Sir George Chapman Collection

Content & arrangement

Archives TypeDigital OnlyDescription

This collection pertains to Upper Hutt local, Sir George Alan Chapman. It includes photographs, documents, and ephemera from his life and achievements.

Organisation & Arrangement2026/18/1 photographs
2026/18/2 manuscripts
2026/18/3 ephemera

Sir George Chapman in 1981. This photograph was printed in the May 12, 1981, edition of the 'Leader'.

Details

Archive Reference2026/18Date range1937-2008Quantity12 digital items

Provenance

HistoryGeorge Alan Chapman was born on 13 April 1927 at Trentham Military Camp, where his ex-British Army father was Chief Armourer. His parents were Thomas "Tom" George Chapman and Winifred "Wyn" Jordan Chapman. He married Jacqueline Sidney Irvine in 1950.

Education:

He was educated at Trentham Primary School, Hutt Valley High School and Victoria University of Wellington.

Accountancy:

In 1948, he became a partner in an accountancy firm that was later called Saunders and Chapman and then became Chapman Upchurch. He retired as senior partner in 2000.

Chapman has been a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants (MNZSA) since 1948, and was made a fellow (FCA) in 1969. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries & Administrators (FCIS) and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. He was also Chairman of the Upper Hutt Chamber of Commerce.

Upper Hutt Borough Council:

In 1948 when aged 20, he became the Borough Treasurer for Upper Hutt. He was an Upper Hutt Borough Councillor from 1952 to 1955 and served as Deputy Mayor between 1953 and 1955.

National Party:

Chapman joined the National Party in 1948, and was Chairman of the Young Nationals for two years, Electorate Secretary (1953–58) and Chairman (1960–66) of Heretaunga, Wellington Division Chairman (1966–73), Dominion Councillor (1964–85), and was party Vice-President between 1966 and 1973. He was elected President of the National Party in 1973 and held that role until 1982.

National Government appointments:

Director Maui Developments Ltd (1979-1985)
Offshore Mining Ltd (1979-1985)
Liquigas Ltd (1981-1985)(Chairman 1982-1984)
Bank of New Zealand (1968-1986)(Deputy Chairman 1976-1986)
BNZ Finance Ltd (1977-1988)(Chairman 1979-1988)
NZ Building Authority (Chairman 1992-2000)
Housing New Zealand Ltd (Chairman 1992-1995)

Private appointments:

Pilkington Ltd (1982-1994)(Chairman 1989-1994)
Norwich Union Insurance (1982-1992)(Chairman 1985-1992)
Skellerup Industries Ltd (1982-1990)(Deputy Chairman 1984-1987)
State Insurance Ltd (1993-1999)(Vice Chairman 1993-1998)
Mitel Ltd (1984-1991 Chairman)

Awards:

In 1977, Chapman was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours he was appointed a Knight Bachelor, for political and public services.

Items

Item Listing2026/18/1/1-6 Digital photographs
2026/18/2/1-3 Letters UHCC accountant position
2026/18/3/1-3 Various ephemera

About

PeopleSir George Alan Chapman

About the original

LocationDigital only

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Sir George Chapman Collection