United States Ambassador to New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The United States
has maintained a consular
presence in New Zealand
since 1838. The first consul was James Reddy Clendon
. Born in England, Clendon was a ship owner and merchant who bought land and settled in the Bay of Islands
, New Zealand. In 1838 he was appointed by the federal government of the United States
as consul for New Zealand. He was based at his property at Okiato
, which in 1840 became the capital and was renamed Russell (not to be confused with present-day Russell
). He held this position until 1841.
The Ambassador to New Zealand is also accredited to Samoa
though resident in Wellington
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
has maintained a consular
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
presence in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
since 1838. The first consul was James Reddy Clendon
James Reddy Clendon
James Reddy Clendon was an early European settler in New Zealand, the first United States Consul to New Zealand, and a witness to the Treaty of Waitangi.-Early life:...
. Born in England, Clendon was a ship owner and merchant who bought land and settled in the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
, New Zealand. In 1838 he was appointed by the federal government of the United States
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
as consul for New Zealand. He was based at his property at Okiato
Okiato
Okiato or Old Russell is a small holiday spot in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, seven km south of present-day Russell. It was New Zealand's first national capital, for a short time from 1840 to 1841, before the seat of government was moved to Auckland...
, which in 1840 became the capital and was renamed Russell (not to be confused with present-day Russell
Russell, New Zealand
Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was the first permanent European settlement and sea port in New Zealand. It is situated in the Bay of Islands, in the far north of the North Island. As at the 2006 census it had a resident population of 816, an increase of 12 from 2001...
). He held this position until 1841.
The Ambassador to New Zealand is also accredited to Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
though resident in Wellington
Wellington
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...
.
List of United States ambassadors to New Zealand
| Name and Title | Presentation of Credentials |
Termination of Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick J. Hurley Patrick J. Hurley Patrick Jay Hurley was an American soldier, statesman, and diplomat.... , Envoy |
April 24, 1942 | August 12, 1942 |
| William C. Burdett, Envoy | July 8, 1943 | January 14, 1944 |
| Kenneth S. Patton, Envoy | August 15, 1944 | Oct 22, 1945 |
| Avra M. Warren Avra M. Warren Avra M. Warren served as the United States Ambassador to 4 countries and minister to 3 .... , Envoy |
February 27, 1946 | Jul 15, 1947 |
| Robert M. Scotten, Envoy | April 7, 1948 | December 22, 1948 |
| Robert M. Scotten, Ambassador | December 22, 1948 | February 1, 1955 |
| Robert C. Hendrickson Robert C. Hendrickson Robert Clymer Hendrickson was a United States Senator from New Jersey.-Biography:Born in Woodbury, New Jersey, he attended public schools and during the First World War enlisted in the United States Army in 1918 and served overseas... , Ambassador |
February 16, 1955 | November 20, 1956 |
| Francis H. Russell, Ambassador | June 5, 1957 | November 28, 1960 |
| Anthony B. Akers, Ambassador | July 18, 1961 | August 25, 1963 |
| Herbert B. Powell Herbert B. Powell Herbert Butler Powell was a U.S. Army General, and Commanding General of the U.S. Continental Army Command, and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand.-Early live & career:... , Ambassador |
October 23, 1963 | February 28, 1967 |
| John F. Henning John F. Henning John Francis "Jack" Henning was a U.S. labor leader, civil servant, and a former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Under Secretary of Labor... , Ambassador |
April 5, 1967 | September 9, 1969 |
| Kenneth Franzheim II Kenneth Franzheim II Kenneth Franzheim II was a Houston oilman, philanthropist, and envoy. He served under U.S. President Richard Nixon as the United States Ambassador to New Zealand, Western Samoa, Tonga and Fiji from 1969 to 1972.... , Ambassador |
October 7, 1969 | November 1, 1972 |
| Chalmers B. Wood, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim | November 1972 | April 1974 |
| Armistead I. Selden, Jr. Armistead I. Selden, Jr. Armistead Inge Selden, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.-Early life and military service:Born in Greensboro, Alabama, Selden attended the public schools. He graduated from Greensboro High School in 1938 and from the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, in 1942... , Ambassador |
April 22, 1974 | April 23, 1979 |
| Anne Clark Martindell Anne Clark Martindell Anne Clark Martindell was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, as well as a diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to New Zealand from 1979 to 1981.-Early life and family:... , Ambassador |
August 28, 1979 | May 7, 1981 |
| H. Monroe Browne, Ambassador | August 11, 1981 | November 1, 1985 |
| Paul Matthews Cleveland, Ambassador | January 10, 1986 | April 28, 1989 |
| Della M. Newman, Ambassador | October 25, 1989 | December 21, 1992 |
| David Walker, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim | December 1992 | August 1993 |
| Sylvia Stanfield, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim | August 1993 | May 1994 |
| Josiah Horton Beeman, Ambassador | May 10, 1994 | December 1999 |
| Carol Moseley Braun Carol Moseley Braun Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun is an American feminist politician and lawyer who represented Illinois in the United States Senate from 1993 to 1999. She was the first and to date only African-American woman elected to the United States Senate, the first woman to defeat an incumbent senator in an... , Ambassador |
December 15, 1999 | March 1, 2001 |
| Philip Wall, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim | March 2001 | October 2001 |
| Charles J. Swindells, Ambassador | October 12, 2001 | August 21, 2005 |
| William McCormick William McCormick William P. McCormick is an American businessman and diplomat. He served as the United States ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa from October 21, 2005 until January 10, 2009... , Ambassador |
November 9, 2005 | December 20, 2008 |
| David Keegan, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim | December 20, 2008 | August 21, 2009 |
| David Huebner David Huebner David Huebner is the United States Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. He previously was an American lawyer based in Shanghai, where he specialized in international arbitration and mediation for the Los Angeles-based law firm, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton... , Ambassador |
November 20, 2009 | Incumbent |
See also
- New Zealand - United States relations
- Samoa - United States relations
- Foreign relations of New ZealandForeign relations of New ZealandThe foreign relations of New Zealand are oriented chiefly toward developed democratic nations and emerging Pacific economies. The country’s major political parties have generally agreed on the broad outlines of foreign policy, and the current coalition government has been active in promoting free...
- Foreign relations of SamoaForeign relations of SamoaThe Samoan Government is generally conservative and pro-Western, with a strong interest in regional political and economic issues. Samoa participated in a first round of negotiations with its Pacific Island neighbors for a regional trade agreement in August 2000...
- Ambassadors of the United States