Luke Hazlett

James Luke Hazlett (24 April 1909 – 1 September 1987) was a New Zealand farmer and diplomat. He served as the New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia from 1964 to 1970.

Biography Hazlett was born in Southland on 24 April 1909, the son of Kate (née Stephenson) and William Thomas Hazlett. His mother was the daughter of one of the founders of stock and station agents Wright Stephenson, and his father was a merchant and had extensive landholdings.

During World War II, Hazlett served in Italy with the 20th Armoured Regiment, ending the war in Trieste. He was active politically and was the Otago-Southland division president of the National Party for seven years and also served on the party's executive. When he first arrived in Canberra, he met Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies and said to him, "I am not a diplomat. I am as green as grass and have just come off the turnips." Hazlett was popular with Australian politicians and reporters, with many editorials headed "Goodbye Luke" when he left the role in 1970. Menzies suggested that he should write a memoir with the title Green as Grass.

Hazlett died on 1 September 1987 in Invercargill after a long illness, aged 78. He was survived by his wife and five children. Anita was Dominion chairperson and sponsorship secretary of the Save the Children Fund and later the president of the Southland Omaui children's holiday camp.

Hazlett's older brother, Bill, was an All Black in the 1920s, and his son Jack was an All Black in the mid-1960s.