Allen, Keith Reading, 1931-1984 (Person)
Politics: Member of Parliament for the Tauranga electorate for four terms, from the 1972 election through to 1984, chosing not to contest due to ill-health. When he announced his retirement in March 1984 he was Minister of Customs, Minister in charge of the Government Life Insurance Office, Minister in charge of the State Insurance Office, Minister in charge of the Earthquake and War Damages Commission and Associate Minister of Trade and Industry.
1972 Under-Secretary to the Minister of Trade and Industry. 1982 Minister of Customs. He joined the National Party in 1954 and was electorate chairperson.
Employment: British Phosphate Commission. California Production Ltd (Company Secretary). Started own accountancy practice in Rotorua and owned a service station there.
Boards: Bay of Plenty Harbour Board. Catchment Commission. Fire Board and Electricity Authority. Road Safety Committees. Rotorua City Council finance committee (chairperson). Local school committees.
Organisations: Tauranga Businessmen's Association. Paraplegics Association. Tauranga Rotary Club (president).
Sports: Patron of the Bay of Plenty Cricket, Archery, Football and Paraplegics Associations, and the Tauranga Deep Sea Sea Angling Club. Foundation member of Wasps Rugby Football Club, rugby.
Education: Mount Albert Grammar School. University of Auckland (accountancy).
Funeral: 30-minute service for family and close friends was held at Elliotts Rosebank Chapel, Tauranga on 23 July 1984. Speakers included Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon and Captain Cliff Overton of the Salvation Army. Pallbearers were Tom Barron, Eric Anderson, Douglas Ross, Ian MccCarroll, Peter Barry and Tim Wilson.
SourcesAHNZ. (2019, July 21). 1984: Death of Keith Allen. Anarchist History of New Zealand.Bay of Plenty Times. (1983, April 16). Tauranga MP fails to appear.Bay of Plenty Times. (1983, September 29). MP accuses Mr Allen of being drunk.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, March 16). Ill health forces Mr Allen to retire.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, March 17). MP tells of attack on night walk home.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, March 17). Speculation about successor mounts.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, March 30). Detectives still puzzled by attack on Mr Allen.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, March 31). Pressures too great in Tauranga.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, May 10).Labour wants Allen. p. 6.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, May 11).Mr Allen was in coma: Mr Couch.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, May 12). Mr Allen denies claim. Ministers at variance.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, July 21). Mr Allen dies in hospital.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, July 21). Editorial: Death of an MP.Bay of Plenty Times. (1984, July 24). Mr Allen’s work earns tributes.Bay Sun. (1984, March 20). Tauranga MP to retire.Bay Sun. (1984, July 24). Keith Allen’s memory will live on.Grant, A. K., (Alan Keith). (1984, April 14-20). Bonny Mr Allen. New Zealand Listener.New Zealand Government. Birth record. 1932/677. Allen, Keith Reading.New Zealand Government. Death record. 1984/39015. Allen, Keith Reading.New Zealand Government. Marriage record. 1927/8764. Allen, Joseph Ardern and Reading, Ivy May.Press. (1984, July 23). Mr Allen dies in hospital. p. 1.Wilson Collection. Collection: Marriage record. 1954. Allen, Keith Reading and Pezaro, Janet Gay. Marriages 1830-1960.Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo gcc-22227





