Early life and career

Mackenzie was born in Edinburgh in 1853. His family emigrated to New Zealand in 1858 when he was four and Mackenzie was educated at Green Island School and at the Stone School, both in Dunedin.^[1] After ending his education in his early teens he worked for several years in commercial firms before, aged 20, following his brother James into surveying. He gained employment at the Department of Lands and Survey and worked in several locations including the Hutt Valley, Rangitikei and Manawatu before finally returning to his home area in Dunedin.^[2]

In 1877 he purchased a general storekeeping business in Balclutha. He managed the business well and it developed well before he sold it in 1886 for a considerable profit. In the Balclutha area he became a well-known man and was accordingly elected a member of the Balclutha Borough Council from 1881 to 1887.^[2] During this period he married, on 24 September 1884, to Ida Henrietta Nantes with whom he had five sons and two daughters.^[1]

Mackenzie was also a notable explorer. He was a member of expeditions to the Tautuku Forest (1883), the wild country between Milford Sound and Lake Te Anau (1888; discovered the Sutherland Falls), and the Matterhorn Mountains (1888; discovered a pass between Lake Manapouri and Hall Arm). He was the first person to try to map an overland route to Dusky Sound (1894–1896). He crossed the land between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu in 1907.^[1]

Member of Parliament

Mackenzie was elected to the New Zealand Parliament for Clutha in 1887. He resigned in 1896 to assess the British markets for New Zealand products and remained in his native land for three years. On his return to New Zealand he was elected to Parliament successively for Waihemo 1900–1902, Waikouaiti 1902–1908, Taieri 1908–1911 and Egmont (in the North Island) 1911–1912, never losing an election he contested.^[1] In addition to parliamentary duties Mackenzie was Mayor of Roslyn from 1901 to 1902. Additionally he served for many years on the Otago Education Board, Otago High Schools' Board and the Otago Hospital Board.^[2]

Minister and Prime Minister

In January 1909 he was appointed Minister of Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Health Resorts, Scenery Preservation and State Forestry Departments in the government of Sir Joseph Ward with a seat in the Cabinet. In May the same year he also became Minister of Agriculture.^[3] In May 1912 Ward resigned as Prime Minister. Mackenzie was one of several names floated as possible successor and after a 10-hour caucus meeting on 22 March, presided over by Ward, Mackenzie won a ballot by the caucus 22 votes to 9 over George Laurenson.^[4] He also served as Minister of Lands in his own government.^[5]

Mackenzie's Ministry was criticised by both the opposition and Liberal dissidents. Liberal MP Roderick McKenzie stated that Mackenzie's ministers were political novices who had forsaken their liberal principles and John Millar should have been Ward's successor as Prime Minister.^[6] The Mackenzie government survived only until July 1912 when he lost a vote of no confidence moved by the opposition. Two of Ward's Ministers withdrew their support and several members crossed the floor to defeat the ministry and William Massey's Reform Party came to power. Mackenzie then resigned as leader of the Liberals.^[7] He did so believing the Liberal Party's policies and reforms had become too mainstream and entrenched for them to be abolished.^[1]

Diplomatic career

The new Prime Minister Massey appointed him to London as High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom. He served in this role until 1920 during which time he carried an unexpectedly high workload due to the advent of World War I. He was New Zealand delegate at the peace conferences with Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey in 1919, a member of the Dardanelles Commission and the Imperial War Graves Commission (later the Commonwealth War Graves Commission).^[1] Historian David Hall wrote that his work as New Zealand's wartime High Commissioner was the most valuable period of his career.^[2]

Later life and death

In March 1921 he was appointed member of the New Zealand Legislative Council for Otago.^[2]

In 1923 he supported Val Sanderson in establishing the Native Bird Protection Society (later the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand) and was the society's first president.^[8] New Zealand historian Tom Brooking wrote that Mackenzie's greatest contribution was his vigorous support of the cause of conservation in New Zealand.^[1]

Mackenzie died in Dunedin in 1930 and was buried in the Dunedin Northern Cemetery.^[9]