John Elliott (New Zealand politician)


John Gordon Elliott is a former New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Elliott was born in 1938 in Whangarei. He received his education at Whangarei Boys' High School and at the University of Auckland. He obtained an MA and a diploma in teaching, and was a teacher from 1959 until 1975, including deputy principal of Bayfield School in his last two years in the profession.

Political career

He won the Whangarei electorate from Murray Robert Smith in 1975 and was re-elected in 1978, but failed to win the reselection by the National Party in 1981, who instead chose John Banks. Instead, Elliot stood in the New Lynn electorate as an independent in the 1981 election against the incumbent from the Labour Party, Jonathan Hunt, but he was unsuccessful.

Later life

In 1989, Elliott launched his newsletter business. which included the monthly publication Ponsonby Community Newsletter. He ran the business under Bayfield Services Limited. In 2004, Elliott sold the publication to publisher Martin Leach, who changed the name to Ponsonby News.

Honours and awards

In 1977, Elliott was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
Elliott was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in the 2019 New Year Honours, for services to the community.