RIP Stuart Boag

I was very sad to attend the funeral of Stuart Boag this week, who died far too young. Stuart was one of those guys full of life, and did everything with huge enthusiasm.

Stu was the NZ Chairman of Young Nationals in 1982/83 when Muldoon implemented a wage and price freeze. Unlike those who cowered in caucus, Stuart went on television criticising it as being contrary to National Party principles.

Stuart would have been an amazing MP. He had charisma and presence, was a skilled public speaker, and also hugely knowledgable on almost every policy issue. It is a huge shame that Rakaia selected Brian Connell over Stuart in 2002.

I worked in the Beehive with Stuart in the 1990s, and helped him with his Rongotai campaign in 1999. Stuart was often the life of the party, and was unfailingly keen to go out to Steamboat at some stage after midnight and karaoke for many hours. At his funeral, the best moment for me was when his (adult) son got up to do a reading, and put on sunglasses in Old St Paul’s and performed as the Reverend Cleophus James from Blues Brothers. It was the perfect tribute to his Dad. Having the theme music for Hawaii-5-0 play as his coffin was marched out was a close second.

Stu did so much. He was a North Canterbury farmer, he was a huge part of the Wellington Business Gold Awards, he had a key role in the education export industry but the area he was most passionate about was the military.

In 1990 he was the NZ Mastermind runner-up (to Hamish McDouall) on the topic of Dreadnoughts, Battleships and Battlecruisers since 1906. He actually got the highest score of the four in the specialist topic, but lost by just one point after general knowledge.

Stuart got to put his huge knowledge of military hardware to great use when he was a senior advisor to Defence Minister Wayne Mapp, followed by over 11 years at the Ministry of Defence as a senior manager in their capability branch. At his funeral were many many MOD staff plus all three service chiefs. We heard how he was an inspiring member of their team.

Cancer took him far too young, but he will not be forgotten.