Ex National MP and Foreign Minister Tim Groser was appointed as New Zealand’s ambassador in Washington in 2016, but he will be replaced next year.
Stuff: NZ Ambassador to Trump’s Washington recalled
NZ’s ambassador to Washington DC is being pulled from the post, as the government begins a clean-out of less favoured diplomats.
Tim Groser will stay in the US until the end of the year, long enough to welcome Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and baby Neve to the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
Groser, a former trade minister criticised for his enjoyment of the good life at public expense, took up the Washington posting in 2016. Now, one source describes the Embassy, under his administration, as a “party palace”.
That is quite a diss of Groser. I wonder who the “one source” is. It could be fair criticism, but it sounds a bit like they are dumping on Groser to justify dumping him.
Sources indicated a new ambassador had already been selected from within the ranks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was merely awaiting official sign-off.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made clear his disdain for political appointments to key foreign postings, calling out a “mainly white brorocracy.”
“Winston Peters is not enamoured with political appointments and has singled out Groser’s appointment as the reason why,” said one source. “His performance has been underwhelming. Winston has been sensitive about lopping people’s heads off, but Groser had a target on his back.”
‘One source’ again.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Groser’s term was up. “New Zealand Ambassador to the United States Hon Tim Groser will be leaving his position at the conclusion of his three-year appointment,” he said.
“The process to appoint a successor is underway and an announcement will be made in due course, as with all New Zealand Heads of Mission appointments.”
Now it’s a ‘spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ – career public servants tend to not like having ex politicians appointed to plum positions they may see as part of career paths they feel they have earned.
Peters didn’t like Groser being appointed to Washington, and the implication from this report is that he has significant say on “a clean-out of less favoured diplomats”.
Stuff (May 2016): Has Winston Peters scuppered David Carter’s chances of London High Commissioner post?
Behind-the-scenes jostling between National and NZ First may have dashed Speaker David Carter’s chances of a plum diplomatic post to London.
But it is understood NZ First is demanding that if in a position to get National across the line for a fourth term, then it would want Carter hauled back from the London posting should he have already gained it.
Carter didn’t get the job,. Jerry Mateparae was appointed New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
ODT (August 2016): Diplomatic posting for Williamson
Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced Williamson will be the Consul General in Los Angeles after Williamson announced in July he was not standing again in 2017.
Williamson, who has been an MP since 1987, follows in a long line of politicians appointed to diplomatic postings.
In recent years that has included former Speaker Sir Lockwood Smith to London, former Trade Minister Tim Groser to Washington and former Labour MP Shane Jones as a newly created Pacific Economic Ambassador.
NZ First leader Winston Peters has criticised the suitability of some appointments as a “broracracy” saying he would demand some were recalled if he was part of the Government after 2017.
Peters in April 2017: National looking after their mates – Winston Peters
Jobs for mates is a hallmark of the National government.
The latest to parachute into a sweet public position is former National MP Simon Upton.
But the person appointed to this role should be politically independent. Disappointingly neither the Labour Party nor the Greens adhered to this in backing the appointment of Mr Upton.
So it isn’t surprising that Groser is being recalled as Peters cleans out political appointments.
Except, here’s quite a different take on it:
New Zealand’s Ambassador to the United States Tim Groser himself asked to leave the position at the end of his three-year term, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has confirmed.
“Any suggestion he has been recalled by the minister or ministry is baseless,” Peters said in a statement.
“The New Zealand Ambassador to the United States, Hon Tim Groser, is leaving his position later this year at the expiry of his three-year term.
“He was appointed by the previous government and his contract was only ever for three years.
“Mr Groser himself asked to finish at the conclusion of his three-year term and did not seek any extension.”
Trade Minister David Parker also rubbished suggestions the failure to gain an exemption from tariffs was behind the end of Groser’s term.
“It’s not because of under-performance on trade. I can confirm that’s not the case because I’d know about that because I’m Trade Minister.
So the Stuff story was stuffed up.
Interesting then that Peters seems not to be on a mission to cancel all political appointments given past opposition to them.