Don McKinnon
Encyclopedia
Sir Donald Charles "Don" McKinnon, ONZ
, GCVO
(born 27 February 1939) is a former Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
of New Zealand. He was the Secretary-General
of the Commonwealth of Nations
from 2000 until 2008.
. His father was Major-General Walter McKinnon, CB
CBE
, a New Zealand Chief of the General Staff, and once Chairman of New Zealand Broadcasting. McKinnon's brothers include the twins John McKinnon, the current New Zealand Secretary of Defence and a former Ambassador to China, and Malcolm McKinnon
, an editor and academic, and Ian McKinnon
, Pro-Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington and the current Deputy Mayor of Wellington City. The McKinnon brothers are great-great-grandsons of John Plimmer
, known as the father of Wellington.
McKinnon was educated at Nelson College
and in Washington, D.C. before eventually undertaking study at Lincoln Agricultural College, New Zealand
. After leaving university, he became a farm manager, and later a farm management consultant. In 1974, he became a real estate agent. In his spare time, he also worked as a rehabilitation tutor
in prisons.
and 1972
, McKinnon stood unsuccessfully as the National Party
's candidate in the Birkenhead
electorate, having previously served on two of the party's electorate committees. In the election of 1978
, McKinnon won the newly established seat of Albany, which covered much of the same area.
In 1980, McKinnon was made the government's junior Whip
. Two years later, he was made senior Whip. When Prime Minister Robert Muldoon
called the snap election
of 1984
, and was defeated by David Lange
's New Zealand Labour Party
, McKinnon remained senior Whip for his party in Opposition. In September 1987, he became deputy leader of the National Party.
, won the 1990 elections
, McKinnon became Deputy Prime Minister. He also became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs. During his tenure in the former role, he oversaw New Zealand's election to the UN Security Council, increased activity in the Commonwealth of Nations, and attempts to broker a truce on the island of Bougainville
. He received recognition as a result of the Bougainville negotiations.
In 1996, the National Party required the support of the New Zealand First
party to form a government, and part of the coalition agreement gave the office of Deputy Prime Minister to New Zealand First leader Winston Peters
. McKinnon kept his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, however, and also became Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control. When the coalition with New Zealand First collapsed, McKinnon did not resume the Deputy Prime Minister's role (this being taken up by Wyatt Creech
), although he did gain the minor responsibility of Minister in Charge of War Pensions. McKinnon retired from parliament shortly after the 1999 elections
, being replaced by Arthur Anae
. He now sits on the Board of Advisors of the Global Panel Foundation.
(CHOGM), in Durban
, he was elected to the office of Secretary General. Since that time, he has had to deal with issues such as Zimbabwe
's Robert Mugabe
and George Speight
's attempted nationalist coup in Fiji
. McKinnon has also placed an emphasis on supporting "good governance".
In late 2003, New Zealand media reported that Zimbabwe was attempting to gather support from other Commonwealth members to remove McKinnon from the office of Secretary-General, presumably in retaliation for McKinnon's views about the issue of Zimbabwean democracy. The government of Zimbabwe denied that it was making any such efforts.
At the opening of the 2003 CHOGM
, in Nigeria
on 5 December, McKinnon was challenged for the position of Secretary-General by Lakshman Kadirgamar
, a former Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka
. However, McKinnon defeated Kadirgamar in a vote reported to be 40-11 in McKinnon's favour.
In 2007 McKinnon attempted to mediate between Fiji and the Australian and New Zealand governments in their continuing dispute over the appropriate timetable and rules for the holding of Fijian elections in 2008.
In 2009, McKinnon was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) by the Queen, for services to the Commonwealth. He is a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society
.
in Malta, McKinnon caused controversy when he appeared to say economic development and free trade
are more important than democracy. In a 2007 interview he criticised British public support for evicted white farmers in Zimbabwe as being "a bit of a guilt thing" and argued that the evictions were justified as there was "no way you can justify a society where 15,000 white farmers control 80 percent of the most fertile land".
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(born 27 February 1939) is a former Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand is second most senior officer in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate into power....
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Murray McCully, who was National Party Spokeperson of Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are also Associate Minister roles...
of New Zealand. He was the Secretary-General
Commonwealth Secretary-General
The Commonwealth Secretary-General is the head of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the central body which has served the Commonwealth of Nations since its establishment in 1965, and responsible for representing the Commonwealth publicly...
of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
from 2000 until 2008.
Early life
McKinnon was born in Blackheath, LondonBlackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
. His father was Major-General Walter McKinnon, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, a New Zealand Chief of the General Staff, and once Chairman of New Zealand Broadcasting. McKinnon's brothers include the twins John McKinnon, the current New Zealand Secretary of Defence and a former Ambassador to China, and Malcolm McKinnon
Malcolm McKinnon
Malcolm McKinnon is a New Zealand historian. He taught at Victoria University of Wellington 1975-1990 and his since worked independently as an historian...
, an editor and academic, and Ian McKinnon
Ian McKinnon
Ian Duncan McKinnon, QSO, JP, is a New Zealand educator and local politician, serving presently as Deputy Mayor on Wellington City Council.-Teacher administrator:Ian McKinnon, BCom, DipEd, began his teaching career at King's College, Auckland...
, Pro-Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington and the current Deputy Mayor of Wellington City. The McKinnon brothers are great-great-grandsons of John Plimmer
John Plimmer
John Plimmer has been called the Father of Wellington.He was a member of the Wellington Provincial Council from 1856 to 1857, the first Wellington Town Board and was on the Wellington City Council from 1870 to 1871....
