Wilfred Fortune


Wilfred Henry Fortune was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Personal life

Fortune was born in 1897 in Paeroa. He received his education at Auckland Grammar School, the Auckland Teachers' Training College, and the University of Auckland. He obtained a B.A., a B.Com., and a diploma in social sciences. He initially worked as a teacher, then became a public secretary, and was then managing director of Young and Fortune Ltd. During World War II, he was a lieutenant colonel with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific. Fortune died on 28 February 1961.

Political career

As an Independent, he contested the in the Auckland West electorate resulting from Michael Joseph Savage's death, but was beaten by Labour's Peter Carr. He stood for National in the, but was beaten by the incumbent, Labour's Bill Anderton, by only 14 votes. In 1941 he won a seat on the Auckland City Council, serving two terms.

Member of parliament

Fortune was first elected to parliament at the subsequent election in, when Anderton successfully stood in, and Fortune was returned in Eden. Fortune held Eden until the, when he was defeated for. He was a member of the Executive Council from 1949 to 1954 in the First National Government. In January 1950 he was appointed Minister of Police.
In 1955, Fortune was granted the use of the title of "Honourable" for life, having served more than three years as a member of the Executive Council.

After parliament

From 1956 until his death, he chaired the National Party in Auckland. In 1957 he won a by-election to regain a seat on the Auckland City Council. His interests lay in education and health, and he was a member of the Auckland Education Board, and the Seddon Memorial Technical College Board of Governors. He was a director of the YMCA, and chaired the Auckland Central Health Camp Council.