Duncan Rae

Rae was born in Mataura in 1888. He received his education at Knox College and at Otago University, where he gained an MA and a diploma of education. He was in the NZEF in World War I.[1] He taught at East Cape School in Invercargill for ten years, and was then Vice-Principal (1924–1929) then Principal (1929–1947) at the Auckland Teachers' Training College.[2]

He represented the Auckland electorates of Parnell from 1946 to 1954, and then Eden from 1954 (succeeding Wilfred Fortune) to 1960, when he retired.[3] Rae suggested that an organisation for the protection of the country's heritage should be set up and put in a private member's bill in 1953. Whilst this did not proceed, the First National Government of New Zealand (of which he was a member) took responsibility of the issue and the Historic Places Act 1954 was passed, which established the National Historic Places Trust as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). This organisation has since evolved as an autonomous Crown entity known as Heritage New Zealand.[4]

He was made Consul-General to Indonesia (1961–1963) then Chargé d'Affaires to Indonesia (1963).[2]

He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1963 New Year Honours.[5] He died suddenly on 3 February 1964 in Auckland.[2]

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)