Sir John McKenzie KCMG (6 October 1839 – 6 August 1901) was a New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 politician. He served as Minister of Lands and Agriculture in the Liberal Government

First Liberal Government of New Zealand

The First Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The Government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on the 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July...

 of John Ballance

John Ballance

John Ballance served as the 14th Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century, and was the founder of the Liberal Party .-Early life:...

.

Early life

McKenzie was born in Ardross

Ardross, Highland

Ardross Rural area in the Highland region of Scotland, north of the nearest city, Inverness...

, Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, and while young saw the hardships caused by the Highland Clearances

Highland Clearances

The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...

. He arrived in Otago

Otago

Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...

 in 1860, working for Johnny Jones in Waikouaiti

Waikouaiti

Waikouaiti is a small town in East Otago, New Zealand, within the city limits of Dunedin. The town is close to the coast and the mouth of the Waikouaiti River....

. He later farmed near Palmerston

Palmerston, New Zealand

The town of Palmerston, in New Zealand's South Island lies 50 kilometres to the north of the city of Dunedin. It is the largest town in the Waihemo Ward of the Waitaki District with a population of 890 residents...

.

Member of Parliament

He first ran for election to the Otago Provincial Council in 1868 (for Waikouaiti), but was not elected (for Waihemo) until 1871.

From 1881 to 1900 he served in the New Zealand Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand

The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...

; for the Otago electorates of Moeraki

Moeraki (New Zealand electorate)

Moeraki was a former parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1881 to 1887. It was based on the settlement of Moeraki.During this period Moeraki was represented by one Member of Parliament, John McKenzie.-References:...

, then Waihemo

Waihemo (New Zealand electorate)

Waihemo is a former parliamentary electorate in the Otago Region of New Zealand. It existed for two periods and was represented by two Members of Parliament.-History:...

 (1887), Waitaki

Waitaki (New Zealand electorate)

Waitaki is an electorate for the New Zealand House of Representatives that crosses the boundary of North Otago and South Canterbury towns on the East Coast of the South Island. The electorate was first established for the that determined the 5th New Zealand Parliament...

 (1890), and Waihemo

Waihemo (New Zealand electorate)

Waihemo is a former parliamentary electorate in the Otago Region of New Zealand. It existed for two periods and was represented by two Members of Parliament.-History:...

 again from 1893 to 1900, when he resigned due to ill-health.

He served as Minister of Lands and Agriculture from 1891 to 1900 in the First Liberal Government

First Liberal Government of New Zealand

The First Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The Government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on the 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July...

. He oversaw many land reforms, favouring small family farmers and the opening up of land for closer settlement. He was knighted in 1901, and died of bladder cancer only six weeks later.

There is a memorial cairn

Cairn

Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...

 to McKenzie on top of Puketapu

Puketapu

Puketapu is a Māori language word meaning sacred hill. It is the name of several places, a hapū of the Te Āti Awa tribe and a number of people; including:- People :* Erenora Puketapu-Hetet weaver...

, a prominent hill close to Palmerston in Otago.