Background
He was born on November 15, 1927, in the town of Motueka, at the northwest end of South Island. His father was a local leader of the Labour Party.
He was born on November 15, 1927, in the town of Motueka, at the northwest end of South Island. His father was a local leader of the Labour Party.
After securing his master's degree in economics at Canterbury University, Rowling was awarded a Fulbright teaching scholarship in the United States.
He entered politics in 1962, winning a seat in the New Zealand parliament. Also in 1972 Rowling entered the cabinet of Prime Minister Norman Kirk as finance minister.
On September 6, 1974, one week after Kirk's death in office, a caucus of the Labour Party chose Rowling to succeed Kirk. Rowling preserved jobs at the cost of inflation. Compared to Kirk he was a colorless leader. He was ousted as prime minister when Labour lost the 1975 election.
Rowling died of cancer in Nelson on 31 October 1995.
Honours that Rowling received include being made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1983 Queen's Birthday Honours, an honorary law doctorate from the University of Canterbury in 1987, and being made a Commander in the Orde van Oranje – Nassau (Netherlands).
In 1969 he was elected vice-president of the Labour Party and in 1972 he became its first unanimously elected president.
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Buller from 1962–1972.
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Tasman 1972–1984.
In 1951 he married Glen Elna Reeves with whom he had five children.
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