David Graham McGee CNZM KC (11 December 1947 – 27 August 2023) was a New Zealand lawyer and long-standing New Zealand public servant of 40 years who served as Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1985 to 2007[2] and an Ombudsman in New Zealand from 2007 until 31 May 2013.[3][4]
David McGee | |
|---|---|
.jpg) McGee in 2007 | |
| New Zealand Ombudsman | |
| In office 19 November 2007 – 31 May 2013 | |
| Succeeded by | Ron Paterson |
| 12th Clerk of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 1985–2007 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Philip Littlejohn |
| Succeeded by | Mary Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Graham McGee 11 December 1947[1] North Shields, Northumberland, England |
| Died | 27 August 2023 (aged 75) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Alma mater | BA(Hons) (1970) Lanchester College of Technology,[1] LLD (2009) Victoria University of Wellington |
Early life
editBorn in North Shields, Northumberland, England, on 11 December 1947, McGee was born into poverty in the United Kingdom in North Shields, Northumberland, some 15 km to north of the city of Newcastle, where he was brought up by his mother. He left school at age 16 and worked in dead-end jobs and played football. A talented footballer, McGee trialed for a number of professional clubs, including Brighton, but he was deemed to be not good enough to be offered a professional contract. Instead, it was his degree in business law from Coventry University that would prove a winner and which helped him start his career.
In search of a new life, McGee decided to leave the UK in 1972. McGee arrived in New Zealand on the SS Brittanis a Ten Pound Pom in 1972,[2] and became a naturalised New Zealand citizen in 1976.[5]
Career
editMcGee joined the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives in 1974, where he remained for 34 years, making him a very long-serving staff member within the New Zealand Parliament. He commenced employment in Parliament's Office of the Clerk in 1974 and filled several roles, including acting as Clerk of Select Committees. He was Clerk of the House for 22 years, from 1985 to 2007. He joined the New Zealand parliament when he was 27 and he left when he was 61.
He was appointed Clerk of the House of Representatives in 1985 and was a member of the committee which devised the legislation that became law as the Constitution Act 1986. His contribution to the understanding and development of the New Zealand parliamentary system was something that was generally recognized to be exceptional.
He was the author of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, which is the authoritative guide to parliamentary procedure in New Zealand. He also wrote extensively in the area of parliamentary and constitutional law.[1][6] He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1977, appointed Queen's Counsel in 2000[7] and received the degree Doctor of Laws from the Victoria University of Wellington in 2009.[8] Victoria University of Wellington awarded him the degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his seminal text and other publications. Some expressed doubt whether McGee’s text was truly ‘academic’ and deserving of such high recognition, but such naysayers were in the minority. Few such texts are destined for posterity in the service of the national interest.
McGee was genuinely deserving of this recognition, of which he was immensely proud.”
His work, both in Parliament and as Ombudsman, was widely recognized to having played a huge contribution to the integrity of democracy in New Zealand. Former New Zealand parliamentary staff spoke highly of Dave McGee and he was widely respected. One, Mr. Sean Rota, former Senior Private Secretary to the Speaker said "I owe my entire career to Dave McGee. He believed in me and gave me a chance when others might have hesitated. I will forever be grateful for the guidance and support that Dave gave me!".
Dave McGee also made a big contribution to the mana of the Ombudsman where he served as New Zealand's third ombudsman from November 2007 - May 2013, to cap off a 40 year career in the New Zealand public service.
Sporting passions
editMcGee played for Miramar Rangers in New Zealand and he was a tricky winger who enjoyed nutmegging the ball through opponents feet. McGee was a long-suffering, lifelong supporter of the Sunderland A.F.C. football club, who last won a major trophy, the FA Cup in 1973, the year after he moved to New Zealand. McGee was also an avid boxing fan and was also a big tennis fan. His three main sporting passions were football, boxing and tennis.
Even though he left England in 1972, for the rest of his life McGee always supported the England national football team and Sunderland A.F.C.. He was a long-suffering fan of both, as trophies were very few and far between.
Personal life
editDavid met Daniele Khoodo on a New Zealand Parliamentary Trip to Mauritius in 1976 and they married the following year in 1977.
Later life and death
editMcGee retired as ombudsman in May 2013 at the age of 65 and moved into a life of quiet retirement in New Zealand. McGee died in Wellington on 27 August 2023, at the age of 75 after a short illness.[9][10] McGee reshaped parliament in New Zealand with his outstanding contributions to New Zealand parliamentary practices.[11]
Honours and awards
editIn 1977, McGee was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[1] In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, McGee was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Parliament.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Taylor, Alister (2001). New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 Edition. Alister Taylor Publishers. p. 601. ISSN 1172-9813.
- ^ a b Boyack, Nicholas (16 September 2023). "Ten-pound Pom reshaped NZ Parliament". The Post. p. B9. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Journals of the House for the week beginning Tuesday, 9 October 2007". House of Representatives. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "Ombudsman David McGee retires". Office of the Ombudsman. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "David Graham Mcgee in New Zealand, naturalisations, 1843–1981". Ancestry.com Operations. 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Speech to farewell David McGee CNZM QC, Clerk of the House of Representatives". House of Representatives. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "New Zealand Gazette". No. 65. 15 June 2000. p. 1435.
- ^ Victoria University of Wellington (11 December 2009). "Victoria celebrates its newest graduates" (Press release). Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "Obituaries – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "David McGee obituary". The Post. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Obituary: 'Ten pound Pom' who reshaped NZ Parliament". thepost.co.nz. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 25 June 2020.