Keith Holyoake

Keith Holyoake is a New Zealand politician who has served as Prime Minister of New Zealand since 1960 and leader of the New Zealand National Party since 1956.

In-Game Biography

1962

Keith Holyoake is a man known for many things - his level-headedness, thick accent, and reputation for being overly polite amongst them. Holyoake's origins lie in the rural areas of New Zealand, being the son of a pair of store owners turned farmers. Joining the rurally-focused Reform Party in 1932, Holyoake quickly became a rising star in the party, playing a key role in reforming it into the modern National Party.

Taking the role of Prime Minister in the First National Government, Holyoake presided over National's loss in 1957, following the resignation of previous Prime Minister Sidney Holland in 1956. Three years were spent as leader of the opposition, before going on to win the 1960 General Election, earning the position in his own right.

Advocating for the maintenance of a strong national defense against the ever-present threat of the Japanese, Holyoake's ministry has already begun to pursue a progressive social agenda of abolishing capital punishment and expanding Māori rights. As the 1963 General Election looms closer, Holyoake hopes that New Zealand will continue to endorse his vision.

1966

When 'ol Kiwi Keith entered politics more than thirty years ago, he didn't see himself ending up in the state's highest office. When he first became Prime Minister right before National's defeat, he never thought he would return to win four elections in a row, but that has happened.

But over these past years, what change has truly occurred in New Zealand? Sure, he cemented the creation of a New Zealander national identity separate from Britain, but wasn't such an invention a necessity in a post-war world? Maybe, it is the lack of change he will be remembered for, for conserving what makes New Zealand great in the face of great change.

Or will he be remembered for the change he brought across the globe? His crusade against fascism helped to topple plenty of dictatorial regimes, ushering in new eras of democracy in a world that seems to increasingly shun it. Will it be the Organization of Free Nations who will write his epitaph once his career finally comes to an end?

Holyoake can only say "hopefully", as everywhere else, his dogged conservatism appears increasingly out of place. As the years pass by, he can only the question of "how will it all end?" back and forth in his head. Always, the answer that returns to him is "grim".