Norman James King QSO JP (28 December 1914 – 28 May 2002) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party, and a cabinet minister.

Zavos says that King:[7] was a poor speaker, a tiny birdlike man, a storeman and packer before taking up politics ... (but) a shrewd operator, however, whose greatest strength was that he was aware of his limitations.

[8] King was adept at engaging with labourers and factory workers more so than any of his more intellectual colleagues in caucus, who considered him a lightweight, but Warren Freer said he possessed the "common touch".

Warren Freer stated "It seemed that no cabinet meeting could be held without another proposal from Norman in his desire to honour every promise involving social welfare and pensioners.

[2] King felt almost a personal connection with the people who the payments were intended for as well as the hardships they faced which matched his own experiences earlier in his life.