McKENZIE, SIR JOHN (1838-1901) was born on the estate of Ardross, in Ross-shire, in 1838, educated in the parish school, and then went to work on the farm of his father, a progressive husbandman who used lime as a fertiliser.

On reaching manhood he decided to go abroad and chose New Zealand. In 1860 he married Annie Munro (of Glenglass), and sailed for Otago, where he took employment in order to gain New Zealand experience. Having been manager for some time of J. Jones's Shag Valley (Puketapu) station, he acquired a 60-acre farm when it was cut up (1865). McKenzie, with a Scot's keen interest in land questions, felt strongly on the practices prevailing in Otago, and criticised them openly when he had been a few years in the country. Having become an independent farmer, he took part in public affairs. He became clerk and treasurer of the Bushey road board, and he successfully agitated for a school in the district, he himself becoming secretary of the committee. In 1868 he contested the Waikouaiti seat in the Provincial Council against G. McLean (q.v.). Though unsuccessful, he created a good impression of his qualifications for public life. Unsophisticated he remained throughout life, with a rugged, straightforward manner; but the integrity of his convictions was obvious.

In 1871 he was elected M.P.C. for Waihemo (defeating John Douglas, q.v.), and he held the seat until the provinces were abolished. He now definitely took the lead in local politics, and before 1881 was able to claim that he had been elected to every office but Parliament. He was a member of the Waikouaiti county council, and advocated with success the creation of the new county of Waihemo (1882), of which he was the first chairman. McKenzie had for some years in the Provincial Council opposed the land policy of the day, and strong condemnation of dummying in Otago lands was a leading factor when, standing as an independent, he was elected to Parliament for Moeraki in 1881. In a speech on 25 Nov 1881 he advocated selection of land by ballot, elective land boards, Bible-reading in schools, grouping of counties for education board elections, and the establishment of arbitration courts. McKenzie continued to represent the same district (with several adjustments) throughout his parliamentary life (Moeraki, 1881-87; Waihemo, 1887-90; Waitaki, 1890-93; Waihemo, 1893-1900). His interest in land problems soon gave him a position of authority in the councils of the Liberal Party. In 1882 he made a striking speech at a banquet tendered to him in Dunedin, and during some years' membership of the land board he stood strenuously against the use of the regulations to the disadvantage of genuine land settlement. Naturally retiring, McKenzie came forward slowly in the councils of his party, and was almost a silent member of Parliament until the debate opened on the land bill, when he made a forceful maiden speech. He was, however, appointed whip to the Stout-Vogel Government. Meanwhile he was a member of the Otago education board (1883-92) and land board.

On the Liberal party being returned at the elections of 1890, Ballance invited him to become Minister of Lands and Agriculture (Jan 1891). He accepted, and threw himself with his whole heart into the land settlement policy. He enacted a series of laws against dummyism and to facilitate the subdivision of large estates for closer settlement. In addition to individual settlers who were anxious to get farms, there were numerous associations waiting to settle upon special settlements. During the Ballance administration McKenzie laid the foundations of a well-considered land policy and piloted several measures in Parliament. The Cheviot estate, the first of the large holdings to be resumed by the Government under the taxing laws, was taken over a few days before the death of Ballance. In the following year the advances to settlers act was passed and the act authorising the compulsory taking of large private estates, and in 1894 the dairy industry act.

Under the strain of his vigorous administration and long parliamentary sessions McKenzie's health suffered, and towards the end of the Parliament of 1896-99 he paid a visit to England for medical advice. When he returned it was evident he could no longer stand the strain of political life. He was again elected, but was unable to take his seat in Parliament, and in Jun 1900 he resigned from the ministry and his seat in Parliament. The dignity of K.C.M.G. was conferred upon him personally at his home by the Duke of York. In May 1901 he was called to the Legislative Council, but he was unable to travel to Wellington for the session, and died at his homestead on 6 Aug 1901. He was keenly interested in Gaelic matters and was some years chief of the Gaelic Society.

Cycl. N.Z., i. (p); Gisborne, Rulers; Drummond, Seddon; Condliffe: Scholefield, N.Z. Evol.; Reeves, State Experiments in Australia and New Zealand vol ii; Otago Daily Times, 7 Aug 1901; Public Opinion, 3 Dec 1881, 29 Sep, 21 Oct 1882; Evening Post, 10 Oct 1936. Portraits: Parliament House, photograph, and bust, by Pagram (1903)

Reference: Volume 2, page 16

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