Robert Consedine, Maori Party Member and 6th on the Party List in the 2005 General Elections.
Last week Rod contacted me to informally discuss the Maori Party. He was
very supportive of my role during the election. Sadly that meeting never
took place.
Like many of you I am deeply shocked at the sudden death of my old friend
and fellow campaigner for social justice, Rod Donald.
This is an incalculable loss to his partner, Nicola and daughters, Holly, Emma and Zoe. His death is a hugh loss to the
Green Party and an momumental loss to the
country.
I first met, and worked with Rod back in the mid 1970s when he was in the fifth form at St Andrews College and we joined
forces on many a Corso campaign. He would arrive at Corso headquarters where I worked in Barbadoes Street, with his
passion for justice, ready to embark on the next campaign whether it be environmental, fundraising for world poverty or
justice for developing countries over trade issues. On many of these issues Rod was ahead of his time. He had a vision
about the critical state of the planet which drove him to change the political system and commit his life to campaigning
for a better world.
He had a special commitment to the Maori struggle to have the Treaty of Waitangi honoured. His generous response and
lack of bitterness to the exclusion of the Greens from the current Government is a tribute to his principled approach to
politics. Thousands of New Zealanders will mourne his death.
Robert Consedine