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Biography: Cairney, John

Dr John Cairney (second from right) and his family, 1949

Dr John Cairney (second from right) and his family, 1949

Around the time of his controversial appointment as director general of health in 1949, John Cairney was photographed with his wife Claris, son John, and younger daughter Anne.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, New Zealand Free Lance Collection (PAColl-0785)

Reference: PAColl-6203-41

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.

How to cite this page

Derek A. Dow. 'Cairney, John', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2000. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/499/dr-john-cairney-second-from-right-and-his-family-1949 (accessed 24 June 2026).