Hugh Watt

Hugh Watt
Watt in 1951
Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office
31 August 1974 – 6 September 1974
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor‑GeneralDenis Blundell
Preceded byNorman Kirk
Succeeded byBill Rowling
5th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office
8 December 1972 – 1 September 1974
Prime MinisterNorman Kirk
Preceded byRobert Muldoon
Succeeded byBob Tizard
24th Minister of Labour
In office
8 December 1972 – 10 September 1974
Prime MinisterNorman Kirk
Preceded byDavid Thomson
Succeeded byArthur Faulkner
24th Minister of Works
In office
10 September 1974 – 13 March 1975
Prime MinisterBill Rowling
Preceded byArthur Faulkner
Succeeded byMick Connelly
In office
8 December 1972 – 29 August 1974
Prime MinisterNorman Kirk
Preceded byPercy Allen
Succeeded byArthur Faulkner
In office
12 December 1957 – 12 December 1960
Prime MinisterWalter Nash
Preceded byStan Goosman
Succeeded byStan Goosman
3rd Minister of Electricity
In office
12 December 1957 – 12 December 1960
Prime MinisterWalter Nash
Preceded byStan Goosman
Succeeded byStan Goosman
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Onehunga
In office
19 December 1953 – 29 November 1975
Preceded byArthur Osborne
Succeeded byFrank Rogers
Personal details
Born(1912-03-19)19 March 1912
Claremont, Western Australia, Australia
Died4 February 1980(1980-02-04) (aged 67)
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
Spouses
Alice Merry Fowke
(m. 1935; div. 1965)
Frances Ray
(m. 1968)
Children4
ProfessionEngineer
Signature

Hugh Watt PC JP (19 March 1912 – 4 February 1980) was a New Zealand politician who was a Labour member of Parliament and the acting prime minister of New Zealand between 31 August and 6 September 1974, following the death of Prime Minister Norman Kirk. He had been the fifth deputy prime minister of New Zealand since 8 December 1972. Watt later served as high commissioner to the United Kingdom.