Norman Vazey Douglas QSO (15 March 1910[1] – 26 August 1985) was a New Zealand trade unionist and left-wing politician.

He rejoined the Labour Party in 1952 and represented the Auckland Central electorate in Parliament from 1960 until his retirement in 1975, serving time on the Opposition front bench.

There he became an avid reader and came under the influence of his teacher, Norman Shields, who introduced Douglas to left-wing ideology.

[1] Whilst he was unemployed Douglas joined the Grey Lynn branch of the Labour Party in 1932, he became a close friend of member of parliament (MP) John A. Lee (who lost his left arm in World War I).

Douglas was approached by the DLP membership to contest the by-election in an effort to boost the new party's publicity, but he declined to stand.

Once Anderton had done everything in his power to ensure Douglas would succeed him as Labour's nominee in Auckland Central, he announced his retirement from Parliament in August 1960.

[4] Despite Douglas being fully qualified and experienced of his subsequent nomination, many in the Labour Party regarded his succession to Anderton as an act of nepotism.

He served as spokesperson for a succession of portfolios from 1967 to 1972 including education, social security and industrial relations and immigration.

He did derive fulfillment in his final term in parliament out of chairing the select committee which brought down a landmark report in June 1975 about the discrimination against women in New Zealand and their role in society.

[13] In retirement Douglas worked at his family's herbal product business, Red Seal Laboratories.

[14] He remained politically active and at the 1978 general election he was fervently involved in his son Malcolm's successful campaign for the Hunua electorate.