Green Party co-leader Rod Donald Dies Suddenly
by Selwyn Manning – Scoop co-editor, 6 November 2005
Green Party co-leader Rod Donald died last night at around midnight at his home in St Martins, Christchurch. Mr Donald had last week been ill with a chest infection, but it is understood that a heart attack caused his death.
Mr Donald was well known for his honesty and honourable nature – a man true to his principles and was seen by many as this new Parliament's man of human and community ideals.
Mr Donald is survived by his partner Nicola and daughters, Holly, Emma, and Zoe.
Other political leaders were told of Mr Donald's death this morning. Scoop understands a funeral for Mr Donald will take place on Thursday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday, November 8: Pragmatic idealist - Tom Scott - Dom Post
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rod’s
Funeral
A funeral service for Green Party Co-Leader Rod Donald will be held in
Christchurch on Thursday.
The ceremony, which will be
open to the public, will be held at the
Christchurch Cathedral, in Cathedral Square, at 10.30am.
It will be followed by a private burial.
Green
Party mournes loss of co-leader
One-man stand on the steps of Parliament, which forced the Chairmain of the National People's Congress of China to take the side alley. Nice one. Chinese politician evades protesting MP
Rod Donald Dies - November 5th, 2005
Prime Minister Helen Clark said she was shocked to hear of the news and deeply saddened by it.
"My thoughts are with Rod's partner, Nicola, his family, friends and Green Party colleagues, who have suffered a tremendous loss.
"I have known Rod Donald since he entered Parliament in 1996, and worked with him for the past six years during which Green Party support and goodwill has been indispensable for our government.
"In all that time Rod has been a very honourable person to deal with. He always impressed me with both the strength of his convictions and his ability to work within the parliamentary system to resolve issues.
"Rod Donald was unfailingly pleasant, likeable, and always looking for a constructive way forward.
"Rod committed his life to environmental and community causes, becoming active in many issues from his teenage years. His interests spanned decent housing, urban recycling, fair trade, and electoral reform.
"Rod gained a national profile from his work on the electoral referenda in the early 1990s. He was a strong advocate for MMP, and entered Parliament as a Green Party member within the Alliance in 1996.
"Rod Donald had remarkable energy and great zest for life. It is a cruel fate indeed which strikes down someone with so much to give in the prime of his life. He will be greatly missed," Helen Clark said.