Top diplomat leaves job to join National

National candidate Tim Groser (left) with Don Brash.

A bitter Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton last night accused one of New Zealand's top diplomats of "betrayal" after his decision to quit and stand as a list candidate for National.

Tim Groser, who represents New Zealand at the World Trade Organisation, told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade last week that he wanted a political career with National.

Mr Sutton, who learned on Friday of the move, said he was shocked by Mr Groser's decision.

"I had a strong sense of betrayal," he told the Herald. "He has not put his country first."

Mr Groser, who is heading back to Geneva today to continue some short-term work without pay, and scrounge off the Australians if necessary, said: "People are just reacting very emotionally. They're not thinking all that straight.

"I'm putting my country first by being prepared to go up there to work for nothing, literally for nothing, and survive on my own financial savings.

"If I run into financial problems, I will ask my mate the Australian Ambassador to send me food parcels. There is nothing in this for me."

Mr Sutton's anger is not just because an Opposition party has snaffled one of New Zealand's top diplomats in his field - embarrassing enough - but because of the actual work he is doing at a critical time in world trade talks which could benefit New Zealand by billions of dollars.

Until Friday, Mr Groser was ambassador to the WTO in Geneva, but he is the hugely influential chairman of the agricultural negotiations committee in the Doha Development Round of trade talks being undertaken at present.

That job is conferred by the WTO, not NZ, and National wants Mr Groser to continue it for now.

Two crucial deadlines in that round are looming: one in July, when Mr Groser is expected to have a report ready for an officials' meeting, and one in December, when ministers of WTO countries are due to meet in Hong Kong in what could be a make-or-break time for the round.

Mr Groser said it was essential he continue his work for the July meeting. The rest could be worked through "step by step".

That could see him elected to Parliament in an election which must be held by September, then sworn in as an MP, but leaving his proxy vote with the whip while he takes extended leave, possibly until December. The party board offered him an unspecified but winnable position last Wednesday.

National's offer was attacked by Mr Sutton as putting political interest ahead of national interest.

Mr Groser's agreement is a coup. His former jobs have included work in the Treasury, the Prime Minister's advisory group, Ambassador to Indonesia, chief negotiator for New Zealand in the WTO Uruguay Round, and CEO of Asia 2000.

Mr Sutton acknowledged last night it could be possible for Mr Groser to continue as chairman of the committee for some time, but was too sour on the news to endorse it.

Asked why he could not have postponed his entry to politics, Mr Groser said being an MP was a job he had wanted to do for 30 years.