Commonwealth Games to be Currie's last as chef de mission

New Zealand Commonwealth Games team chef de mission Dave Currie. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Dave Currie has confirmed this Commonwealth Games will be his last as chef de mission of the New Zealand team.

Currie said yesterday he is signed on to manage the New Zealand Olympic team to London, but post-2012 he will look at making a change.

"I've had an extraordinary run. As much as I love it, it will be time for something else. It's been on my mind for a while. But, when I get there, I might still pull a David Lange [when he turned to successor Sir Geoffrey Palmer during his final media conference as Prime Minister in 1989] and say I want to keep the job.

"People ask me how I got here ... and I have no idea. I can join the dots backwards. However, I'm not prepared to go and have cups of coffee forever yet. I'm committed to London but not ready to retire to Raglan [his home town]."

Currie says the Delhi experience, where he has been immersed in ongoing security, hygiene and safety concerns over the last couple of years, have tested his passion for the job.

"People tell me I do the job moderately well but it's never easy. It's times like this when you are tested that 'enjoy' is the wrong word, but it's probably why you do it - because it is hard. One of Tenzing Norgay's quotes is "be great and make others great" so the driver for me is to be the best we can be."

Currie regularly peppers his speech with quotes or references to some of history's celebrated figures. He is also a big fan of Sir Ed, having met the conqueror of Mt Everest three times before Hillary's death in January 2008. The New Zealand team is honouring Hillary and Norgay at the Games with 29028 printed on all its uniforms - that's the height in feet of Everest when the pair climbed to the top in 1953.

"I always had an extraordinary admiration for Sir Ed," Currie said. "I've also had a healthy disregard for authority growing up in Otahuhu and his attitude was to look for forgiveness rather than asking permission by just going and doing things.

"The chance to honour Sir Ed as part of this team meant my [Commonwealth chef de mission] career couldn't wind up a better way. It actually completes a nice cycle."