Peter Elworthy

Sir Peter Herbert Elworthy (3 March 1935 – 11 January 2004) was a New Zealand farmer and businessman who came from an established South Canterbury farming family.

Early life and family Born in Timaru on 3 March 1935, Elworthy was the son of June Mary Elworthy (née Batchelor) and Harold Herbert Elworthy, and the grandson of Edward Elworthy. He had two brothers, Jonathan Elworthy, a New Zealand politician, and David Elworthy, a publisher.

Peter Elworthy was educated at Christ's College from 1949 to 1953, and then completed a diploma at Canterbury Agricultural College in 1955.

In 1960, Elworthy married Fiona Elizabeth McHardy, and the couple went on to have four children, He was founding president of the New Zealand Deer Farmers' Association between 1974 and 1981, and served as president of Federated Farmers from 1984 to 1988,

In 1993 he was a founding member of the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, a political group that grew into ACT New Zealand.

Hobbies Elworthy owned a Tiger Moth aeroplane, which he used to fly around New Zealand.

Honours and awards In 1987, Elworthy received the Bledisloe Medal for agriculture from Lincoln College. In 1990, he was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

Death On 11 January 2004, Elworthy died suddenly of a heart attack early in the morning. He was survived by his wife and their four children.