Career highs and lows - as Hawke sees them

How he got the job

Requested it after a "difference of views" with his former boss, Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill, led him to resign. "The head of the PM's department called me over and asked what I'd like to do next - I said I'd like to be High Commissioner in New Zealand."

Why?

He had developed good relationships with several New Zealand bureaucrats and felt he could build on that. "There was also the ability for my wife to get on the plane and go to Australia to visit our daughter in second-year university."

Previous career

One of Australia's most distinguished public servants, heading up Defence and previously Transport. "I've always had the attitude that whatever job I'm in happens to be the best at that time."

High spot

The Melbourne meeting between Australian Treasurer Peter Costello and Finance Minister Michael Cullen last month putting a transtasman single market on the agenda. "It was clear to me both had ideas in their minds ... and a sense of impatience with the bureaucratic process."

Career Blue

Offered his resignation during the "Tampa children overboard affair" after a staffer failed to communicate in writing advice to then Defence Minister Peter Reith that the photos of children overboard were being misrepresented.

"I regret I didn't write personally to the minister - that was the issue I felt accountable for. But I don't feel in any sense accountable for what happened overall - that was the matter for the Chief of the Defence Force."

But adds Hawke: "I made a blue - everybody makes blues - the only people who don't make mistakes are those who are not trying. I don't lose any sleep over it."

Fun spot

Stirring debates. "Here's a lateral thought - you know this country's wedded to the All Blacks - John O'Neill has the ability to lift soccer in Australia and this side of the Tasman to a level people only dreamt about."

Protest factor

New Zealand officials privately complain that Hawke did not issue a diplomatic warning before saying Australia and New Zealand "now stand on a cusp" with the future relationship anything but certain.

"I didn't realise what a fuss and furore would be caused by that comment."

His Goal

A single market by June 2006 when his term is up. "It's what I am pushing and hoping for ... that would be a rather nice thing to leave behind, wouldn't it?"