Merwyn Norrish
Encyclopedia
Merwyn Norrish (born Ashburton
, 28 October 1926), is a distinguished New Zealand diplomat who served as New Zealand’s Ambassador to the European Community, Acting High Commissioner to London
, Ambassador to the United States
, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs
.
with a Master of Arts in history.
’s new department. Norrish spent his early diplomatic career in Wellington and Paris, with a posting to Paris from 1955 to 1958.
In 1961, Norrish was posted to New York
as New Zealand’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations
.
Norrish was appointed New Zealand’s Ambassador to the European Community, in Brussels
, in 1967. In 1972, he became Acting High Commissioner to London, before returning to Wellington as Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1973. During his time as Deputy Secretary, he was considered to be more closely aligned to the United States' foreign policy position than his Secretary, Frank Corner
.
In 1978, Norrish became New Zealand’s Ambassador to the United States in Washington, D.C.
, and Mexico
.
In 1980, Norrish was appointed New Zealand Secretary of Foreign Affairs, a post he held until his retirement in 1989. During that period, Norrish was the key foreign policy official during New Zealand’s withdrawal from ANZUS and the nuclear ship controversy. Norrish is understood to have warned Prime Minister David Lange
not to antagonise British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
by participating in the Oxford Union
debate, and was responsible for implementing New Zealand's nuclear-free policy against his personal instincts.
Norrish was Secretary of Foreign Affairs when French secret agents bombed the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior
in 1985.
Norrish was well known in the Foreign Ministry for his love of a good stiff drink.
In retirement, Norrish served as Chairman of New Zealand On Air, and the France-New Zealand Friendship Fund.
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
, 28 October 1926), is a distinguished New Zealand diplomat who served as New Zealand’s Ambassador to the European Community, Acting High Commissioner to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the New Zealand Government ministry responsible for promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and international relations....
.
Early life
Norrish was educated at Ashburton High School and Christchurch Boys High School, before graduating from the University of CanterburyUniversity of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
with a Master of Arts in history.
Professional career
Norrish joined the Department of External Affairs as a recruit in 1949, as one of the fledgling intake in Alister McIntoshAlister McIntosh
Sir Alister Donald Miles McIntosh, KCMG , was a New Zealand diplomat. McIntosh was New Zealand's first secretary of foreign affairs, and is widely considered to be the father of New Zealand's independent foreign policy and architect of the ministry of Foreign Affairs in New Zealand.-Early...
’s new department. Norrish spent his early diplomatic career in Wellington and Paris, with a posting to Paris from 1955 to 1958.
In 1961, Norrish was posted to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as New Zealand’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Norrish was appointed New Zealand’s Ambassador to the European Community, in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, in 1967. In 1972, he became Acting High Commissioner to London, before returning to Wellington as Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1973. During his time as Deputy Secretary, he was considered to be more closely aligned to the United States' foreign policy position than his Secretary, Frank Corner
Frank Corner
Frank Corner, CMG, FRSA, is a New Zealand diplomat. Corner served as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United Nations and the United States, before becoming New Zealand's third Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs.-Early life:...
.
In 1978, Norrish became New Zealand’s Ambassador to the United States in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
In 1980, Norrish was appointed New Zealand Secretary of Foreign Affairs, a post he held until his retirement in 1989. During that period, Norrish was the key foreign policy official during New Zealand’s withdrawal from ANZUS and the nuclear ship controversy. Norrish is understood to have warned Prime Minister David Lange
David Lange
David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a...
not to antagonise British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
by participating in the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
debate, and was responsible for implementing New Zealand's nuclear-free policy against his personal instincts.
Norrish was Secretary of Foreign Affairs when French secret agents bombed the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior
Rainbow Warrior (1978)
The Rainbow Warrior was a former UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food trawler later purchased by the environmental organisation Greenpeace...
in 1985.
Norrish was well known in the Foreign Ministry for his love of a good stiff drink.
In retirement, Norrish served as Chairman of New Zealand On Air, and the France-New Zealand Friendship Fund.