John McKenzie

Sir John McKenzie was a Scottish-born New Zealand politician, born 6 October 1839 in Ardross, Highland, and died 6 August 1901 in Palmerston, who succeeded George Richardson as Minister of Lands and Minister of Agriculture in the new Liberal government of 24 January 1891 and held both portfolios until 1900, also serving as Minister of Immigration and Commissioner of Forests. He is remembered chiefly as the architect of the Liberal government's land reforms favouring small family farmers, introducing a graduated land tax, the 999-year lease tenure under the Land Act 1892, the purchase of the Cheviot Hills estate for subdivision, and compulsory purchase powers under the Land for Settlements Act 1894.