New Zealand's foreign service: Chris Seed launches a history of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its predecessors.

• Author: Seed, Chris
• Position: BOOK LAUNCH

Tihei Mauri ora Tena koutou katoa Tena koutou Rangatira, Tena Koutou nga whanau o Ngati Aorere Nau mai, haere mai It is a privilege to be with you here tonight. And it is so encouraging to see so many of the ministry's alumni here, so many people who have contributed over such a long time to our foreign service. It might be the only occasion when my colleagues from the current senior leadership team--Ben King, Mark Sinclair, Vangelis Vitalis, Bernadette Cavanagh and Rob Taylor--get to be the youth representatives!

This is an occasion to acknowledge, to celebrate--and to provide some reassurance, particularly to the alumni, that they know that the work that they have done continues to be carried on by a generation that is as equally committed to the task as them.

Firstly, the acknowledgements--to the teams at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Massey University Press, who were so fundamental in bringing this together; to the Governance Committee so expertly and generously chaired by former secretary Simon Murdoch; to the Editorial Group, which in combination with so many colleagues, current and former, provided perspectives, recollections, facts, details, nuggets, context, narrative--and unvarnished truths; to my former secretary colleagues who I know invested heavily in ensuring this project came together, offering their reflections and great knowledge--so good to see Richard Nottage, Simon, Neil Walter and Brook Barrington here tonight; to Adrienne Payton, Charlotte McGillen and Fran McGowan, who in their different roles were instrumental in ensuring this project moved along to a timeline; to John McArthur, who was instrumental in encouraging the ministry to get organised and, even though he could not be here tonight, has, in his typically generous way, proffered his thanks to the 'wonderful team involved--an effort characteristic of the Ministry and its modus operandi'; but most importantly of all to Ian and his team of author historians (Steven, Hamish, Diana, Anita, and Joanna) all but Diana of whom are with us tonight.

You, Ian, and your team have done the ministry a great service. For this is a treasure trove of issues and interests often long, always thoughtfully pursued; of 'events' managed and responded to; of benefits secured or advantage defended in New Zealand's dealings with the world over almost 80 years.

It is a story, too, about arm wrestles with Treasury (who could imagine ...), arguments with the Public Service...