Diplomatic Appointments
March 11th, 2009 at 2:19 pm by David FarrarTrans-Tasman has just put out a special newsletter with some exclusive news:
The Trans-Tasman Political Letter reports Jim McLay will be NZ’s permanent representative to the UN in New York. McLay will take up the post when the present ambassador Rosemary Banks finishes her term in May.
This is a very interesting move. Normally political appointments are made as Ambassadors to countries.I would not call them a cruisy job because they do have work to do, but it is a pleasant job shall we say.
The permanent rep to the UN is a very full on busy role. None of the perks of being an Ambassador – you’re stuck in UN meetings all day.
This implies that the Government wants a rep who can display political leadership within the UN – suggesting that maybe the Government intends to get involved with efforts to reform the UN.
Hopefully this may mean the Government will withdraw NZ’s bid to be elected to the discredited Human Rights Council.
Foreign Minister McCully has indicated he wants the current professional diplomats in Washington (Roy Ferguson) and in London (Derek Leask) to serve out their terms.
So no political appointments there for now.
Interviews to find a successor for retiring MFAT CEO Simon Murdoch will begin in Wellington next week.
The name most people put forward is the DPMC CEO Maarten Weavers.
Meanwhile, Trans-Tasman says former PM Helen Clark is on the three-person short-list for the post of director of the UNDP. The Govt has been seeking international support for her appointment and is understood to have gained the support of Korea, which could be influential on the thinking of the current UN Secretary-General. Clark had a one-on-one meeting with the Korean president Lee Myung-Bak in Auckland.
The Secretary-General is from Korea, so that is significant.
March 11th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
DPF said:
“……Hopefully this may mean the Government will withdraw NZ’s bid to be elected to the discredited Human Rights Council……”
To get a real eye opener on this, WATCH THESE:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=31F629C9FF2C34C2
(Have a barf bucket handy)
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Reading that Klark is now on a short list of just three people is deeply worrying, I can only keep hoping that the poisonous one does not get the gig.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Talking about rewarding incompetence! The NZ government helping Clark to get appointed to a U.N. sinecure.
What a waste of money and time.
So, you can mismanage the country as she did, play havoc with its organisations and social fabric as she did, squander years of economic bonanza as she did, execute a shameless socialist political agenda as she did, and after all these, expect to be rewarded with a plump job?
I’m ashamed of the National Party’s and John Key’s stance on this matter.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I totally agree with the posters above.
However all National Key are trying to do is bundle her into touch, and stop Labour ever re-forming under her banner.
The Dark Side have special powers. Ask the Police Hierarchy.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
The newsletter does not say which Korea Clark has the support of
Why would anyone assume it is the South?
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Former politicians representing NZ @ UN has precedent. Ann Hercus in late 1980s. Certainly lifted NZ profile and seen by most reasonable people to be a good appointment.
[DPF: Oh yes she was too. Also did some high profile visits to the Chathams if I recall
]
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
DPF, what are your views, if any, on why back in early February we knew Clark was up for the UN job but not any of the other potential candidates, and now that she’s made the final three, we don’t (as far as I’m aware) know who the other two on the shortlist are.
The UN is not exactly famous for keeping this level of secrecy.
Is Helen Clark the only candidate for this job?
I’d have thought the MSM would have been digging harder at who the other two candidates are.
[DPF: I think they are both professional aid/development types rather than former senior politicians, so are lower profile. However you have a point we should at least know their names]
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
dont panic folks this is as others have opined a cunning plan to get Clark out of the way so she cant make a come back when Flick gets the knive and Cun…………..liffe gets the knive and the Party are floundering around not knowing what to do next.
Better to keep the Socialists in a permanent state of leaderlessness than have the dreaded one arise from the grave.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Sorta depends on your definition of reasonable really, Trevor. Glad you could do us a favour and make up our minds for us.
XChequer
Vote:http://thenzhomeoffice.blogspot.com/
March 11th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
This is very much off-topic, but it does strike me as unusual that the blog-commenting Trevor Mallard is much more rational and constructive than the real-life Trevor Mallard. This is the opposite of what normally happens in the blogosphere.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Trev is using his real name, for one.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Parliament sat today. Why wasn’t Mr Mallard in da House at 3:49pm?
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Laptops in the House -if you can’t ride two horses then get out of circus. Ann’s Chatham issue was one of low profile ie crawling through the long grass at airport trying to surprise Police.
[DPF: There were many surprises on that trip!]
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Laptops in the House -if you can’t ride two horses then get out of circus.
Hah!
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
“Laptops in the House ” so after a serious cheek parting in the election you’re still not listening ?
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Actually i take that back, doesn’t quite fit.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
“Laptops in the House” don’t cry Trevor when the huge number of pissed off people take revenge on you privileged overpaid parasitic political lemons! You’ll need a fast horse to exit.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Oh f’crissakes chill out Dad… I don’t recall you screaming in protest when Nat’s posted here. Surely accountability in any form’s a good thing?
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Accountability is a delusion for politicians. Oops my mistake Paul, as I forgot that diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity. Try stepping an opposing lawyer out in a courtroom and see what happens.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Dad, this thread’s not about you… can we keep it that way?
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I wish Helen Clark well with her quest for a UN job. No doubt Peter will enjoy the various travel destinations.
Vote:March 11th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, to name a few.
Vote:March 12th, 2009 at 2:05 am
looks like daddy got
Vote:out of the wrong side of his
single bed today
March 12th, 2009 at 2:58 am
I to look forward to Helen Clark getting blackballed by the UN. She deserves nothing but disappointment for the rest of her life.
Another point, who wants that shithead representing New Zealand away?
Vote:March 12th, 2009 at 9:03 am
I hate the fact that the Govt is supporting clark in this.
To me, it’s vindicating her actions over the last few years.
This, along with the Cullen SOE gig, is a big fucking sell out!
Vote:March 12th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Political appointments to diplomatic posts are often dubious ones. But in this case I think Jim McLay is a good choice. He really is well-qualified for the role. He was, I think, very effective on the whaling commission and has other valuable experience outside politics. And after all, political experience IS relevant in a role such as this.
Vote: