Background
Donnelly was born in Auckland, New Zealand as the third of five children. His father worked as a fabric cutter and later as a real estate agent.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Brian Donnelly
Edit ProfileEducation
Donnelly attended Sacred Heart College on a scholarship. He studied at Massey University and Auckland University, and received a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Educational Administration, a Diploma in Teaching, and a Diploma in Second Language Teaching.
Career
He then worked in the education sector in New Zealand and the Cook Islands, which included deputy principal at Titikaveka College in Rarotonga from 1977-1980, and principal of Whangarei Intermediate School from 1990-1996 (only resigning from the latter on entering parliament). In the 1993 election, he stood for the newly formed New Zealand First in the Whangarei electorate, but was unsuccessful. In the 1996 election, with the advent of the MMP system, Donnelly was ranked third on the New Zealand First party list, and entered Parliament.
He has retained his third-place position in New Zealand First"s list until his retirement.
When the coalition disintegrated, and New Zealand First itself began to splinter, Donnelly was one of those MPs who remained loyal to the party. He was one of five New Zealand First MPs to avoid the collapse of the party"s vote in the 1999 election.
After the 2002 election he was appointed chair of Parliament"s Education and Science Committee. In retaliation, current New Zealand First Party President Dail Jones threatened demotion of the long-serving List Member of Parliament, as well as fellow repeal supporter Doug Woolerton.
In February 2008, Donnelly was appointed as New Zealand"s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, and Dail Jones was sworn in to replace him as a list Member of Parliament on 15 February 2008.
Donnelly was a speaker of Cook Islands Māori, unlike most Foreign Affairs diplomats.
Achievements
Politics
In contrast to other New Zealand First Members of Parliament, Donnelly was widely respected by Members from other political parties.
Membership
He was a member of the New Zealand First party.
Connections
-
Born
-
Died
September 25, 2008 (aged 58) -
Nationality
New Zealand -
Political Party
New Zealand First