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{{Short description|New Zealand diplomat (1926–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2016}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
'''Merwyn "Merv" Norrish''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|size=85%}} (born 28 October 1926), 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 [[New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade|Foreign Affairs]].
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Merv Norrish
|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|size=100%}}
|image = Merv Norrish, 2011.jpg
|caption = Norrish in 2011
|order1 = 4th [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand)#Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Trade|Secretary of Foreign Affairs]]
|term_start1 = May 1980
|term_end1 = 1 December 1988
|predecessor1 = [[Frank Corner]]
|successor1 = [[Graham Ansell]]
|order2 = 7th [[List of Ambassadors from New Zealand to the United States|New Zealand Ambassador to the United States]]
|term_start2 = 7 April 1978
|term_end2 = 29 August 1980
|predecessor2 = [[Lloyd White (diplomat)|Lloyd White]]
|successor2 = [[Frank Gill (politician)|Frank Gill]]
|order3 = [[List of high commissioners of New Zealand to the United Kingdom|High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom]]<br />{{small|Acting}}
|term_start3 = August 1972
|term_end3 = 15 March 1973
|monarch3 = [[Elizabeth II]]
|predecessor3 = [[Denis Blundell]]
|successor3 = [[Terry McCombs]]
|birth_date = 28 October 1926
|birth_place = [[Ashburton, New Zealand|Ashburton]], New Zealand
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|05|21|1926|10|28|df=yes}}
|death_place = [[Wellington]], New Zealand
|restingplace =
|restingplacecoordinates =
|birthname =
|party =
|otherparty = <!--For additional political affiliations-->
|spouse = Francoise Honoré
|partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married-->
|relations =
|children =
|residence =
|alma_mater = [[University of Canterbury|Canterbury University College]]
|occupation =
|profession = Diplomat
|religion =
|signature =
}}

⚫
'''Merwyn Norrish''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|size=85%}} (28 October 1926 – 21 May 2021) was a 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 [[New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade|Foreign Affairs]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
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Norrish joined the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand)|Department of External Affairs]] as a recruit in 1949, as one of the fledgling intake in [[Alister McIntosh]]’s new department. Norrish spent his early diplomatic career in Wellington and Paris, with a posting to Paris from 1955 to 1958.
Norrish joined the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand)|Department of External Affairs]] as a recruit in 1949, as one of the fledgling intake in [[Alister McIntosh]]’s new department. Norrish spent his early diplomatic career in Wellington and Paris, with a posting to Paris from 1955 to 1958.


In 1961, Norrish was posted to [[New York]] as New Zealand’s deputy permanent representative to the [[United Nations]].
In 1961, Norrish was posted to [[New York City]] as New Zealand's deputy permanent representative to the [[United Nations]].


Norrish was appointed New Zealand’s Ambassador to the European Community, in [[Brussels]], in 1967. In 1972, he became Acting High Commissioner to London, before returning to Wellington as Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1973. During his time as Deputy Secretary, he was considered to be more closely aligned to the United States' foreign policy position than his Secretary, [[Frank Corner]].
Norrish was appointed New Zealand's ambassador to the European Community, in [[Brussels]], in 1967. In 1972, he became acting high commissioner to London, before returning to Wellington as deputy secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1973. During his time as deputy secretary, he was considered to be more closely aligned to the United States' foreign policy position than his secretary, [[Frank Corner]].


In 1978, Norrish became New Zealand’s Ambassador to the United States in [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Mexico]].
In 1978, Norrish became New Zealand's ambassador to the United States in [[Washington, D.C.]], and Mexico.


In 1980, Norrish was appointed New Zealand Secretary of Foreign Affairs, a post he held until his retirement in 1989. During that period, Norrish was the key foreign policy official during New Zealand’s [[ANZUS and the nuclear ship controversy|withdrawal from ANZUS]] and the nuclear ship controversy. Norrish is understood to have warned Prime Minister [[David Lange]] not to antagonise British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] by participating in the [[Oxford Union]] debate, and was responsible for implementing New Zealand's nuclear-free policy against his personal instincts.
In 1980, Norrish was appointed New Zealand secretary of Foreign Affairs, a post he held until his retirement in 1989. During that period, Norrish was the key foreign policy official during New Zealand's [[ANZUS#New Zealand bans nuclear material|withdrawal from ANZUS]] and the nuclear ship controversy. Norrish is understood to have warned Prime Minister [[David Lange]] not to antagonise British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] by participating in the [[Oxford Union]] debate, and was responsible for implementing New Zealand's nuclear-free policy against his personal instincts.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} During his tenure, French secret agents bombed the Greenpeace ship [[Rainbow Warrior (1978)|''Rainbow Warrior'']] in 1985.


==Later life and death==
Norrish was Secretary of Foreign Affairs when French secret agents bombed the Greenpeace ship [[Rainbow Warrior (1978)|''Rainbow Warrior'']] in 1985.
In retirement, Norrish served as chairman of [[New Zealand On Air]], and the France-New Zealand Friendship Fund. He died on 21 May 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deaths.dompost.co.nz/obituaries/dominion-post-nz/obituary.aspx?n=merwyn-norrish&pid=198764787 |title=Merv Norrish death notice |date=24 May 2021 |work=Dominion Post |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>

In retirement, Norrish served as Chairman of [[New Zealand On Air]], and the France-New Zealand Friendship Fund.


