Venn Young

Venn Spearman Young QSO (16 February 1929 – 14 January 1993) was a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the National Party, and served as a Cabinet Minister in the government of Robert Muldoon. He is known for his failed attempt to legalise "homosexual acts" in 1975.

Venn Young QSO
16th Minister for Social Development
In office 12 February 1981 – 26 July 1984
Prime Minister	Robert Muldoon
Preceded by	George Gair
Succeeded by	Ann Hercus
4th Minister for the Environment
In office 12 December 1975 – 11 December 1981
Prime Minister	Robert Muldoon
Preceded by	Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan
Succeeded by	David Thomson
19th Minister for Forestry
In office 12 December 1975 – 11 December 1981
Prime Minister	Robert Muldoon
Preceded by	Colin Moyle
Succeeded by	Jonathan Elworthy
37th Minister of Lands
In office 12 December 1975 – 11 December 1981
Prime Minister	Robert Muldoon
Preceded by	Matiu Rata
Succeeded by	Jonathan Elworthy
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Waitotara
In office 25 November 1978 – 27 October 1990
Preceded by	Constituency Reestablished
Succeeded by	Peter Gresham
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Egmont
In office 26 November 1966 – 25 November 1978
Preceded by	William Sheat
Succeeded by	Constituency Abolished
Personal details
Born	Venn Spearman Young 16 January 1929 Stratford, New Zealand
Died	14 January 1993(1993-01-14) (aged 63)
Resting place	Hawera Cemetery
Political party	National
Children	9, including Jonathan
Education	Nelson College

Early life

Young was born in Stratford, Taranaki. He attended primary school in Stratford, but received his high school education in Nelson, at Nelson College from 1942 to 1944.^[1] He then returned to Taranaki, becoming a dairy farmer. He gained some distinction as a rugby player, representing Taranaki. He was also active in the Anglican Church.^[2]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1966–1969	35th	Egmont			National
1969–1972	36th	Egmont			National
1972–1975	37th	Egmont			National
1975–1978	38th	Egmont			National
1978–1981	39th	Waitotara			National
1981–1984	40th	Waitotara			National
1984–1987	41st	Waitotara			National
1987–1990	42nd	Waitotara			National

In the 1966 election, Young stood as the National Party's candidate for the Egmont electorate, and was successful. He was to hold Egmont in the next three elections, gaining a straight majority each time. At the 1978 election, the Egmont electorate was abolished, and Young successfully contested the new Waitotara electorate. He remained the MP for Waitotara until his departure from politics.^[3]

Private members' Bill

In mid 1974, Young attracted considerable controversy by putting forward a private members' bill to legalise private "homosexual acts" between consenting adults. The proposed age of consent was twenty-one, and although this was later reduced to twenty by a select committee, a number of homosexual lobbyists criticised it on this count. By far the most vocal criticism, however, came from conservatives, including many of his National Party colleagues. On 4 July 1975, the bill was defeated, with 34 votes against and 29 votes in favour. There were 24 abstentions.^[4]

Cabinet minister

See also: Third National Government of New Zealand

Despite having alienated many of his party colleagues, Young entered Cabinet when National won the 1975 election. Robert Muldoon, the new Prime Minister, appointed Young to the Lands, Forests, and Environment portfolios, which he held for two parliamentary terms from December 1975 to 1981. In 1981, Young was moved to the Social Welfare portfolio, which he retained until National's defeat in the 1984 election.^[5]

In the 1990 New Year Honours, Young was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.^[6]

Later life, death, and legacy

In 1986, Young voted against the Homosexual Law Reform Bill (promoted by Labour's Fran Wilde), after an amendment he had proposed setting the homosexual age of consent at 20 was rejected.^[7]

Young retired from parliament at the 1990 election.

He died in January 1993 following a heart attack, and was buried in Hawera Cemetery.^[8] He was survived by his wife and nine children, including Jonathan Young who served as the National MP for the New Plymouth electorate from 2008 to 2020 and Audrey Young, senior political correspondent and former political editor of The New Zealand Herald.^[9]

Notes

1. Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
2. Gustafson 1986, p. 351.
3. Wilson 1985, p. 247.
4. Guy, Laurie (2002). Worlds in collision: the gay debate in New Zealand, 1960–1986. Wellington: Victoria University Press. p. 83. ISBN 0-86473-438-7.
5. Wilson 1985, p. 95.
6. "No. 51982". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 30 December 1989. p. 31.
7. "Homosexual Law Reform Act". Archived from the original on 31 March 2018.
8. "Venn Spearman Young". South Taranaki District Council. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
9. Young, Audrey (11 January 2025). "Audrey Young: How a Prime Minister helped get me off a criminal conviction". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 January 2025.

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by William Sheat	Member of Parliament for Egmont 1966–1978	Constituency abolished
Vacant Constituency recreated after abolition in 1893 Title last held by George Hutchison	Member of Parliament for Waitotara 1978–1990	Succeeded by Peter Gresham
Political offices
Preceded by Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan	Minister for the Environment 1975–1981	Succeeded by Ian Shearer