Terence Michael Heffernan (3 February 1952 – 13 March 2010) was a New Zealand politician who stood for Parliament on eight separate occasions. Heffernan was originally a member of the Social Credit Party before joining the New Zealand First Party and later, the New Zealand National Party.

Early years

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He was born in Oamaru and attended St Bede's College in Christchurch. He obtained a degree in history and economics at the University of Canterbury after starting an accounting degree. He taught at Christchurch Boys' High School and Xavier College, but with a passion for politics became a parliamentary researcher for Bruce Beetham and then Winston Peters. He admired 1930s Labour politicians Savage and Lee.

Political activities

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Originally a stalwart of the Social Credit Party, he represented them in the 1979 Christchurch Central by-election and came second; Labour's Geoffrey Palmer won the seat.

Heffernan stood in the Wanganui electorate in five general elections:[1]

In 1987 he came second to Labour's Russell Marshall, who had an election-night majority of only 27 (though Marshall's final majority was 248).

In 1996 Heffernan stood for New Zealand First in Albany, against Murray McCully.[2]

In the 2008 election, he stood as the National Party candidate for the Christchurch electorate of Port Hills, though already weakened by cancer.[3]

Death

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Heffernan died in Christchurch on 13 March 2010, and his funeral was celebrated in St Joseph's Catholic Church in Papanui, Christchurch. A notice of motion in remembrance was lodged by Ruth Dyson in parliament on 18 March 2010.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Norton 1988, pp. 12, 107, 130.
  2. ^ "Electorate Candidate and Party Votes Recorded at Each Polling Place - Albany" (PDF). Retrieved 24 December 2011.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Espiner, Colin (25 March 2008). "It's Beaurepaires at Parliament as retreads rolled out". The Press. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  4. ^ Order Paper Archived 30 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine New Zealand House of Representatives, 23 March 2010

References

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