gustafson 1986, p. 317.
2. Wilson 1985, p. 202.
3. Lambert & Palenski: The New Zealand Almanac, 1982. ISBN 0-908570-55-4
4. New Zealand Heads of Overseas Missions - NZ Ministry of Fopreign Affairs and Trade
5. New Zealand Heads of Overseas Missions - NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.