NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW ZEALAND PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

Biographical Note                                           BIO/3032

                                                            4 September 1996

   NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW ZEALAND PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

   (Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Michael John Powles, the new Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

A barrister and solicitor, Mr. Powles was, until his appointment, a Deputy Secretary in his country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1993.  Prior to that, he served as New Zealand's Ambassador to China, from 1989 to 1993.

Mr. Powles joined New Zealand's foreign service in 1967 working in the  Ministry's Legal Division from 1969 to 1971.  He was posted to the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, D.C., in 1971 serving first as First Secretary, until 1973, and then as Counsellor, from 1973 to 1975.  On his return to Wellington, he served as Director of the Ministry's European Division, from 1975 to 1976, and Deputy Director, of the External Aid Division, from 1976 to 1978.  He also served as Director of the Australia and Americas Divisions, from 1978 to 1980.

Mr. Powles was appointed New Zealand's High Commissioner to Fiji (1980-1982), and Ambassador to Indonesia (1982-1986).  He served as Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1988, becoming Coordinator for Political and Security Affairs from 1988 to 1989.

Mr. Powles holds a Master of Laws degree from New Zealand's Victoria University.

Born on 24 July 1939, Mr. Powles is married with children.

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