Story: National Party

Ralph Hanan

Ralph Hanan

During the 1960s Ralph Hanan was National's leading liberal and law reformer. When National gained office in 1960, party leader Keith Holyoake appointed him attorney-general, minister of justice and minister of Māori affairs. Among Hanan's most notable achievements was the abolition of capital punishment in 1961 and the creation of the Office of the Ombudsman in 1962. He also strongly promoted self-government for Cook Islands.

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Alexander Turnbull Library, New Zealand Free Lance Collection (PAColl-0785)
Reference: PAColl-6303-27

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Colin James, 'National Party - Party principles', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/33890/ralph-hanan (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Colin James, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Jul 2020