Apology and retraction.

• Position: Correction notice

In our July-August 2013 issue (volume 38, no 4), we published a review by Stephen Hoadley of the book Diplomatic Ladies by Joanna Woods. Much to my embarrassment and regret as editor, the third to last paragraph of that review contained comments about John Collinge and his wife that were both inaccurate and without foundation. We retract the statements made in that paragraph without reservation and offer our sincere apologies to Mr and Mrs Collinge for any distress that it has caused.

Mr Hoadley accepts that his reporting of Chapter 19 of the book was grossly in error and he has also unreservedly and sincerely apologised to Mr Collinge and his wife.

The NZIIA has been informed that a settlement agreement has been executed whereby the author Mrs Woods has unreservedly and sincerely apologised to Mr Collinge for the contents of Chapter 19 of the book headed 'Conduct Unbecoming'. The author and publisher (who were represented by Queen's Counsel) have agreed to withdraw and recall all unsold copies of the book from sale. They have further agreed to remove the chapter in its entirety from all future editions.

The NZIIA, through its president, has likewise unreservedly and sincerely apologised to Mr and Mrs Collinge for the review in this journal and has agreed to publish a statement from Mr Collinge to correct the record as follows:

'Both Chapter 19 of the book and your review of the chapter are false and defamatory.

'The brief facts are that while in London my wife and I were seriously and persistently stalked by a woman (with whom I never lived, with whom any relationship had long ended and who wrongly claimed to have been 'Mrs High Commissioner') with the intent of substituting herself in a relationship with me. The stalking was very serious indeed --which to me included multiple gifts and invitations, a bombardment of communications, following and surveillance, thefts and threats; and to my wife (then my fiance) included assaults, intimidation, following and surveillance, disruption at all hours of the night, attempts at serious injury and spreading false and malicious material. It was a campaign of verbal, written and physical abuse which was persistent for a period of two years. It was at all times known to the Diplomatic Protection Squad who increasingly became very concerned at her activities and obsessive state of mind, she having been apprehended on some five occasions. As a result, the Police, on their own initiative, brought a...