New Zealand’s Foreign Service: A history

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a remarkable organisation that has represented New Zealand for more than 75 years. Join the authors of a new book 'New Zealand’s Foreign Service: A History' — Ian McGibbon, Steven Loveridge and Anita Perkins — as they discuss MFAT's distinctive approach to diplomacy with international relations professor Dr Malcolm McKinnon.

Behind the scenes at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) is a remarkable organisation that has represented New Zealand for more than 75 years.

A new book, New Zealand’s Foreign Service: A History (Massey University Press, 2022) examines how MFAT (and its predecessors) responded to ever-evolving political and military allegiances, trade globalisation, economic threats, natural disasters and military conflict on behalf of a small nation that seeks to engage on the global stage while maintaining the principles that underpin its political institutions.

Commissioning editor Ian McGibbon and two of the authors, Steven Loveridge and Anita Perkins, will discuss what is distinctive about MFAT's approach to diplomacy in New Zealand and globally, and reflect on the process of researching and writing the book.

About the speakers
Dr Steven Loveridge is a researcher at the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies and is the author of several books on New Zealand history.

Dr Ian McGibbon ONZM is a public historian who specialises in diplomatic and military history.

Dr Anita Perkins works as a research consultant and policy analyst and has represented New Zealand diplomatically.

Dr Malcolm McKinnon is an adjunct associate professor at Victoria University of Wellington, researching and teaching the history of international relations.