21 Facts About Murray McCully

Murray Stuart McCully was born on 19 February 1953 and is a former New Zealand politician.

Murray McCully is a member of the National Party, and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2017.

Murray McCully has a Bachelor of Laws degree and is a qualified barrister and solicitor, working as a lawyer before entering politics.

Murray McCully had a long-term relationship with political journalist and columnist Jane Clifton, with whom he had two sons, which ended in the 2010s.

Murray McCully first stood for Parliament in 1975 in Auckland Central, reducing Richard Prebble's majority to 289.

Murray McCully next stood for East Coast Bays in 1984, coming second to Gary Knapp.

In 1987, Murray McCully defeated Knapp and entered Parliament as MP for East Coast Bays on Auckland's North Shore.

Over his career, Murray McCully held senior ministerial appointments in both the Fourth and Fifth National Governments.

Murray McCully held later appointments under the premierships of Jim Bolger and Jenny Shipley as Minister of Housing, Minister of Immigration and Minister for Sport, Fitness and Leisure.

Murray McCully resigned from his Tourism portfolio in April 1999 after questions were raised regarding his handling of the resignation and subsequent payout of members of the Tourism board.

Murray McCully is understood to have been a key player in many of the leadership changes the National Party experienced while in opposition.

Murray McCully supported Bill English to replace Jenny Shipley as National Party leader in the 2001 New Zealand National Party leadership election, Don Brash to replace English in 2003, and Gerry Brownlee to replace Nick Smith as deputy leader in 2003.

Murray McCully was appointed "parliamentary assistant" to Brash and was reportedly the only MP Brash told about his decision to stand down in 2006.

Murray McCully was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

In November 2015, Murray McCully was off work after surgery for removal of a growth that was found to be benign.

On 15 December 2016, following the announcement that Key would retire from politics and the appointment of Bill English as Prime Minister, Murray McCully announced that he would not stand for parliament in 2017.

English and Murray McCully had previously had a fractious relationship, relating to when Murray McCully orchestrated the removal of English as party leader in 2003.

In December 2016, Murray McCully played a critical role in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.

In 2004, Murray McCully voted against a bill to establish civil unions.

In 2013, Murray McCully voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill, a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand.

In 2019, Murray McCully was appointed an Honorary Companion of the Order of Fiji, for services to relations between Fiji and New Zealand.