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Bolger was born and raised in Ōpunake. He attended Ōpunake High School and left formal education at age 15 to help on the family farm.

","

In his early farming years, he worked in Taranaki before moving to Te Kūiti.

","

He purchased his own farm near Rahotu (in Taranaki) in 1962.

","

His parliamentary representation always included the rural heartland. He first represented the King Country electorate from 1972 onward, and in 1996 the electorate was reconfigured as Taranaki-King Country, which he continued to represent until his retirement.

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