title: William Bodkin (New Zealand politician)
text: # William Bodkin (New Zealand politician)
  
  Sir William Alexander Bodkin KCVO (28 April 1883 – 15 June 1964) was a New Zealand politician of the United Party, and from 1936, the National Party.
  
  ## Biography
  
  ### Early life
  
  Bodkin was born in Queenstown in 1883.
  
  ### Political career
  
  He represented the rural Otago electorate of Otago Central from 1928 to 1954, when he retired.
  
  He was Chairman of Committees from 1930 to 1931. He was Minister of Civil Defence in the War Administration in 1942. In the Holland Ministry of the First National Government, he was Minister of Internal Affairs (1949–1954) and Minister of Social Security (1950–1954).
  
  In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1953 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1954.
  
  In 1955, Bodkin was granted the use of the title of "Honourable" for life, having served more than three years as a member of the Executive Council.
  
  