Born in North Shields, Northumberland, England, on 11 December 1947, McGee was born into poverty in the United Kingdom in North Shields, Northumberland, some 15 km to north of the city of Newcastle, where he was brought up by his mother. He left school at age 16 and worked in dead-end jobs and played football. A talented footballer, McGee trialed for a number of professional clubs, including Brighton, but he was deemed to be not good enough to be offered a professional contract. Instead, it was his degree in business law from Coventry University that would prove a winner and which helped him start his career.

In search of a new life, McGee decided to leave the UK in 1972. McGee arrived in New Zealand on the SS Brittanis a Ten Pound Pom in 1972,^[2] and became a naturalised New Zealand citizen in 1976.^[5]

McGee joined the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives in 1974, where he remained for 34 years, making him a very long-serving staff member within the New Zealand Parliament. He commenced employment in Parliament's Office of the Clerk in 1974 and filled several roles, including acting as Clerk of Select Committees. He was Clerk of the House for 22 years, from 1985 to 2007. He joined the New Zealand parliament when he was 27 and he left when he was 61.

He was appointed Clerk of the House of Representatives in 1985 and was a member of the committee which devised the legislation that became law as the Constitution Act 1986. His contribution to the understanding and development of the New Zealand parliamentary system was something that was generally recognized to be exceptional.

He was the author of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, which is the authoritative guide to parliamentary procedure in New Zealand. He also wrote extensively in the area of parliamentary and constitutional law.^[1][6] He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1977, appointed Queen's Counsel in 2000^[7] and received the degree Doctor of Laws from the Victoria University of Wellington in 2009.^[8] Victoria University of Wellington awarded him the degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his seminal text and other publications. Some expressed doubt whether McGee’s text was truly ‘academic’ and deserving of such high recognition, but such naysayers were in the minority. Few such texts are destined for posterity in the service of the national interest.

McGee was genuinely deserving of this recognition, of which he was immensely proud.”

His work, both in Parliament and as Ombudsman, was widely recognized to having played a huge contribution to the integrity of democracy in New Zealand. Former New Zealand parliamentary staff spoke highly of Dave McGee and he was widely respected. One, Mr. Sean Rota, former Senior Private Secretary to the Speaker said "I owe my entire career to Dave McGee. He believed in me and gave me a chance when others might have hesitated. I will forever be grateful for the guidance and support that Dave gave me!".

Dave McGee also made a big contribution to the mana of the Ombudsman where he served as New Zealand's third ombudsman from November 2007 - May 2013, to cap off a 40 year career in the New Zealand public service.

McGee played for Miramar Rangers in New Zealand and he was a tricky winger who enjoyed nutmegging the ball through opponents feet. McGee was a long-suffering, lifelong supporter of the Sunderland A.F.C. football club, who last won a major trophy, the FA Cup in 1973, the year after he moved to New Zealand. McGee was also an avid boxing fan and was also a big tennis fan. His three main sporting passions were football, boxing and tennis.

Even though he left England in 1972, for the rest of his life McGee always supported the England national football team and Sunderland A.F.C.. He was a long-suffering fan of both, as trophies were very few and far between.

David met Daniele Khoodo on a New Zealand Parliamentary Trip to Mauritius in 1976 and they married the following year in 1977.

McGee retired as ombudsman in May 2013 at the age of 65 and moved into a life of quiet retirement in New Zealand. McGee died in Wellington on 27 August 2023, at the age of 75 after a short illness.^[9][10] McGee reshaped parliament in New Zealand with his outstanding contributions to New Zealand parliamentary practices.^[11]

In 1977, McGee was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.^[1] In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, McGee was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Parliament.^[12]