NZ's man in Washington says trade deal is priority

Mike Moore says the US attitude to New Zealand has been improved by successive governments. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Mike Moore, the man who once headed the World Trade Organisation, will now lead the charge on getting a trade agreement with the United States as New Zealand's ambassador in Washington.

Former Labour prime minister Mr Moore said making progress on the US joining the Trans Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) would be a priority in his agenda.

"I think there is a job to be done here for New Zealand and I'd like to do it, and I'd do it with everything I've got, 24/7. Our interests are at stake," he said.

"New Zealand's vital interests don't change with the government. Their interests are internal and we'll be building on a platform that successive governments have built in terms of the relationship."

Mr Moore's appointment was announced yesterday by Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

"As a former prime minister of New Zealand, director-general of the World Trade Organisation and co-chair of the US-NZ Partnership Forum, Mr Moore is the best possible candidate for this important role," Mr McCully said.

His trade background will be valuable as New Zealand seeks to make progress on TPP. If successful that agreement would enable New Zealand to have a trade deal with the US along with partners Brunei, Chile and Singapore.

"Somebody who has held the senior rank, not just domestically but internationally, that Mike Moore has held is obviously going to give us a very powerful voice in Washington," Mr McCully said.

Mr Moore, who turns 61 next week, said he took a little bit of convincing to take the job. He was persuaded in a visit to Washington where he saw the mood in the last NZ-US Business Council meeting had changed.

"I felt this could be do-able. I was very impressed with the senior American officials. I think this is a tribute to the Government and to previous governments ... that things have moved up a bit.

"If we can do this, or advance, this will be good for the country."

- NZPA