Damien O'Connor

Monday, 25 February 2013

Damien O'Connor was born in Westport and attended primary school there before going on to St Bede's in Christchurch and Lincoln University.

Before becoming an MP, he worked in a variety of jobs in farming and tourism. During a five-year stint in Australia, he worked as a machinery operator and in sales. On his return to New Zealand, Damien established Buller Adventure Tours, an adventure tourism company he owned and operated in a partnership.

Damien is past president of the Buller Promotion Association, a member of the West Coast Tourism Development Group, a member of the West Coast Business Development Board and a founding director of the Buller Community Development Company. He was also West Coast Young Farmer of the Year.

An active sportsman, Damien has represented Buller at athletics, is a keen skier and likes white water rafting, mountain biking, and motorsports. He is co-captain of the Parliamentary Rugby Team.

Damien was elected to Parliament in 1993 as MP for the West Coast, and was MP for West Coast-Tasman from 1996-2008. He was Labour spokesperson on Tourism and Racing from 1996 till 1999. He chaired the Primary Production Select committee and was a member of the Health Select Committee from 1999 till 2002.

In the last term of the previous Labour Administration Damien was the Minister of Corrections, Minister of Tourism, Minister for Rural Affairs and Associate Minister of Health.

In 2011 Damien was re-elected as MP for West Coast-Tasman. He is currently the Labour spokesperson for Primary Industries, Biosecurity and Food Safety.

Contact details:

Parliamentary office
Phone: 04 817 8281
Email: damien.oconnor@parliament.govt.nz

Motueka Electorate Office
Address: 234 High Street, Motueka 7120
Phone: 03 528 8190

Westport Electorate Office
Address: 208A Palmerston St, Westport
Phone: 03 789 5481 

Greymouth Electorate Office
Address: 27 Albert Mall, Greymouth
Phone: 03 768 7189