Terry Heffernan

Q: When did Terry Heffernan die?

Terry Heffernan died on March 13, 2010.

Q: How old was Terry Heffernan when they died?

Terry Heffernan was 58 years old at the time of death.

Q: What was Terry Heffernan's cause of death?

The cause of death of Terry Heffernan was cancer.

Q: When was Terry Heffernan born?

Terry Heffernan was born on February 3, 1952.

Q: What was Terry Heffernan's occupation?

Terry Heffernan was a politician.

Terence Michael Heffernan (3 February 1952 – 13 March 2010) was a New Zealand politician who stood for Parliament on eight 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

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

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:

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.

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

Death

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.