Arthur Faulkner

Arthur James Faulkner (20 November 1921 – 15 May 1985) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Early life and career Faulkner was born in the Auckland suburb of Devonport in 1921. He was educated at Takanini School then Otahuhu District High School and after finishing his education he found employment as a sales clerk. At the age of 15 he joined the Labour Party and worked as a party organiser and later a branch secretary.

At the outbreak of World War II Faulkner joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force and became a fighter pilot. He saw action in both Europe and North Africa flying a Supermarine Spitfire. After returning to New Zealand after the war he was employed as the credit manager of a furniture company.

Political career Member of Parliament

Faulkner stood unsuccessfully for the Franklin electorate in and the North Shore electorate in . At the Bay of Plenty by-election in May 1957 he was Labour's campaign organiser.

He then stood for and won the Roskill electorate in , and held the seat to 1981, when he retired. Faulkner was a backbencher during the government of Walter Nash before spending 12 years in opposition. During this period he spoke frequently on defence matters in the house and it was no surprise when Labour leader Norman Kirk designated Faulkner as Labour's defence spokesman in 1965. He was particularly critical of New Zealand's involvement in the Vietnam War.

Cabinet minister He was a Cabinet Minister, and was appointed by Kirk as Minister of Defence from 1972 to 1974 in the Third Labour Government. Within days of being sworn in as a minister he ended New Zealand's compulsory military training scheme which fulfilled a key election campaign pledge by Labour. As President he devoted his energies to rebuilding the party organisation. He was President of the party for three years until he stepped down and was succeeded by Jim Anderton, who had been defeated by Faulkner at the 1978 conference 693 votes to 422 for the presidency.

In opposition again, Faulkner was appointed Shadow Minister of Labour and Employment by Rowling. Faulkner ran against first-time National Party politician John Banks in 1978. Banks believed Faulkner could be defeated, due to his narrow majority in 1975 and the newly redrawn electorate borders of Roskill, and campaigned full-time against him. Faulkner was successful in retaining his seat, however Labour was defeated again in . Faulkner was made the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, and in 1979 suffered health issues related to a gallstone. He was absent from Parliament for over a month and was relieved of some minor portfolio responsibilities by Rowling (electoral reform and accident compensation) to ease his recovery.

Faulkner came under increasing pressure to retire, primarily due to his age. He reluctantly decided not to stand again ahead of the election. Despite having privately discussed retiring with Rowling, his retirement announcement came as a surprise to media as he had already been selected by Labour to re-contest the seat for the next election. He clarified the late announcement by stating that he didn't want to give political opponents any indication to gear up their preparations to contest the seat.