, known as the father of Wellington.
McKinnon was educated at Nelson College
Nelson College
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys...
and in Washington, D.C. before eventually undertaking study at Lincoln Agricultural College, New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
. After leaving university, he became a farm manager, and later a farm management consultant. In 1974, he became a real estate agent. In his spare time, he also worked as a rehabilitation tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
in prisons.
Member of Parliament
In the elections of 1969New Zealand general election, 1969
The 1969 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 36th term. It saw the governing National Party win a fourth consecutive term, under Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.-The Election:...
and 1972
New Zealand general election, 1972
The New Zealand general election of 1972 was held to elect MPs to the 37th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Labour Party, led by Norman Kirk, defeated the governing National Party.-Background:...
, McKinnon stood unsuccessfully as the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
's candidate in the Birkenhead
Birkenhead, New Zealand
Birkenhead is a suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. It is located on the north shore of the Waitemata Harbour, four kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre....
electorate, having previously served on two of the party's electorate committees. In the election of 1978
New Zealand general election, 1978
The 1978 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to elect the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, retain office, although the opposition Labour Party managed to win the largest share of the vote...
, McKinnon won the newly established seat of Albany, which covered much of the same area.
In 1980, McKinnon was made the government's junior Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
. Two years later, he was made senior Whip. When Prime Minister Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
called the snap election
Snap election
A snap election is an election called earlier than expected. Generally it refers to an election in a parliamentary system called when not required , usually to capitalize on a unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue...
of 1984
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
, and was defeated by David Lange
David Lange
David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a...
's New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
, McKinnon remained senior Whip for his party in Opposition. In September 1987, he became deputy leader of the National Party.
Cabinet minister
When National, then led by Jim BolgerJim Bolger
James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
, won the 1990 elections
New Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
, McKinnon became Deputy Prime Minister. He also became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs. During his tenure in the former role, he oversaw New Zealand's election to the UN Security Council, increased activity in the Commonwealth of Nations, and attempts to broker a truce on the island of Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
. He received recognition as a result of the Bougainville negotiations.
In 1996, the National Party required the support of the New Zealand First
New Zealand First
New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992...
party to form a government, and part of the coalition agreement gave the office of Deputy Prime Minister to New Zealand First leader Winston Peters
Winston Peters
Winston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being...
. McKinnon kept his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, however, and also became Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control. When the coalition with New Zealand First collapsed, McKinnon did not resume the Deputy Prime Minister's role (this being taken up by Wyatt Creech
Wyatt Creech
Wyatt Beetham Creech, CNZM is a former New Zealand politician. He served as Deputy Prime Minister in Jenny Shipley's National Party government from August 1998 to December 1999.-Early life:...
), although he did gain the minor responsibility of Minister in Charge of War Pensions. McKinnon retired from parliament shortly after the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, being replaced by Arthur Anae
Arthur Anae
Arthur Anae is a New Zealand politician who currently serves on the Manukau City Council. He was an MP from 1996 to 1999, and again from 2000 to 2002...
. He now sits on the Board of Advisors of the Global Panel Foundation.
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
During his time as New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, McKinnon had been highly involved with the Commonwealth. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999 was the sixteenth Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Durban, South Africa, between 12 November and 14 November 1999, and hosted by President Thabo Mbeki....
(CHOGM), in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, he was elected to the office of Secretary General. Since that time, he has had to deal with issues such as Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
's Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
and George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
's attempted nationalist coup in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. McKinnon has also placed an emphasis on supporting "good governance".
In late 2003, New Zealand media reported that Zimbabwe was attempting to gather support from other Commonwealth members to remove McKinnon from the office of Secretary-General, presumably in retaliation for McKinnon's views about the issue of Zimbabwean democracy. The government of Zimbabwe denied that it was making any such efforts.
At the opening of the 2003 CHOGM
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2003
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2003 was the eighteenth Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Abuja, Nigeria, between 5 December and 8 December 2003, and hosted by President Olusegun Obasanjo....
, in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
on 5 December, McKinnon was challenged for the position of Secretary-General by Lakshman Kadirgamar
Lakshman Kadirgamar
Sri Lankabhimanya Lakshman Kadirgamar PC was a Sri Lankan diplomat, politician and a lawyer. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2001 and again from April 2004 until his assassination in August 2005...
, a former Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. However, McKinnon defeated Kadirgamar in a vote reported to be 40-11 in McKinnon's favour.
In 2007 McKinnon attempted to mediate between Fiji and the Australian and New Zealand governments in their continuing dispute over the appropriate timetable and rules for the holding of Fijian elections in 2008.
In 2009, McKinnon was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) by the Queen, for services to the Commonwealth. He is a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society
Royal Commonwealth Society
The Royal Commonwealth Society is an international educational charity and a private members' club. Its mission is to support and promote the modern Commonwealth, its culture and core values...
.
Controversy
McKinnon has often taken positions on issues that are at variance with the consensus of Commonwealth member states, not least that of the New Zealand government. In a speech to the 2005 CHOGMCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2005
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2005 was the nineteenth Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Valletta, Malta, between 25 November and 27 November 2005, and hosted by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi....
in Malta, McKinnon caused controversy when he appeared to say economic development and free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
are more important than democracy. In a 2007 interview he criticised British public support for evicted white farmers in Zimbabwe as being "a bit of a guilt thing" and argued that the evictions were justified as there was "no way you can justify a society where 15,000 white farmers control 80 percent of the most fertile land".
Legacy
There is a street, Don McKinnon Drive, named after him in his former electorate of Albany.External links
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1842642.stm
- The Global Panel Foundation