| Charles Burnett | |
| Constituency Mp: | Tauranga |
| Parliament: | New Zealand |
| Term Start: | 1935 |
| Term End: | 1938 |
| Predecessor: | Charles Macmillan |
| Successor: | Frederick Doidge |
| Birth Name: | Charles Harris Burnett |
| Birth Date: | 24 June 1875 |
| Birth Place: | Fordell, Wanganui, New Zealand |
| Death Place: | Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Party: | Labour |
| Children: | 3 |
| Education: | Wanganui Collegiate School |
Charles Harris Burnett (24 June 1875 – 7 January 1947) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.
Born on his parents' farm at Fordell near Wanganui on 24 June 1875, Burnett was the son of Cornelius Burnett, a barrister and solicitor, and Lily Marion Burnett (née Harris).[1] [2] [3] He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School, and went farming when he was 16 years old, going on to farm on the property where he was born for 25 years.[1] He was involved in the establishment of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and was a life member of the Wanganui Agricultural Society.[1]
On 9 October 1901, Burnett married Helen Mary Burr at Omanaia in the Hokianga,[4] and the couple went on to have four children.[1]
Burnett began his community and political involvement in the Wanganui district. He served for a number of years on the Purua Road Board, the Wanganui County Council and the Fordell school board.[1] He was later elected as a member of the Wanganui City Countil, serving in that capacity for 13 years.[1] He also served on the Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric Power Board, the Wanganui-Rangitikei Hospital Board, and the Wellington Land Board.[1] In 1932, he unsuccessfully stood for election as a member of the New Zealand Dairy Board.[1]
He represented the Tauranga electorate from 1935 to 1938, when he was defeated. He was to stand as an independent candidate for the 1941 New Zealand general election.[5] However, the election was cancelled due to World War II.
Burnett remained in the Tauranga district, and died there on 7 January 1947.[6] He was buried at Tauranga Public Anglican Cemetery.[7] His widow, Helen Burnett, died in 1964.[7]