Don C. McKinnon

Rt. Hon. Donald McKinnon

Awarded Honorary Doctorate in Commerce by Lincoln University, 1999. Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, 2000 - 2008.

Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand 1990 - 1996. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 1990 - 1999.

Leader of New Zealand House of Representatives 1993 - 1996. Member of Parliament 1978 - 2000.

Don has had a very distinguished public life. He conceived and developed the Asia 2000 Foundation; spearheaded New Zealand's campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council; led moves to ending the Bougainville conflict. His diplomacy resulted in brokering the peace deal and cease fire which ended the 10-year civil war on Bougainville. Hosted Bougainville Peace Talks on the Lincoln University campus, January 1998. He gained practical farm experience in the United States and New Zealand before entering Lincoln College in 1960 to undertake the Intensive Course for the Diploma in Valuation and Farm management. In 1961 he served as Vice-President of the Students' Association.