November 14, 2018 2:46pm by David Farrar

Annette gets Australia

Stuff reports:

Dame Annette King has been officially appointed as New Zealand’s top diplomat to Australia. 

The former Labour Party minister and MP will take up her posting as New Zealand High Commissioner to Canberra at the end of the year. 

Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the announcement on Wednesday, ending weeks of speculation that King had been all but confirmed in the role. 

Not weeks of speculation, but years. I first heard Annette would be High Commissioner to Australia if there was a Labour Government around 2012.

Peters, when in Opposition, railed against the use of diplomatic postings as rewards for senior ministers or MPs, which he accused the last Government of doing. 

Shock horror, Winston and hypocrisy.

But Annette is a good choice. She has the direct ear of the Prime Minister and will do very well in the role. I suspect even a National Government may have appointed her.