Graham Kelly

Graham Kelly is a former New Zealand politician. As a member of the Labour Party, he served as MP for Porirua from the 1987 elections until the 1996 elections, when he became MP for the new seat of Mana. In the 2002 elections, he did not stand as an electorate candidate, standing as a list MP and allowing Winnie Laban to contest Mana. On 29 July 2003, however, he left Parliament in order to take up a position as High Commissioner to Canada. His list seat was taken by the next candidate on Labour's 2002 party list, Moana Mackey. In 2005, Kelly made remarks to a Canadian governmental panel which were regarded by some in New Zealand as offensive to Māori and various immigrant communities. Calls were made for his resignation, and the government criticised Kelly for his comments. He has since apologised.