I like the sound of the new US Ambassador

Colin Espiner reports on the new US Ambassador. I like what I hear:

America’s new ambassador loves New Zealand already because it has most of his favourite vices.

David Huebner held a press conference at his new home in Lower Hutt shortly after his arrival in Wellington yesterday, and immediately established his credentials as a Kiwiphile.

The Flight of the Conchords, wine, cheese, beer and rugby are just a few of his favourite things.

Previously a Shanghai-based lawyer, Mr Huebner followed the rugby sevens in Hong Kong, eschewing American football as too effete.

“I respect the fact that even at the highest levels you don’t wear all that armour plating.”

Superb. He basically says the Super Bowl is for wimps. And he is possibly being mischievous being a gay lawyer labeling American Football as “too effete”.  That’s just superb.

But his anecdotes and one-liners may give his staff the odd grey hair.

Mr Huebner, “just the right side of 50” (he’s 49), said he had used up his State Department shipping allowance freighting his wine collection but had since discovered the quality of New Zealand viticulture.

“I’m looking forward to drinking from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the Mainland.”

Now that sounds my sort of Ambassador. His Excellency will be an early invite to The American Politics Appreciation Society in 2010, especially as we meet in a bar.

The first openly gay envoy appointed by President Barack Obama, he joked with one reporter who asked if he would dress up for the Wellington Sevens. “Would you ask a straight ambassador that question?“

And even better he has a sense of humour about himself.