Murray McCully

Murray Stuart McCully CNZM (born 19 February 1953 in Whangarei, Northland) is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Early life

McCully was educated at Arapohue Primary School, Dargaville High School, the University of Auckland, and Victoria University of Wellington. He has a LLB degree and is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor, working as a lawyer before entering politics. His former partner, Jane Clifton, works as a columnist for The New Zealand Listener and as a political journalist.

Member of Parliament

McCully first stood for Parliament in 1975 in Auckland Central, reducing Richard Prebble's majority to 289. He next stood for East Coast Bays in 1984, coming second to Gary Knapp.

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

He became MP for the new seat of Albany in the 1999 elections. In the 2002 elections he returned as MP for the reconstituted East Coast Bays seat.