Former Hastings MP Bob Fenton died on Thursday, aged 89.
Born in Napier and educated at Hastings Boys' High School, he featured in the seesawing elections of the 1970s, winning his place in Parliament by beating one-term Labour MP Richard Mayson in 1975 in National's landslide return after three years in Opposition.
The first election after the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, it began the nine-year Prime Ministerial reign of Robert Muldoon, but Mr Fenton lasted just three years before being beaten by Labour's David Butcher at the 1978 poll.
The son of a furniture shop owner, he joined the Air Force in the latter stages of World War II, and sold insurance before entering real estate and establishing his own firm.
He honed his leadership and debating skills with service organisation Jaycee International, of which he was a New Zealand regional governor in 1960. He was also a world governor of the Jaycees' Junior Chamber International.