This website is a historical record of the O'Flynn family, descendants of George and Eliza O'Flynn who settled on the West Coast of New Zealand around 1859.
The O'Flynns made a major contribution toward New Zealand’s development, in particular in the formation of the New Zealand Labour Party and in concern for social justice.
George William O’Flynn (1838-1874) and Eliza Salmon (1842-1915)
George and Eliza married in 1867 and had three children: Eliza (known as Elizabeth), born in1868; Malachi George (known as George), born in 1869, and Francis Edward (known as Frank), born in 1872.
Click here for details of their lives: George and Eliza O'Flynn
Eliza (Elizabeth) O'Flynn (1868-1938) and Michael Brislane (1865-1896)
Eliza (Elizabeth) was the eldest child of George and Eliza O'Flynn. She married Michael Brislane in 1891 and they had three children before Michael was tragically killed in the Brunner mine disaster. A fourth child was born just after the disaster. The children were Bridget Mary, William George, Elizabeth Francis and Michael Edward O'Flynn. Elizabeth had an illegitimate child, Walter, in 1900 who lived for just 18 days. She married Charles Wilson in 1909 and died in 1938.
Click here for details of their lives: Elizabeth and Michael Brislane
Malachi George O'Flynn. (1869-1937)
Malachi George (always known as George) O'Flynn was the second child of George and Eliza O'Flynn. Little is known of George's life. Click here for details: Malachi George O'Flynn
Francis Edward (Frank) O'Flynn (1872-1942) and Margaret Helen Valentine Duncan (1887-1937)
The Hon Francis Edward (Frank) O'Flynn M.L.C. was the youngest child of George and Eliza O'Flynn. Frank was the Headmaster of Runanga School on the West Coast for 15 years and later of Heathcote and Hornby Schools in Christchurch. Frank was influential in the development of the New Zealand Labour Party and its social justice policies. Frank was appointed to the Legislative Council of New Zealand in 1937 and served in this distinguished role for 5 years.
Click here for details of Frank and Margaret's lives: Frank and Margaret O'Flynn
Click here for a reflection on the life of her father by Nina O'Flynn: My father Frank O'Flynn
Click here for the article from the New Zealand Genealogist, April 2016, "From hardship to Hansard" by Nina O'Flynn. From hardship to Hansard In this article Nina reflects on the hardship her father faced in preparation for his role on the Legislative Council of New Zealand.
Click here for a reflection on the life of her mother by Nina O'Flynn: My mother Margaret O'Flynn
Francis Duncan (Frank) O'Flynn (1918-2003)
The Hon Francis Duncan (Frank) O'Flynn QC, BA, LLB, LLM. (1918-2003) was the eldest child of Frank and Margaret O'Flynn. Frank was a lawyer, Queen's Counsel and a Labour MP. He held a number of Ministerial posts: Minister of State, Minister of Defence, Minister in charge of War Pensions, Minister in charge of Rehabilitation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Associate Minister of Overseas Trade and Marketing.
Click here for details of Frank's life: Frank O'Flynn
Helen Ritchie O'Flynn (1920-1984)
Helen Ritchie O'Flynn was the second child of Frank and Margaret O'Flynn. Helen was a well-respected industrial journalist in the NSW Parliament.
Click here for a reflection on Helen's life by her sister Nina: My sister Helen O'Flynn
Kathleen Nina O'Flynn (1930 - )
Kathleen Nina O'Flynn B.A, Dip. Ed, M.Ed, Ph D. (known as Nina) was the third child of Frank and Margaret O'Flynn. Nina was a lecturer in education at Ardmore; Bulawayo, Rhodesia; Wagga Wagga, NSW; and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Click here for a reflection on her own life by Nina O'Flynn: My life
Historical records
Click here to view historical records for the O'Flynn family. The records include newspaper clippings; birth, marriage and death records; photographs; certificates etc. Historical records
