Peter Kennedy (diplomat)
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Peter Kennedy | |
|---|---|
 Kennedy in Afghanistan | |
| In office 2007 – 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1949 (age 76–77) |
| Alma mater | Harvard Kennedy School |
| Occupation | New Zealand diplomat and foreign policy writer |
Peter Kennedy was New Zealand Ambassador to South Korea from 1993 to 1995,[1] following three years as foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Jim Bolger.[2] During this period Korean visitors to New Zealand jumped from 27,300 to 104,400 (reaching a peak of 127,400 in 1996).[3] He was later New Zealand Ambassador to the EU, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg from 2007 until August 2011.[4] Whilst in Brussels, he was cross accredited as Ambassador to Romania and became New Zealand's first Ambassador to Bulgaria. In his NATO capacity he undertook an official visit to Afghanistan with other NATO/ISAF ambassadors in 2009. As Ambassador to the EU he was instrumental in beginning the process that led to the EU/NZ Free Trade Agreement concluded in June 2022. The New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern confirmed on 30 June 2022 that it "had taken 14 years” since the idea was first floated [5]//.
Born in Christchurch in 1949, Kennedy is the son of medical doctor Doug Kennedy (public servant), NZ Director General of Health from 1965 until his death in 1972. His maternal grandmother Mary Dreaver was the first female Member of Parliament from Auckland (and the third female MP in New Zealand history). Graduating from Victoria University of Wellington, Kennedy was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court in 1974 and subsequently attended Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School SMP (1998).