The posting is one of Australia's oldest, with the first high commissioner appointed in 1943, although it dates much earlier to 1934 when an Australian Government Trade Commissioner was appointed to Wellington.[1] There is also a Consulate-General and Trade Commission in Auckland maintained by Austrade since 1955.
The first official Australian representation in New Zealand dates back to March 1934, when the Commonwealth government of Joseph Lyons as part of its policy of expanding trade connections in the Asia-Pacific region, appointed prominent businessman Robert Henry Nesbitt, as the first Trade Commissioner of Australia in New Zealand.[2][3][4] Nesbitt's appointment followed from the signing of a trade agreement between the two countries on 7 April 1933, which was ratified by the parliament on 10 November 1933.[5][6][7][8][9] To be stationed in the city of Wellington, the government also appointed a senior public servant from the Department of the Interior as assistant trade commissioner, James Payne.[10][11] Nesbitt commenced his position on 29 August 1934, arriving in Wellington aboard the Huddart Parker liner, MS Wanganella, and setting up offices in the DIC Building in Lambton Quay.[12][13][14] Nesbitt served until 15 April 1937, when he was appointed as Chairman of the Milk Board of New South Wales.[15][16][17]
With Nesbitt's departure, in July 1937 the Australian Government appointed the Trade Commissioner in Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Charles Edward Critchley, as the next Trade Commissioner in Wellington.[18] Critchley took over from acting commissioner Payne on 6 December 1937 when he arrived in Wellington aboard the Union Company liner, TSS Awatea.[19][20] Critchley's assistant trade commissioner was also named in November 1937, with the brother of (then attorney-general) Robert Menzies, James Leslie Menzies, appointed.[21][22][23] In March 1941, Critchley was appointed Assistant Controller General of Food and was recalled to Australia in April 1941, with Menzies serving as acting trade commissioner and Australia's de facto official representative in New Zealand.[24][25][26]
By 1942, the governments in Canberra and Wellington had decided upon upgrading their respective representatives to the level of high commissioner.[27][28] In March 1943, Carl Berendsen was appointed as the first high commissioner of New Zealand in Australia, and in November 1943 the Minister for External Affairs, Herbert Evatt, appointed the Deputy Premier of Tasmania, Thomas d'Alton, as Australia's first high commissioner to New Zealand.[29][30][31][32][33][34]
In 1955, a separate Australian Trade Commission posting was established in the city of Auckland, with Benjamin Dawson serving as the first Trade Commissioner.[2][35] The trade commission in Auckland was upgraded to a consulate-general from 1 August 1975.[36][37] A trade commissioner was also appointed to the city of Christchurch from 1957 to 1979.[38]
In 1994, Australia formally established diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands, a self-governing state since 1974 in free association with New Zealand, with the high commissioner in Wellington also serving as high commissioner to the Cook Islands. In November 2018, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an expansion of Australia's diplomatic representation to all members of the Pacific Islands Forum, including opening a new high commission in the Cook Islands and Niue.[39] On 18 December 2019, Foreign Minister Marise Payne. announced the establishment of a resident Australian High Commission in the Cook Islands to "help underscore Australia’s focus on deepening engagement across the region."[40] The first resident high commissioner, Christopher Watkins, took office in Rarotonga on 17 March 2020.[41]
On 27 February 2014 Australia formally established diplomatic relations with Niue, a self-governing state since 1974 in free association with New Zealand, with the high commissioner in Wellington also serving as high commissioner to Niue.[42] The first resident high commissioner, Susan Allen, took office in Alofi on 26 August 2020.[43][44]
^"NEW ZEALAND". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 December 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"TRADE RELATIONS". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 11 April 1933. p. 10. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"N.Z. TRADE TREATY". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 29 November 1933. p. 17. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ab"TRADE COMMISSIONER". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 30 August 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"APPOINTMENTS". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 52. New South Wales, Australia. 16 April 1937. p. 1566. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"R. H. Nesbitt New Milk Board Chief". The Land. New South Wales, Australia. 9 April 1937. p. 10. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"PERSONAL". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 31 May 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ab"PERSONAL". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 15 July 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ab"TRADE COMMISSIONER WELCOMED". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 7 December 1937. p. 12. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"MUTUAL CONFIDENCE". Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 7 December 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NEW TRADE POST". Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 6 November 1937. p. 12. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"TRADE IN EAST". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 26 November 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"CONTROLLER OF FOOD". The Sun. New South Wales, Australia. 19 March 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"PERSONAL". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 11 April 1941. p. 6. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 13 April 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"HIGH COMMISSIONER CHOSEN IN N.Z."The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 1 March 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR NEW ZEALAND". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 18 March 1943. p. 12. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"High Commissioner to Australia". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 18 March 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"TWO ENVOYS APPOINTED". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 2 November 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"HOME NEWS". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 2 November 1943. p. 1. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Mr D'Alton In NZ". The Mercury. Tasmania, Australia. 11 December 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"N.Z. Market Offers Scope to Exporters". Overseas Trading. 7 (11). Department of Commerce and Agriculture; Department of Trade and Customs: 4. August 1955. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Australian Consulates-General". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 46 (8). Department of Foreign Affairs: 464. August 1975. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Mr. Critchley to Control Food Supplies". Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 11 April 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"High Commissioner to New Zealand". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 2 December 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 27 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"MR. D'ALTON IN NEW ZEALAND". The Advocate. Tasmania, Australia. 10 December 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 24 (5). Department of External Affairs: 300. May 1953. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^ ab"AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO NEW ZEALAND APPOINTED". Current Notes on International Affairs. 27 (2). Department of External Affairs: 82. February 1956. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 33 (8). Department of External Affairs: 97. August 1962. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 33 (11). Department of External Affairs: 82. November 1962. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 36 (11). Department of External Affairs: 796. November 1965. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"NEW ENVOY TO THAILAND". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 June 1968. p. 3. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 39 (8). Department of External Affairs: 71. February 1968. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Australian High Commissioner in New Zealand". Current Notes on International Affairs. 38 (12). Department of External Affairs: 566. December 1967. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 39 (3). Department of External Affairs: 119. March 1968. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 42 (5). Department of External Affairs: 297. May 1971. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"New High Commissioner to New Zealand". Current Notes on International Affairs. 42 (3). Department of External Affairs: 131. March 1971. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 42 (6). Department of External Affairs: 347. June 1971. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"New High Commissioner to New Zealand". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 45 (6). Department of Foreign Affairs: 400. June 1974. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"High Commissioner to New Zealand". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 46 (10). Department of Foreign Affairs: 600. October 1975. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^ ab"Top-ranking envoy for NZ post". The Canberra Times. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 20 July 1977. p. 10. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Diplomatic appointments". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 48 (7). Department of Foreign Affairs: 386. July 1977. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^"Australian representation overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 51 (2). Department of Foreign Affairs: 36. February 1980. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
^Hayden, Bill (5 April 1984). "High Commissioner to New Zealand"(Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
^Hayden, Bill (29 March 1987). "High Commissioner to New Zealand"(Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
^"High Commissioner dies of heart attack". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 December 1988. p. 3. Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^Evans, Gareth (11 December 1988). "Death of H.E. Mr W.A. Mckinnon C.B.E"(Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
^Duffy, Michael (16 February 1989). "Diplomatic appointment: New Zealand"(Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
^Gareth, Evans (28 October 1992). "Diplomatic appointment: New Zealand"(Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
^Farrell, Don (27 July 2022). "New Consul-General in New Zealand". Minister for Trade, Australian Government. Archived from the original(Media Release) on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.