David Beattie

Sir David Stuart Beattie, (29 February 1924 – 4 February 2001) was an Australian-born New Zealand judge who served as the 14th governor-general of New Zealand, from 1980 to 1985.

Born in Sydney, Australia, on 29 February 1924, Beattie was the son of Una Mary and Joseph Nesbitt Beattie.

He was brought up by his mother in Takapuna, New Zealand, and educated at Dilworth School in Auckland.

In 1941, at age 17, Beattie joined the army during the Second World War, and rose to the rank of sergeant before transferring to the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve as a sub-lieutenant.

He played rugby union for New Zealand services teams in 1944 and 1945.

After the war, Beattie studied law at Auckland University College, and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1949, before setting up in private practice as a barrister and solicitor.

In 1950, Beattie married Norma Margaret Sarah MacDonald, and the couple had seven children.

He was made a Queen's Counsel in 1964, and served as president of the Auckland District Law Society in 1965.

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.

Beattie chaired the 1977–78 Royal Commission on the Courts.

In 1977, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.

On 1 August 1980 Beattie was appointed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George and was granted the right to retain the title of The Honourable for life.

One of the roles of governor-general is to act as the Prior of Order of St John in New Zealand, and Beattie was appointed as a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem just prior to assuming the office of Governor-General of New Zealand.

He was appointed as governor-general by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of her New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon, his term of office beginning on 6 November 1980 and continuing until 10 November 1985.

On leaving office, both Sir David and Lady Beattie were appointed as Companions of the Queen's Service Order: Sir David was recognised for his public services and Lady Beattie for community service.

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.

In 1983, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Auckland.

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.

During the 1984 constitutional crisis, Beattie was nearly forced to dismiss the sitting prime minister, Robert Muldoon.

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 required to do.

At the time, 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 Muldoon's cabinet threatened to remove him as leader themselves if he did not accept Lange's instructions.

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 thus exempt from paying import tariffs on cars as well.

The tax benefit to Beattie was $85,000.00.

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

After leaving office as governor-general, Beattie continued his involvement in public life, carrying out a number of government enquiries, and serving on company boards and sporting organisations.

He prepared the Report on Science and Technology in 1986–87, the Report on the Police Complaints Authority in 1988 and was commissioner on the Fijian Courts in 1993.

His company directorships included the National Bank of New Zealand, Independent Newspapers Ltd and MFL Mutual Funds Ltd. 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 recognised 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.

In 1990, Beattie was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

Beattie died in Upper Hutt on 4 February 2001.