Don McKay (politician)

Sir Donald Norman McKay KCMG (28 November 1908 – 30 March 1988) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was Minister of Health and Minister of Social Security in the Second National Government.

The Honourable Sir Don McKay KCMG
20th Minister of Health
In office 24 January 1962 – 9 February 1972
Prime Minister	Keith Holyoake
Preceded by	Norman Shelton
Succeeded by	Lance Adams-Schneider
11th Minister of Social Security
In office 24 January 1962 – 9 February 1972
Prime Minister	Keith Holyoake
Preceded by	Norman Shelton
Succeeded by	Lance Adams-Schneider
Personal details
Born	28 November 1908 Waipu, New Zealand
Died	30 March 1988 Waipu, New Zealand
Political party	National
Spouse(s)	Miriam Hilda Stehr
Children	3

Biography

Early life and career

McKay was born in 1908 in Waipu.[1] He received his education from Whangarei Boys' High School and the University of Auckland. At Whangarei Boys' High School he was head prefect, captain of the first XI cricket team and captain of the first XV rugby team. Another student at the same school was future parliamentary colleague Jack Marshall who described McKay as his schoolboy hero.[2] He then became a farmer in Waipu.[1] He married Miriam Hilda Stehr in 1934 with whom he had 3 children.

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1954–1957	31st	Marsden		National
1957–1960	32nd	Marsden		National
1960–1963	33rd	Marsden		National
1963–1966	34th	Marsden		National
1966–1969	35th	Marsden		National
1969–1972	36th	Marsden		National

McKay joined the National Party and became the chairman of the Marsden electorate committee. In early 1954 the 77 year-old MP for Marsden Alfred Murdoch was challenged for the National nomination by William Rodney Lewin Vallance, the deputy mayor of Whangarei. Vallance won a postal ballot of members, an outcome which split the Marsden National Party membership into two opposing factions. After it emerged that Vallance was in trouble with his taxes he was in turn deselected and replaced by McKay. Vallance ran as an independent candidate and split the vote, almost costing National the seat.[3]

He represented the Marsden electorate in the Northland region from 1954, and he retired in 1972.[4] He was Minister of Health and Minister of Social Security in the Second National Government from 1962 to 1972 under Keith Holyoake.[5]

Following National's victory in 1960, Deputy Prime Minister Jack Marshall was unable to convince Keith Holyoake to include McKay in the cabinet. Holyoake thought that McKay had not sufficiently proved himself in the house, but later appointed him following a mid-term vacancy based on Marshall's endorsement.[2]

Later life and death

After retiring from Parliament he was elected a member of the Northland Harbour Board and served one term as its chairman.[1]

McKay was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for public services in the 1978 Queen's Birthday Honours,[6] and died in 1988.

Notes

1. Gustafson 1986, p. 329.
2. Marshall 1989, p. 6.
3. Gustafson 1986, p. 235.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 215.
5. Wilson 1985, p. 90.
6. "No. 47551". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1978. p. 6269.

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Marshall, Jack (1989). John Marshall Memoirs Volume Two: 1960-1988. Auckland: Collins. ISBN 1-86950-003-2.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Political offices
Preceded by Norman Shelton	Minister of Health 1962–1972	Succeeded by Lance Adams-Schneider
	Minister of Social Security 1962–1972
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Alfred Murdoch	Member of Parliament for Marsden 1954–1972	Constituency abolished