# Gordon Coates

_New Zealand politician (1878–1943)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/gordon-coates
Last updated: 2026-11-02

> Joseph Gordon Coates served as the 21st prime minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928. He was the third successive Reform prime minister since 1912.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 3 February 1878 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Ruatuna ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P19))
- **Died:** 27 May 1943 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P570))
- **Place of death:** Wellington ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P20))
- **Citizenship:** New Zealand ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; diplomat; farmer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P106))
- **Political party:** New Zealand Reform Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P102))
- **Positions held:** Minister of Finance (28 January 1933 – 6 December 1935); Minister of Foreign Affairs (25 August 1928 – 10 December 1928); Prime Minister of New Zealand (30 May 1925 – 10 December 1928); Minister for Māori Development (7 February 1921 – 10 December 1928); Minister of Justice (4 September 1919 – 3 April 1920); Member of the New Zealand Parliament ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P39))
- **Awards:** Military Cross ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342#P166))

## Questions

**When was Gordon Coates born?**  
Gordon Coates was born on 3 February 1878 in Ruatuna.

**What positions has Gordon Coates held?**  
Positions held by Gordon Coates include: Minister of Finance (1933–1935); Minister of Foreign Affairs (1928–1928); Prime Minister of New Zealand (1925–1928); Minister for Māori Development (1921–1928); Minister of Justice (1919–1920).

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Gordon Coates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Coates) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q731342](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731342) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Joseph Gordon Coates, 1931.jpg by Unknown photographer (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Gordon_Coates,_1931.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Gordon Coates, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Joseph Gordon Coates, 1931.jpg — Unknown photographer, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Gordon Coates". DigiNepal. Last updated 2 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/gordon-coates. Retrieved 6 November 2026.