Callum McKay
Shortland Street character - Callum
McKay
Hell-bent on success and popularity, Callum has courted
controversy in his past and it appears he has brought this attitude
to Shortland Street.
Callum can be a "snake-oil salesman" and at times quite tactless,
but has a clear vision for Shortland Street and hopes his
achievements will win over his colleagues.
Callum's boldness and assurance is not confined to his business
activities. He has rubbed
Chris Warner
up
the wrong way with his exuberant self promotion.
In early 2007, Callum learned of his wife Justine's affair with
Chris Warner and they briefly separated.
They eventually reconciled to the relief of
their kids,
Hunter
and
Sophie.
Callum began an ill-advised affair with DHB consultant Martha
Riley.
His appointment to the position of permanent CEO, after Chris'
unceremonious dumping, had people talking.
After Craig Valentine died at the hands of pharmaceutical company
Scott Spear's thugs, Justine took up the cause.
Callum became concerned with the McKay family's safety. When
Justine discovered a bomb in her car, she faked her own death and
left to live under witness protection in Australia.
Late in 2008, Callum discovered Nessus-Bio, a company he had shares
in, was being accused of supplying dodgy medical supplies to
hospitals.
Luckily he was able to prove his involvement was not malicious and
he was reappointed to the CEO position.
But DHB executive Helen Carson has it in for him and he has been
warned to watch his step.
Rachel McKenna
returned as DHB "watch-dog" to keep an eye on him.
Callum found "singledom" hard (despite his wife still being alive
and well) - so he allowed himself to have a relationship
with beautiful, but manipulative
Brooke Freeman .
Justine returned to Ferndale to testify in court and they
decided to end the marriage.
His relationship with Brooke was also on shaky ground
and they broke up.
Callum was then preoccupied with his daughter's unsavoury
relationship with local bar owner Kieran Mitchell.
When Sophie and Kieran became engaged, Callum was shocked.
Post Christmas 2009, he offered his home and support to beleaguered
colleague, Rachel McKenna who faced serious drink drive charges
over the death of Morgan Braithwaite.
The charges against Rachel were dismissed and Callum embarked on
a relationship with her.
In February 2010 daughter Sophie married Kieran Mitchell, against
Callum's wishes.
But he supported her when the short-lived union showed serious
signs of breaking down.
Following Kieran's death, Callum supported Sophie by helping her
run Kieran's business, the IV bar.
At Christmas 2010, Rachel ended her relationship with Callum - she
loved Chris.
The two met at the run-down apartment block they had planned to
renovate, but a fire nearly took their lives.
Callum was badly burned in the fire, but survived.
In mid 2010 he was bumped from his position as hospital CEO by
scheming DHB representative Shane Tucker but he fought to get
reinstated.
Then he began to feel an attraction towards his son Hunter's
girlfriend, Jill Kingsbury.
Hunter saw them kiss at TK and Roimata's wedding.
Callum enjoyed a stable and happy relationship with Jill and was oblivious to his son Hunter's serious drug problems.
He was devestated when Jill was accidentally stabbed and later died of her injuries after attempting to stop Hunter from robbing a pharmacy to score money for drugs.
Callum was torn between his grief over Jill's death and his parental duty towards his son. Eventually he committed to helping Hunter kick his addiction but their uneasy father-son relationship has made this tricky.
