David Seath

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|start = {{NZ election link year|1954}}

|end = 1957

|term = 31st

|electorate = {{NZ electorate link|Waitomo}}

|party = New Zealand National Party

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|start = {{NZ election link year|1957}}

|end = 1960

|term = 32nd

|electorate = Waitomo

|party = New Zealand National Party

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|start = {{NZ election link year|1960}}

|end = 1963

|term = 33rd

|electorate = Waitomo

|party = New Zealand National Party

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|start = {{NZ election link year|1963}}

|end = 1966

|term = 34th

|electorate = Waitomo

|party = New Zealand National Party

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|start = {{NZ election link year|1966}}

|end = 1969

|term = 35th

|electorate = Waitomo

|party = New Zealand National Party

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|start = {{NZ election link year|1969}}

|end = 1972

|term = 36th

|electorate = Waitomo

|party = New Zealand National Party

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Seath was born in Musselburgh, Scotland. He received his education at Waihi District High School, Waihi School of Mines, and the University of Edinburgh. From 1937, he was a public accountant in Taumarunui. During World War II, he was with the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR), and served as Lieutenant Commander with British naval forces.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=341}}

He was Mayor of Taumarunui from 1953 to 1955.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=341}} He was elected in the {{NZ electorate link|Waitomo}} electorate in the {{NZ election link|1954}}, following the retirement of National Party colleague Walter Broadfoot.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=185, 233}} In 1960 Seath was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance, and held that position from 12 December 1960 to 24 January 1962."Appointment of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries" (12 December 1960) 82 The New Zealand Gazette 1943

In 1963 Seath was appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs, and held the position from 20 December 1963 to 9 February 1972, when the Marshall Ministry replaced the second Holyoake Ministry."Ministers Appointed" (20 December 1963) 82 The New Zealand Gazette 2077{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=90}} He was described as a nervous man easily frightened by Holyoake.{{sfn|Bassett|1997|p=184}}

He was a Member of the Executive Council (initially as an Undersecretary) from 24 January 1962 to 9 February 1972.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=90}} In 1972 Seath was granted the right to retain the title of Honourable for life."Retention of the title 'Honourable'" (15 May 1972) 42 The New Zealand Gazette 1061

He retired at the {{NZ election link|1972}},{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=233}} and died in Taumarunui in October 1997.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last = Gustafson |first = Barry |author-link = Barry Gustafson |title = The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party |year = 1986 |publisher = Reed Methuen |location = Auckland |isbn = 0-474-00177-6 }}
• {{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4 |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103}}
• {{cite book |last= Bassett |author-link= Michael Bassett |first= Michael |title= The Mother of All Departments:The history of the Department of Internal Affairs |year= 1997 |publisher= Auckland University Press |location= Auckland |isbn= 1-86940-175-1 }}
• Who’s Who in New Zealand (1968, 9th edition)

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{{s-par | nz}}

{{s-bef | before=Walter Broadfoot}}

{{s-ttl | title=Member of Parliament for Waitomo | years=1954–1972}}

{{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished}}

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Category:1914 births

Category:1997 deaths

Category:New Zealand National Party MPs

Category:New Zealand accountants

Category:People from Musselburgh

Category:Mayors of places in Manawatū-Whanganui

Category:Scottish emigrants to New Zealand

Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh

Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives

Category:New Zealand military personnel of World War II

Category:New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates

Category:Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand

Category:20th-century New Zealand politicians

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