New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
13 February 2024
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Iain Hughes
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #25399 email]
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 29018
Tēnā koe Iain Hughes
I refer to your email of 15 January 2024 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
1. Was due process followed in the appointment of Trevor Mallard as ambassador to
Ireland.
2. Was a shortlist of candidates prepared.
3. Was the position advertised.
4. Is it standard practice to appoint ambassadors with no training in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
5. What minister/officer of state has the legal authority to appoint an ambassador.
Please find responses to your queries below:
1. Was due process followed in the appointment of Trevor Mallard as ambassador to Ireland.
Yes. The appointment of heads of mission (including Ambassadors and High Commissioners) are
made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the Foreign Affairs Act 1988. The
Ministers' appointment recommendations are approved by the New Zealand Governor General.
Appointments then require acceptance by the receiving state prior to the position being confirmed.
2. Was a shortlist of candidates prepared.
No.
3. Was the position advertised.
No.
4. Is it standard practice to appoint ambassadors with no training in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs makes appointment recommendations to the Governor General
based on their assessment of the candidates’ skills and experience to fulfil the position.
5. What minister/officer of state has the legal authority to appoint an ambassador.
I refer to Section 4 of the Foreign Affairs Act 1988 - Appointment of head of mission or head of
post (https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1988/0159/latest/whole.html#DLM138725).
(1) The Governor-General may from time to time appoint or reappoint any person
as a head of mission or head of post.
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
(2) The procedure put in place by the Secretary pursuant to clause 5 of Schedule 8
of the Public Service Act 2020 shall not apply to any appointment or reappointment
of a head of mission or head of post.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information
requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your personal information
removed) may be published on the Ministry website:
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-
us/official-information-act-responses/
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
For Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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