Norma Holyoake

Dame Norma Janet Holyoake was a New Zealand community leader. She was the spouse of Keith Holyoake, who served as prime minister in 1957 and from 1960 to 1972. She was viceregal consort between 1977 and 1980 during her husband's term as governor-general.

Biography

Norma Janet Ingram was born on 7 March 1909. Her sister was Laura Ingram.
She twice married Keith Holyoake: first in a civil ceremony on 24 September 1934, and again on 11 January 1935 at their Presbyterian church in Motueka. The couple had five children: two sons and three daughters.
She died on 18 December 1984, aged 75.

Honours and awards

In 1977, Holyoake was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. The same year, she was made a Commander of the Order of St John. In the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public services since 1935. Later that year, in a special honours list on her husband's leaving the office of governor-general, she was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for community service.