Jonathan Elworthy, 68 - Former NZ cabinet minister, farmer
Bob Feigel
Elworthy dies, aged 68
18 June 2005
Former Cabinet Minister Jonathan Elworthy has died at his Christchurch
home, aged 68.
The member of a prominent South Canterbury family professed to be most
comfortable in the mateship of shearers. His social conscience led him
to spend much of his later life helping prison inmates.
Elworthy's death from cancer came after an 18-month reprieve from the
disease.
He was born in Timaru and educated at local primary schools, Christ's
College and Lincoln College. He took up farming at Craigmore, inland
from Timaru.
He was a National Party MP for Oamaru and Waitaki respectively, from
1975 to 1984, and Minister of Lands and Forests from 1981 to 1984.
In subsequent years, Elworthy distanced himself from National. The
economic and social policies of Jim Bolger's and Jenny Shipley's
administrations ran counter to his concerns for the welfare of less
fortunate citizens.
Elworthy once said he had always been aware that his was a privileged
existence.
"I was spoilt rotten from day one," he said.
He felt a duty to help those in need, which he attributed to his
upbringing, his education and his sense of spirituality.
Elworthy continued in public life in later years, serving on the Otago
Regional Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council and Wanaka
community board, before retiring to Christchurch in 1996.
His work helping prison inmates led to his appointment to the parole
board for Canterbury Prisons. Elworthy found the burden of parole work
heavy - "like playing God". He was haunted by the sight of prisoners
who knew their parole bids would fail, "swaggering back to their
cells" in an effort to mask their despair.
His proudest moment came in 2003 when he was appointed to the Human
Rights Tribunal. The signatories to his appointment were Helen Clark,
Michael Cullen and Margaret Wilson.
Elworthy is survived by his wife, Judy, two sons and a daughter.
"It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens." - Woody Allen
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