Hazlett was born in
Southland on 24 April 1909, the son of Kate (née Stephenson) and William Thomas Hazlett. His mother was the daughter of one of the founders of stock and station agents
Wright Stephenson, and his father was a merchant and had extensive landholdings. During
World War II, Hazlett served in
Italy with the 20th Armoured Regiment, ending the war in
Trieste. He was active politically and was the Otago-Southland division president of the
National Party for seven years and also served on the party's executive. When he first arrived in Canberra, he met Australian Prime Minister, Sir
Robert Menzies and said to him, "I am not a diplomat. I am as green as grass and have just come off the turnips." Hazlett was popular with Australian politicians and reporters, with many editorials headed "Goodbye Luke" when he left the role in 1970. Menzies suggested that he should write a memoir with the title
Green as Grass. Hazlett died on 1 September 1987 in
Invercargill after a long illness, aged 78. He was survived by his wife and five children. ==Personal life and family==