Graham Kelly is a former New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 politician.

Member of Parliament

As a member of the 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....

, he served as MP for Porirua

Porirua (New Zealand electorate)

Porirua was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the North Island. It existed during two periods; from 1860 to 1870, and then from 1963 to 1996.-Population centres:This electorate is based on Porirua City, north of Wellington.-History:...

 from the 1987 elections

New Zealand general election, 1987

The 1987 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 43rd sitting of the New Zealand Parliament. The governing New Zealand Labour Party, led by Prime Minister David Lange, was re-elected for a second term, although the Opposition National Party made gains...

 until the 1996 elections

New Zealand general election, 1996

The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...

, when he became MP for the new seat of Mana

Mana (New Zealand electorate)

Mana is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate north of Wellington. It is currently held by Kris Faafoi MP.-Population centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Paraparaumu * Raumati...

. In the 2002 elections

New Zealand general election, 2002

The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...

, he did not stand as an electorate candidate, standing as a list MP and allowing Winnie Laban to contest Mana. On 29 July 2003, however, he left Parliament in order to take up a position as High Commissioner to Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. His list seat was taken by the next candidate on Labour's 2002 party list, Moana Mackey

Moana Mackey

Moana Lynore Mackey is a New Zealand politician and has represented the New Zealand Labour Party in the Parliament of New Zealand since 2003. She has Māori, Irish, Scottish and Spanish ancestry....

.

High Commissioner to Canada

In 2005, Kelly made remarks to a Canadian governmental panel which were regarded by some in New Zealand as offensive to Māori and various immigrant communities. Calls were made for his resignation, and the government criticised Kelly for his comments, for which he apologised.