Donnelly was a speaker of Cook Islands Māori, unlike most Foreign Affairs diplomats. In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Donnelly was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order, for public services. Personal life Donnelly met his wife Linda through teaching and they married in 1970. They had three children, Theresa, Ioane, and Erena. Illness and death In August 2008, Donnelly resigned from his position due to ill health. He died on 25 September 2008. Notes References External links Obituary—Brian Donnelly, Hansard New Zealand Parliament Obituary, Northern Advocate Obituary, stuff.co.nz 1949 births 2008 deaths New Zealand First MPs People from Whangārei People educated at Sacred Heart College, Auckland New Zealand list MPs High Commissioners of New Zealand to the Cook Islands Companions of the Queen's Service Order University of Auckland alumni Massey University alumni Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives 20th-century New Zealand politicians 21st-century New Zealand politicians Unsuccessful candidates in the 1993 New Zealand general election