Hon Phil Goff Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1 March 2005

Banks Appointed NZ Permanent Representative to the UN

New Zealand’s next Permanent Representative to the United Nations will be career diplomat Rosemary Banks, Foreign Minister Phil Goff announced today.

Ms Banks has an extensive background in international multilateral diplomacy and brings considerable experience and expertise to the post, Mr Goff said.

“As the pre-eminent organisation responsible for developing and upholding the rules and norms of today’s global community, the United Nations remains a corner-stone of New Zealand’s foreign policy.

“This is a crucial period in the United Nations’ history, with the Secretary-General leading efforts to make the world body more effective and responsive to contemporary challenges in security and development.

“Ms Banks has the foreign policy and management skills necessary to represent New Zealand at this critical time for the United Nations,” Mr Goff said.

Ms Banks is currently Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, responsible for multilateral activity, international legal work and consular affairs.

In a 30-year career with the Ministry, Ms Banks has served at the United Nations in Geneva and New York, in the Solomon Islands, and in Australia, as well as holding senior Ministry management posts in Wellington. She is a graduate of Canterbury University and the London School of Economics.

Ms Banks takes up her appointment in early June, replacing Mr Don MacKay.

ENDS

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