Guy Powles
Encyclopedia
Sir Guy Richardson Powles, ONZ
, KBE
, CMG
(b. Otaki 1905, died 24 October 1994). New Zealand diplomat, last Governor of Western Samoa and architect of Samoan independence, and first Ombudsman.
, in 1905. Powles was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel C. Guy Powles, a decorated military soldier who served with distinction during World War I as Brigade Major New Zealand Mouted Rifle Brigade 1914–16 and AA & QMG Anzac Mounted Division 1916–18. In 1922 he wrote a volume of the New Zealand official history, 'The New Zealanders in Sinai and Palestine' Volume III 'Official History New Zealand's Effort in the Great War', and in 1928 edited 'The history of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles 1914-1919' by Officers of the Regiment, and later became Chief of General Staff of the New Zealand Army.
Powles earned his LLB from Victoria University of Wellington
and practised as a barrister in Wellington from 1929-1940. During the War, Powles went on active military service, and achieved the rank of colonel, commanding the New Zealand artillery regiment in the South Pacific at Guadalcanal
and New Caledonia.
Powles was a founding member of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in 1934, along with Alister McIntosh
, John Cawte Beaglehole
, and William Sutch.
, George Laking
, and later Frank Corner
and Merwyn Norrish
. His first assignment was in Washington
, where he served as Counsellor working on the Far Eastern Commission
, established to work through the issues relating to Japan's surrender during World War II.
In 1949, Powles became New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa: in this role he was set to become the last New Zealand governor of that territory. Over the next ten years, Powles worked through the issues relating to Samoa's independence from New Zealand.
In 1960, Powles became New Zealand High Commissioner to India, which he served until 1962.
Powles was involved in a large number of international conferences, including the UN United Nations Trusteeship Council
, the South Pacific Commission, the Conference on Japanese Peace Treaty, the International Whaling Conference, the Economic Commission Conference, and the Colombo Plan Conference.
in 1962. He served in this role until 1977, by which time he had been joined by another Ombudsman, and acted as Chief Ombudsman. Powles also acted as New Zealand's first Race Relations Conciliator. On the international stage, Powles did a substantial amount of work in promoting the office of the ombudsman.
, producer, engineer and drummer for Australian band The Church
.
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(b. Otaki 1905, died 24 October 1994). New Zealand diplomat, last Governor of Western Samoa and architect of Samoan independence, and first Ombudsman.
Early life
Powles was born in Otaki, north of WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, in 1905. Powles was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel C. Guy Powles, a decorated military soldier who served with distinction during World War I as Brigade Major New Zealand Mouted Rifle Brigade 1914–16 and AA & QMG Anzac Mounted Division 1916–18. In 1922 he wrote a volume of the New Zealand official history, 'The New Zealanders in Sinai and Palestine' Volume III 'Official History New Zealand's Effort in the Great War', and in 1928 edited 'The history of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles 1914-1919' by Officers of the Regiment, and later became Chief of General Staff of the New Zealand Army.
Powles earned his LLB from Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
and practised as a barrister in Wellington from 1929-1940. During the War, Powles went on active military service, and achieved the rank of colonel, commanding the New Zealand artillery regiment in the South Pacific at Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
and New Caledonia.
Powles was a founding member of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in 1934, along with Alister McIntosh
Alister 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...
, John Cawte Beaglehole
John Cawte Beaglehole
John Cawte Beaglehole, OM, CMG was a New Zealand historian whose greatest scholastic achievement was the editing of James Cook’s three journals of exploration, together with the writing of an acclaimed biography of Cook, published posthumously...
, and William Sutch.
Diplomatic career
Powles joined the fledgling Department of External Affairs in 1945, working alongside such notable figures as 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...
, George Laking
George Laking
Sir George Robert Laking, KCMG, was a New Zealand diplomat who served as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador to the United States, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Chief Ombudsman.-Early life:...
, and later 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:...
and Merwyn Norrish
Merwyn Norrish
Merwyn Norrish , 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.-Early life:Norrish was educated at Ashburton High School and...
. His first assignment was in Washington
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....
, where he served as Counsellor working on the Far Eastern Commission
Far Eastern Commission
It was agreed at the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers, and made public in communique issued at the end of the conference on December 27, 1945 that the Far Eastern Advisory Commission would become the Far Eastern Commission , it would be based in Washington, and would oversee the Allied...
, established to work through the issues relating to Japan's surrender during World War II.
In 1949, Powles became New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa: in this role he was set to become the last New Zealand governor of that territory. Over the next ten years, Powles worked through the issues relating to Samoa's independence from New Zealand.
In 1960, Powles became New Zealand High Commissioner to India, which he served until 1962.
Powles was involved in a large number of international conferences, including the UN United Nations Trusteeship Council
United Nations Trusteeship Council
The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, was established to help ensure that trust territories were administered in the best interests of their inhabitants and of international peace and security...
, the South Pacific Commission, the Conference on Japanese Peace Treaty, the International Whaling Conference, the Economic Commission Conference, and the Colombo Plan Conference.
Ombudsman
Powles was knighted in 1961, and was made New Zealand's first OmbudsmanOmbudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
in 1962. He served in this role until 1977, by which time he had been joined by another Ombudsman, and acted as Chief Ombudsman. Powles also acted as New Zealand's first Race Relations Conciliator. On the international stage, Powles did a substantial amount of work in promoting the office of the ombudsman.
Other information
Powles' son is diplomat Michael Powles, a former New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, and former Ambassador to Indonesia, China, and the United Nations. His grandson is Timothy PowlesTim Powles
Tim Powles is a music producer and artist originally from New Zealand, and though now an Australian resident, he is of English/Irish descent. Also known as timEbandit Powles, his main instrument and first love was the drum kit and tuned percussion. In the 70's he won a scholarship to join the New...
, producer, engineer and drummer for Australian band The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
.
Awards
- CMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
- KBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- Order of New ZealandOrder of New ZealandThe Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
- Honorary LL.D from Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
- Received the Order of Tiafau, the highest award by the Samoan Government