Putting forward New Zealand's case

Up to 25,000 people will descend on Copenhagen over the next two weeks to join or watch the climate negotiations. Environment reporter Eloise Gibson looks at who will be representing NZ.

THE PROFESSIONAL
Climate Change Ambassador Adrian Macey has responsibility for all New Zealand's international climate change negotiations and has headed the negotiating team at world climate talks leading up to Copenhagen. He is a career diplomat who has been New Zealand's Ambassador to France and the OECD and director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's negotiations division. He was appointed to the newly-created post of Climate Change Ambassador in 2006 to handle the international negotiations and improve New Zealand's co-operation with key countries.

THE FIGUREHEAD
Prime Minister John Key will attend a heads of state meeting during the final days of the conference. He initially planned not to attend because there was no chance of a binding treaty, but last week announced he would go, saying staying away might give the wrong impression. Danish PM Lars Rasmussen and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon want as many leaders as possible at the meeting to give a strong show of political will.

THE LEADER
Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith will lead the New Zealand delegation. His tasks include delivering New Zealand's national statement to the "high level" segment of the meeting (for ministers) during the second week of the conference. In general, ministers are expected to work on making political breakthroughs to seal a deal, while officials will work on the fine print of the treaty.

THE NEGOTIATOR
Veteran trade negotiator and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser will negotiate on New Zealand's behalf. He also may advance New Zealand's proposal for a global research alliance to cut agricultural greenhouse gases outside of the formal conference meetings.

THE OFFICIALS
13 other officials from four Government departments will join the official delegation. They are:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
Stephanie Lee
Charlotte Frater
Laura Hogg
Kristina Kirk
Paul Eastwood (NZAID)

Ministry for the Environment:
Roger Lincoln
Helen Plume
Catherine Leining
Justine Sefton

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:
Hayden Montgomery
Bryan Smith
James Tee

Treasury:
Ben Gleisner