Norman King, who was Social Welfare Minister in Norm Kirk's Labour Government, has died at his home on the North Shore. He was 87.
After serving as vice-president of the Storemen and Packers' Union, Mr King was MP for Waitemata and Birkenhead from 1954 to 1975.
During his time in the Labour
Government of 1972-75 he introduced the Children and Young Persons' Act and the Disabled Persons' Community Welfare Act.
After losing Birkenhead to National's Jim McLay, Mr King was the first lay observer appointed by the Auckland District Law Society to deal with public complaints.
He was made a companion of the Queen's Service Order in 1974. He was a JP and supporter of the IHC and several sporting clubs.
North Shore mayor George Wood said Mr King was a "people's politician who really got involved with the communities he served".
