Sir Don McKinnon honoured for international conflict work
AUT conferred the university’s highest honour, a Doctor of the Auckland University of Technology, on the Rt. Hon. Sir Donald Charles McKinnon ONZ GCVO for his significant contribution to restorative justice and conflict resolution in national and international forums.
The honour is bestowed by the university to people who have made an outstanding contribution to society. He joins the ranks of Honory Doctoral recipients including Sir Peter Blake, the Rt. Hon. Sir Kenneth Moore, Graeme Avery and AUT alumnus, Sir Stephen Tindall.
He joined former fellow political colleague of 12 years, the Hon. George Gair who graduated with a Master of Philosophy degree in public policy.
Sir Don McKinnon, who holds eight honorary doctorates from various Commonwealth Universities including Lincoln University in New Zealand, says that being acknowledged at home is the highest tribute.
“To be recognised and receive accolades in New Zealand is hugely pleasing,” he says. “It’s a great honour to be acknowledged in my home country by people I know and respect.”
Sir Paul Reeves, who conferred Sir Don’s Honorary Doctorate, says it is a pleasure to acknowledge Sir Don’s achievements.
“Don is a New Zealander who’s worked well in the international arena for the causes of peace and social justice,” he says. “He has expressed abroad those values which he thinks flow and grow out of his local situation.
“So he has been very much our man internationally, and it’s wonderful that AUT can honour him by giving him an honorary doctorate.”
Sir Don is the former Commonwealth Secretary-General and the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand.
Sir Don's background
During his political career which began in 1978, Sir Don was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and later Leader of the House and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs. As New Zealand's longest serving Foreign Minister, Sir Don oversaw New Zealand’s election to the UN Security Council, and increased New Zealand’s activity in the Commonwealth of Nations and the country’s engagement with Asia.
He was named Foreign Minister of the Year by the The World Economic Forum publication in 1998 and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in bringing about a peaceful resolution to the decade long civil war on Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. He retired from Parliament in March 2000.
As Commonwealth Secretary-General he presided over a staff of 300 from forty-eight countries and a budget of $NZ100m. He now sits on the Board of Advisors of the Global Panel Foundation and is an Associate with the Aspen Atlantic Group in Washington DC.
He holds two Chiefly titles in Samoa. He was admitted a “Freeman of the City of London” in 2002.