==Honours==
==Honours==
In the [[2002 Birthday Honours|2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours]], Norrish was appointed a [[New Zealand Order of Merit|Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit]] for public services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/node/384 |title=Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002 |date=3 June 2002 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |accessdate=23 April 2016}}</ref>
In the [[2002 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours]], Norrish was appointed a [[New Zealand Order of Merit|Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit]], for public services.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-and-golden-jubilee-honours-list-2002 |title=Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002 |date=3 June 2002 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=25 June 2020}}</ref>


==References==
==Personal life==
In 1949 he married Francoise Honoré, a Frenchwoman whom he had met at university. For leisure, he enjoyed playing croquet and Scrabble.<ref name=obit>{{cite web |first1=Nicholas |last1=Boyack |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/125299675/obituary-merv-norrish-an-eyewitness-to-some-of-our-biggest-moments-in-history |title=Obituary: Merv Norrish, an eyewitness to some of our biggest moments in history |date=5 June 2021 |work=[[Stuff.co.nz]] |access-date=7 June 2021 }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

⚫
*''An eye, an ear and a voice: 50 years in New Zealand’s external relations'' edited by [[Malcolm Templeton]] (1993, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington NZ) ISBN 0-477-03725-9
==References==
{{commons category}}
⚫
*''An eye, an ear and a voice: 50 years in New Zealand’s external relations'' edited by [[Malcolm Templeton]] (1993, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington NZ) {{ISBN|0-477-03725-9}}


{{s-start}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Ambassadors from New Zealand to the United States|Ambassador to the United States]]|years=1978–1980}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Ambassadors from New Zealand to the United States|Ambassador to the United States]]|years=1978–1980}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Frank Gill (politician)|Frank Gill]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Frank Gill (politician)|Frank Gill]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Denis Blundell]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of high commissioners of New Zealand to the United Kingdom|High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom]]|years=1972–1973}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Terry McCombs]]}}
{{end}}
{{end}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Norrish, Merwyn}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norrish, Merv}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
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[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of New Zealand to the United States]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of New Zealand to the United States]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of New Zealand to Mexico]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of New Zealand to Mexico]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of New Zealand to the European Union]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of New Zealand to the European Union]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:New Zealand diplomats]]
[[Category:New Zealand public servants]]
[[Category:New Zealand public servants]]
[[Category:University of Canterbury alumni]]
[[Category:University of Canterbury alumni]]
[[Category:High Commissioners of New Zealand to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:High commissioners of New Zealand to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People from Ashburton, New Zealand]]
[[Category:People from Ashburton, New Zealand]]
[[Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]

Latest revision as of 05:06, 6 November 2023

Merv Norrish
CNZM
Norrish in 2011
4th Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In office
May 1980 – 1 December 1988
Preceded byFrank Corner
Succeeded byGraham Ansell
7th New Zealand Ambassador to the United States
In office
7 April 1978 – 29 August 1980
Preceded byLloyd White
Succeeded byFrank Gill
High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom
Acting
In office
August 1972 – 15 March 1973
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byDenis Blundell
Succeeded byTerry McCombs
Personal details
Born28 October 1926
Ashburton, New Zealand
Died21 May 2021(2021-05-21) (aged 94)
Wellington, New Zealand
SpouseFrancoise Honoré
Alma materCanterbury University College
ProfessionDiplomat

Merwyn Norrish CNZM (28 October 1926 – 21 May 2021) was a 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

[edit]

Born in Ashburton, Norrish was educated at Ashburton High School and Christchurch Boys' High School, before graduating from Canterbury University College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1948 and a Master of Arts with first-class honours in history in 1949.[1]

Professional career

[edit]

Norrish joined the Department of External Affairs as a recruit in 1949, as one of the fledgling intake in Alister McIntosh’s new department. Norrish spent his early diplomatic career in Wellington and Paris, with a posting to Paris from 1955 to 1958.

In 1961, Norrish was posted to New York City as New Zealand's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

Norrish was appointed New Zealand's ambassador to the European Community, in Brussels, in 1967. In 1972, he became acting high commissioner to London, before returning to Wellington as deputy secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1973. During his time as deputy secretary, he was considered to be more closely aligned to the United States' foreign policy position than his secretary, Frank Corner.

In 1978, Norrish became New Zealand's ambassador to the United States in Washington, D.C., and Mexico.

In 1980, Norrish was appointed New Zealand secretary of Foreign Affairs, a post he held until his retirement in 1989. During that period, Norrish was the key foreign policy official during New Zealand's withdrawal from ANZUS and the nuclear ship controversy. Norrish is understood to have warned Prime Minister David Lange not to antagonise British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher by participating in the Oxford Union debate, and was responsible for implementing New Zealand's nuclear-free policy against his personal instincts.[citation needed] During his tenure, French secret agents bombed the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in 1985.

Later life and death

[edit]

In retirement, Norrish served as chairman of New Zealand On Air, and the France-New Zealand Friendship Fund. He died on 21 May 2021.[2]

Honours

[edit]

In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, Norrish was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for public services.[3]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1949 he married Francoise Honoré, a Frenchwoman whom he had met at university. For leisure, he enjoyed playing croquet and Scrabble.[4]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Mu–O". Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Merv Norrish death notice". Dominion Post. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. ^ Boyack, Nicholas (5 June 2021). "Obituary: Merv Norrish, an eyewitness to some of our biggest moments in history". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 June 2021.

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merv Norrish.
  • An eye, an ear and a voice: 50 years in New Zealand’s external relations edited by Malcolm Templeton (1993, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington NZ) ISBN 0-477-03725-9
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Ambassador to the United States
1978–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom
1972–1973 		Succeeded by
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