'Stuff-up' casts doubt over political envoys

The embarrassing remarks by New Zealand's High Commissioner to Canada, Graham Kelly, have prompted calls for such political appointments to be vetted by a select committee process.

The idea had some encouragement from Foreign Minister Phil Goff who last night said through a spokesman it was "an interesting idea worthy of further consideration".

Mr Goff also described Mr Kelly as having "stuffed up" when he made derogatory comments about Maori, Asians and Pacific Islanders when briefing a Canadian senate committee on New Zealand's fisheries management regime.

Greater scrutiny of appointments also had a measure of support last night from National leader Don Brash and United Future leader and foreign affairs select committee chairman Peter Dunne.

Mr Kelly's actions, for which he has offered all New Zealand an unreserved apology, have thrown the issue of political appointments into focus.

Former diplomat Charles Finny said there was not a culture of resentment among diplomats over all political appointments but the concern was to see that a professional job was done.

He believed the appointment process should be transparent.

"It would be a wonderful change to have anyone going off as ambassador or high commissioner anywhere in the world to go through a process similar to the American confirmation hearings," said Mr Finny, now chief executive of the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce.

He thought career diplomats should also be put through public scrutiny. Whoever was appointed had to be the best person for the job.

"That doesn't necessarily need to be a career MFAT [Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade] person."

It might be another bureaucrat, or a business person or a former politician.

"If that person is the best person for the job then great, go for it, but have some rigour over the appointment process."

Dr Brash said the idea of scrutinising appointees was worth thinking about - though he was wary of the veto power that American committees held.

He wanted to ensure all diplomatic appointments were based on merit and were not "naked political appointments".

He would not rule out former politicians "and the best example of that is someone like Jim Bolger".

"He had absolutely the right characteristics as our ambassador to the United States at that time and I guess the proof of that - if proof is needed - is that Labour reappointed him."

In regards to Mr Kelly, Dr Brash said the former MP was clearly a "naked political appointment of the type that is not constructive".

"I would want to review in Government whether he should stay on in that role or not."

He did not have enough information to make a judgment on that at present.

United Future leader Peter Dunne said last night there "might be merit" in a hearing without a veto for political appointments.

Mr Dunne said Mr Kelly deserved to be censured and put on notice but to have dismissed him would have been an "over-reaction".

Political appointments have long been resented among career diplomats who compete fiercely for plum posts in London and Washington.

Some, however, such as Mr Bolger in Washington and former Labour Minister Russell Marshall in London, earned wide respect for their work.

The posts are often given or negotiated to compensate for political disappointments. Mr Bolger's followed Jenny Shipley rolling him as Prime Minister in 1997; Paul East was sent to London when Mrs Shipley wanted room made in her Cabinet; Jim Gerard was assigned to Canada when he missed out on becoming Speaker; and Mr Kelly got the Canada post when his job as foreign affairs committee chairman was given to Mr Dunne as part of United Future's deal to support the minority Government on confidence issues.

DIPLOMATIC POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS SINCE 1980

Canberra

Laurie Francis 1976-1985 (ex-National official)
Harare Chris Laidlaw 1986-1989

Hong Kong

Frank Muller 1985-1987 (previously a career diplomat)

London

Bill Young 1982-1985 (ex-National minister)
Joe Walding 1985 (ex-Labour minister)
George Gair 1991-1994 (ex-National minister)
John Collinge 1994-1997 (ex-National president)
Paul East 1999-2002 (ex-National minister)
Russell Marshall 2002-2005 (ex-Labour minister)
Jonathan Hunt 2005 (ex-Labour Speaker)

New Delhi

Sir Edmund Hillary 1985-1989

New York

Bruce Smith 1980-1986 (NY Consulate)
Ann Hercus 1988-1990 (UN permanent rep), (ex-Labour minister)

Niue

Sandra Lee 2003 (ex-Alliance minister)

Ottawa

Ed Latter 1980-1985 (ex-National MP)
John Wybrow 1985-1988 (ex-Labour general secretary)
Maurice McTigue 1994-1997 (ex-National minister)
Jim Gerard 1997-2000 (ex-National MP)
Graham Kelly 2003 (ex-Labour MP)

Washington

Frank Gill 1980-1982 (ex-National minister)
Lance Adams-Schneider 1982-1984 (ex-National minister)
Bill Rowling 1985-1988 (ex-Labour Prime Minister)
Denis McLean 1991-1994
Jim Bolger 1998-2002 (ex-National Prime Minister)

* Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Political appointments are those made by the Government of the day rather than by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although Chris Laidlaw and Denis McLean had previously been diplomats, their postings above were made by politicians.