Portrayal of Donald unrecognisable, says friend

Rod Donald

A cross between Kermit the Frog and Mother Teresa is how Rod Donald has been portrayed since his sudden death two weeks ago, a close friend and colleague said during his memorial service yesterday.

Catherine Delahunty, a Green Party member, said those who knew Mr Donald well were struggling to recognise him from the posthumous descriptions. There was far more to him.

More than 400 people who crowded into Parliament's old Legislative Council Chamber and Grand Hall to pay tribute to Mr Donald heard about the many facets of his life - electoral reformer, environmentalist, fair trade promoter, father, friend, partner, humanitarian.

The Greens' co-leader died of viral myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart muscle - on November 6.

Those who attended the service were given a copy of Mr Donald's famous "wholesome organic spiced apple cake" - every ingredient of which has a political story behind it.

Some speakers expressed regret that Mr Donald had to die before he was awarded the respect he deserved.

Electoral Reform Movement spokeswoman Danna Glendining said the MP's death had changed his public image.

"Rod has been transformed since his death into something he was not, transformed to being the respectable face of the causes he espoused.

"In life I don't know if many people ever thought of him or acknowledged him as that."

Author Nicky Hager, who worked on several campaigns with him, said that as an MP who stood outside Parliament's mainstream Mr Donald had been forced to live under strain.

Hager was struck by the hypocrisy of what some politicians were saying about Rod Donald dead, compared with their lack of respect for him while he was alive. He said Mr Donald had to endure taunts of "nutty" and "loony" designed to marginalise him and what he stood for. "I'm sure those years of personal attacks and put-downs were a constant strain that took their toll," Hager said.

Others paid respect to Mr Donald's huge energy and enthusiasm for life.

"Rod knew how to have fun and change the world at the same time," Green Party member Liz Thomas said.

Prime Minister Helen said New Zealand and Parliament were both better places for Mr Donald's life.

His partner, Nicola Shirlaw, said people wanting to honour Mr Donald should support his causes, such as fair trade and Buy NZ made, and live their lives to the fullest, as he had done.


Rod's organic spiced apple cake 1 cup chopped apple
125g melted butter
1 cup sugar1 egg
1 cup flour1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt1 cup walnuts
1 cup currants

Mix apple with sugar, let stand for two minutes. Add butter and egg to apple and sugar mixture. Add this to dry ingredients, fruit and nuts. Mix well. Bake at 180C for 40 minutes. Nicest served warm with whipped cream.