Background
Ken was born in Wellington and educated at Wellington College.
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Ken Douglas
Edit ProfileCareer
Ken married Lesley Winter in 1956, and they have four children: Jane, Peter, Helen and John. As President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions until 1999 Douglas led the union movement in New Zealand for over fifteen years. His union career started in the Wellington Driver"s Union.
He stood for parliament in the safe Labour seat of Porirua in the 1972 election, 1975 election and 1978 election, receiving 68, 46 and 70 votes respectively.
Douglas has served on boards of Air New Zealand, New Zealand Post, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, New Zealand Rugby Union and Healthcare New Zealand. An acknowledged Marxist, Douglas has moved to the right over the last two decades and currently sits on the NZRU Board. He is widely respected across a very broad political spectrum of notable individuals for his capacity to see complex issues and their practical solutions in straightforward terms.
He was awarded an honorary degree (Doctor of Laws) by the Victoria University of Wellington in 1999. In 2006 a two-hour documentary was shown on New Zealand"s television ONE about Douglas"s life, entitled "Ken Douglas, Traitor or Visionary".
Politics
He was also leader of the Socialist Unity Party in the 1970s and 1980s.
Membership
Since his retirement from the CTU Douglas has been active in local politics as a Porirua City Councillor (since 1998), Porirua Licensing Trustee (2001-2007) and elected member of the Capital and Coast District Health Board (2001-2010). He is also chairperson of Positively Wellington Business and a board member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
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Born
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Died
2007 (aged 73) -
Nationality
New Zealand -
Political Party
Unity Party