26 Facts About Frank O'Flynn

Francis Duncan O'Flynn was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Frank O'Flynn was the son of Francis Edward O'Flynn and Margaret Helen Valentine Duncan.

Frank O'Flynn received his education at Christchurch Normal School and Christchurch Boys' High School.

Frank O'Flynn received his BA in 1940, and joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942.

Frank O'Flynn married Sylvia Elizabeth Hefford in 1942 and they had four children.

Frank O'Flynn obtained his LLB in 1947 and LLM in 1948.

Frank O'Flynn served as a law clerk at O'Regan and Arndt in Wellington until 1954.

Frank O'Flynn was a barrister and solicitor until 1968, when he was named Queen's Counsel.

Frank O'Flynn represented the victims of the Wahine ferry disaster in 1968.

Frank O'Flynn represented Brian Brooks in the 1972, where Brooks successfully sued prime minister Robert Muldoon for defamation for remarks Muldoon made on a 1972 television programme.

Frank O'Flynn represented the seat of Kapiti from 1972 to 1975, when he was defeated.

Frank O'Flynn's attempt was not helped by an effort to seek candidates with links to Nelson as there were fears in the area that MPs who had lost their seats in 1975 would become "parachute candidates".

Frank O'Flynn was the only defeated candidate to try for the nomination.

Frank O'Flynn was re-elected in 1980 but unexpectedly lost his seat on the council in 1983.

Frank O'Flynn's defeat was in the wake of him hinting that he would rethink his position on the council should he become a cabinet minister after being promoted earlier in 1983.

O'Brien ran as an independent candidate and drew away many former Labour voters causing Frank O'Flynn to come close to losing one of Labour's safest seats.

Frank O'Flynn was elected narrowly by 650 votes and represented Island Bay from 1978 to 1987, when he retired due to ill health.

Frank O'Flynn was later shifted from Health to be Shadow Minister of Justice in 1981.

Frank O'Flynn was a backer of David Lange for leader and was rewarded by being promoted to the front bench and given the role of Shadow Attorney-General.

Frank O'Flynn was Minister of State, Minister in charge of War Pensions, Minister in charge of Rehabilitation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Associate Minister of Overseas Trade and Marketing.

Frank O'Flynn disliked the Defence portfolio and felt the officials at the Ministry of Defence took him for granted on many issues.

Frank O'Flynn thought that it was a waste of public money and that the official was little more than 'a big, dull fat Poo-Bah'.

Frank O'Flynn was appointed to the Privy Council in 1987; however, that same ill-health prevented him from travelling to England to be sworn into the Council by Queen Elizabeth II.

Frank O'Flynn suffered a stroke in that year which led to a permanent disability, he then retired to Raumati Beach.

Frank O'Flynn died on 17 October 2003 in Paraparaumu, a week shy of his 85th birthday.

Frank O'Flynn was survived by his wife, Sylvia and his four children.