which allowed the Government to recover storm-blow timber on the West Coast following Cyclone Ita. O'Connor does not oppose euthanasia, but has voted cautiously on the matter to ensure legislation is strong enough to protect society's most vulnerable. He voted against Michael Laws' Death with Dignity Bill in 1995, Peter Brown's Death with Dignity Bill in 2003 and David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill in 2019. He also opposed the Abortion Legislation Bill in 2020, but voted in favour in its first reading. He has since stated he "absolutely do[es] support New Zealand’s laws on abortion" and, relating to the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States, said "what we see coming from the US is clearly disturbing and shocking,’’ O'Connor has stated he believes in a woman's right to choose without judgement, but believed the bill required a "technical protection" for the premises of gender or disability. Business activities O'Connor 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 Buller Community Development Company. He also won West Coast Young Farmer of the Year. Personal life O'Connor separated from his wife Vicky after twelve years of marriage in 2004. The couple had four children. He has a daughter with his new partner, Sharon Flood. Labour Party MP for Ōhāriu and former Police Association president Greg O'Connor is his cousin. Notes References External links Parliamentary website page |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- 1958 births Living people New Zealand people of Irish descent New Zealand Labour Party MPs Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand People from Westport, New Zealand Place of birth missing (living people) New Zealand list MPs New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates Lincoln University (New Zealand) alumni People educated at St Bede's College, Christchurch Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election 21st-century New Zealand politicians Candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election Candidates in the 2020 New Zealand general election