David Allan Highet QSO (27 May 1913 - 28 April 1992) New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1966 to 1984, representing the National Party, holding the then largest majorities in the House. This may refer to: The post-nominals of the Queens Service Order The Queensland Symphony Orchestra A Q code for the exchange between two radio amateurs or a SWL and an radio amateur or a commercial HF radio station. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New Zealand National Party (National or the Nats) currently forms the second-largest (in terms of seats) political party represented in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus functions as the core of the parliamentary Opposition. ...

Highet was born in Dunedin, and attended Otago Boys' High School and University of Otago. He obtained a BCom from the University of Otago and practised as an accountant and businessman, before becoming the senior partner in Highet and Toomey in Auckland. In the 1950s, Highet was a Wellington City Councillor, and stood unsuccessfully as the National Candidate for Wellington Central in 1954. Dunedin (ÅŒtepoti in Maori) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, located in coastal Otago. ... Otago Boys High School, Dunedin Otago Boys High School is a single-sex secondary school located at the north end of Arthur Street on the hill north-west of the centre of Dunedin, New Zealand. ... The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealands oldest university with over 20,000 students enrolled during 2006. ... A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a curriculum that generally lasts three years in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom or four years in North America and South Africa. ... The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealands oldest university with over 20,000 students enrolled during 2006. ... The Wellington Central electorate is a seat in the Parliament of New Zealand, representing the central area of Wellington city. ...

Highet was elected to Parliament in the 1966 elections as MP for the Auckland electorate of Remuera. Highet became Minister for Internal Affairs, and associate Minister for Health and Social Welfare in 1971. The National Party lost the 1972 elections, and Highet was in opposition until 1975. With the National Party winning the 1975 elections, Highet was appointed to Cabinet again, becoming Minister of Internal Affairs, and New Zealand's first minister for the Arts, and Minister for Sport. The 1966 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 35th term. ... Remuera is a suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. ... The final results of the New Zealand General Election 1972 were 55 seats won by the Labour party (led by Norman Kirk) and 32 seats won by the National Party, with no minor parties winning any seats. ... The 1975 New Zealand general election was the first election in New Zealand where all permanent residents of New Zealand were eligible to vote, although only citizens were able to be elected. ... The New Zealand Cabinet functions as the policy and decision-making body of the New Zealand governments executive branch. ...

Highet was particularly well-regarded for his interest in the arts and sport, having been an opera singer and representative sportsman in his youth. Highet founded the National Youth Orchestra, and was a founding Director of the International Festival of the Arts. During his time as Minister for the Arts, Highet founded the New Zealand Film Commission, the Hillary Commission, and was actively involved in the organisation of the Historic Places Trust, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and the Arts Council.

In 1977, Highet introduced the expression "Think Big" in a speech to a National Party Conference, as a description of the Government's then-ambitious major projects in the Energy sector. Highet, as Minister of Racing, named the policy after Melbourne Cup-winning racehorse Think Big. The New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon (Prime Minister: 1975 - 1984; Sir Robert from 1983) and his New Zealand National Party government in the early 1980s sponsored Think Big as an interventionist state economic strategy. ... Think Big is a New Zealand bred racehorse, which raced in Australia, winning the Melbourne Cup in both 1974 and 1975. ...

Highet was considered to be a social liberal, and was among a handful of economically liberal members of Muldoon's cabinet.

Highet retired from politics at the 1984 elections. The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. ...

Highet was married to prominent New Zealand artist and television personality Shona McFarlane. He had a daughter and a son. Shona Graham McFarlane CBE (March 27, 1929 – September 29, 2001) was a New Zealand artist, journalist and broadcaster. ...