Dame to drive diplomacy in Australia
Dame Annette King has been officially appointed as New Zealand’s top diplomat to Australia.
The former Labour Party minister and MP will take up her posting as New Zealand High Commissioner to Canberra at the end of the year.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the announcement yesterday, ending weeks of speculation that King had been all but confirmed in the role.
‘‘Dame Annette King needs no introduction, given her longrunning career as a parliamentarian, where she has previously held a number senior Cabinet portfolios. She also was Parliament’s longest-serving female MP with 30 years’ service,’’ Peters said.
‘‘As High Commissioner, Dame Annette will be working on one of New Zealand’s most significant relationships. The trans-Tasman bond is exceptionally strong – however, the relationship is not something we take for granted, and the new High Commissioner will be tasked with keeping the connections strong’’.
Peters, when in Opposition, railed against the use of diplomatic postings as rewards for senior ministers or MPs, which he accused the last Government of doing. He famously dubbed the posting of former National MP Maurice Williamson to Los Angeles as the ‘‘broracracy’’ in action. But he said King was different, and her career had more than proven her credentials. She was also a respected figure across all sides of the House.
King is Peters’ only MP appointment so far.
‘‘The new appointment is notable because Dame Annette is a former MP on a diplomatic posting. In this sense, she is an exception,’’ he said. ‘‘Of the 25 Head of Mission appointments announced this year, all have been career diplomats.’’