Alister McIntosh

Sir Alister Donald Miles McIntosh KCMG (29 November 1906 – 30 November 1978) was a New Zealand diplomat. McIntosh was New Zealand's first secretary of foreign affairs, and is widely considered to be the father of New Zealand's independent foreign policy and architect of the ministry (then department) of Foreign Affairs in New Zealand.

Early life

McIntosh was born in Picton, and educated at Marlborough College and Victoria University College, where he earned an MA in History in 1930. He originally worked in the Department of Labour, before joining the Parliamentary Library. He studied librarianship for several years, writing a report that led to the formation of the National Library. He was actively involved in the Institute of Pacific Relations, and was one of the founders of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. McIntosh worked and was close to such intellectuals as Dr William Sutch, Frank Corner, and eminent historian J.C. Beaglehole.

Public service career

In 1935, Carl Berendsen, the head of the Prime Minister's department, recruited McIntosh as a research officer, and effectively became Berendsen's deputy. During the war years, McIntosh chaired the economic stabilisation committee, and worked closely with Prime Minister Peter Fraser. In 1943, McIntosh succeeded Berendsen as secretary of the War Cabinet, and head of the newly established Department of External Affairs, the precursor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

McIntosh took a key role in the establishment of the United Nations, along with Berendsen, who by that stage was New Zealand's Ambassador to Washington and the United Nations in New York.

McIntosh was nominated to the position of Commonwealth Secretary General in 1965, but withdrew due to ill-health. He retired as Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1966 (he was succeeded by George Laking), but then established New Zealand's posting in Italy, serving as ambassador there until 1970. In retirement, McIntosh served as Chairman of the Historic Places Trust, Chairman of the trustees of the National Library, and Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission during the transition to colour television.

McIntosh served as the principal foreign policy adviser to Prime Ministers Peter Fraser, Sidney Holland, Keith Holyoake, and Walter Nash.

Awards

McIntosh was awarded the CMG in 1957, and a KCMG in 1973. He died in 1978.

See also

• Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
• Corner, F. The man who shaped our foreign service: Christchurch Star. 15 Dec. 1978

References

• 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
• Undiplomatic Dialogue: Letters between Carl Berendsen and Alister McIntosh 1943-1952 edited by Ian McGibbon (1993, Auckland University Press, Auckland NZ) ISBN 1-86940-095-X
• Unofficial Channels: Letters between Alister McIntosh and Foss Shanahan, George Laking and Frank Corner 1946-1966 edited by Ian McGibbon (1999, Victoria University Press, Wellington NZ) ISBN 0-86473-365-8